Ward on Falcon: ‘I Do Not Intend to Raging Stallion-ize Brand’
In a weekend move that shook up the gay porn industry, video-on-demand powerhouse AEBN (Raging Stallion, NakedSword) announced last night that Raging Stallion’s Chris Ward would be taking over the reigns of production (above, directing a scene from NakedSword’s Golden Gate). We gave him a call this morning and caught him on his way to his first Falcon meeting.
Why did you want to take on Falcon?
It’s an iconic brand — I’ve always loved their product. Raging Stallion and Falcon are two biggest production companies in the world . And they were looking for a buyer. Certainly the combined operation is twice the size of any other competitor. We’re going to have a lot of press, shelf space. Raging Stallion serves a different niche, so it fits in nicely.
What does the Falcon brand stand for to you?
I think that Falcon is a company composed of multiple labels. When one thinks about Falcon, you think: the clean cut guy in underwear with a big dick. He’s the boy next door, but when you dig deeper is he’s pretty dirty. It’s guys who don’t look like they’re going to do.
Raging Stallion films tall, dark and handsome — more hair, older. Falcon is 20 to 30; Raging Stallion is 28 to 40. There are exceptions of course, but Raging Stallion has a much more ethnic look. Falcon is smoother, younger, more collegiate.
Big Wood
Do you think it’s going to be a challenge for you to film in the Falcon style?
I don’t think that it’s going to be an issue. I’ve made Falcon-style movies — Bedroom Eyes a few years ago is a good example. And we just finished shooting Golden Gate for NakedSword, which is much more in that brightly lit, clean-cut Falcon style. I find hotness in many places. I can imagine Kennedy Carter, D.O. as Falcon stars. What the Falcon fans should know is that we’ll be true to the aesthetic. We do not intend to Raging Stallion-ize the brand.
What were your favorite Falcon movies? Why?
I always liked the Falcon epics — French Connection, Out of Athens. Those were always classics — and then movies like Flashpoint and Abduction. You know, if you go back and dig through the movies, you see that some of the greatest movies of all times. And you also see that there’s a broader aesthetic.
Falcon was the studio that launched fisting as a genre in porn. It’s a varied past, and we want to continue that. The big difference between Falcon today and Falcon [before the sale], is that the studio for the first time in nearly a decade is headed up by a pornographer as opposed to an investor instead of a corporate officer.
How does the Falcon deal fit in with the rest of AEBN?
It won’t change it that much. There are three divisions within AEBN’s gay division — NakedSword, Gunzblazing and now Raging Stallion-Falcon, all run by their own heads. We’re a triumvirate.
Who are your favorite Falcon stars? What can fans expect?
My favorite Falcon star is Aden Jaric (below, in Big Wood) — that new box cover is incredibly hot. I also like Landon Conrad. As far as past Falcon men, Dick Fisk was always a favorite, Tom Chase — there are so many.
What effect will you have on Falcon movies?
Well, first of all, Falcon in 2010 is a much better company than it was in 2009. They’ve made huge advances, improved quality — the latest, Big Wood is pretty damned impressive if you’ve seen it. So I think it’s about spending more on production, taking more than time. And not to toot my own horn, I think I’m a pretty good director and I think I’ll bring something to it. It’s just about getting that spark.
So you’ll be directing for the Falcon line yourself?
Yeah.
What’s the first production you’ve got scheduled?
Right now they have production schedule that we’re sticking with — I’m meeting with [falcon production manager] Adam Robinson tomorrow. Raging Stallion has so many movies in the can that we don’t have to shoot again until April. That leaves us a lot of time to focus on Falcon.
— Mike
Tags: Aden Jaric, Chris Ward Interview, Falcon Studios, gayporn, Golden Gate
Anonymous December 20th, 2010 at 2:20 PM
Is Raging Stallion responsible for Aden’s hairy chest? I don’t care too much about the politics but YOWZA that’s hot.
ggreen December 20th, 2010 at 2:40 PM
RS and Falcon BOTH specialize in formula porn that sells best on the web and in the fly over country. Nothing new to see here.
Anonymous December 20th, 2010 at 2:52 PM
I hope to god he turns it around. Falcon still attracts the hottest men on the planet, real porn STARS but lately the company has just seemed lost. Maybe it was because people were running it like it was Best Buy.
IMHO GAY OWNED = A GOOD THING.
Anonymous December 20th, 2010 at 2:59 PM
I hope to god he turns it around. Falcon still attracts the hottest men on the planet, real porn STARS but lately the company has just seemed lost. Maybe it was because people were running it like it was Best Buy.
IMHO GAY OWNED = A GOOD THING.
Anonymous December 20th, 2010 at 3:04 PM
Falcon was THE studio when i was coming of age, and it’s ashame that that past ten years have been such a let down,everything so half-assed *no pun*. i don’t know if it may be too late, but out of nostalgia i’d like to see them on top again.
Anonymous December 20th, 2010 at 3:11 PM
Wasnt Randy Blue going to buy it?
Anonymous December 20th, 2010 at 3:16 PM
Wasnt Randy Blue going to buy it?
Peter E December 20th, 2010 at 3:24 PM
Falcon has been hit-or-miss for many years; the golden days are long over. When they started hiring skinny boys and filming those atrocious road trip movies I stopped buying. Then the tattood and pierced models were in every movie, completely the antithesis of the classic Falcon brand of yesteryear. There has rarely been a Falcon exclusive for years. I hope Chris Ward brings back the clean-cut, muscled guys in their 20’s who made Falcon the leader in years past, and finds new faces. This may be good news for all of us.
Alban December 20th, 2010 at 3:25 PM
We will see, but I am not optimistic for Falcon which film maker I really love for several years.
If I am pessimistic, it’s because nakedsword’s quality of movies relaesed for streaming is going, down and down for 5 months. And all of these companies are owned by the same “big” AEBN.
We will see.
tony December 20th, 2010 at 4:15 PM
Paul Barresi wasn’t available to direct the Falcon line?
Pascal December 20th, 2010 at 10:14 PM
I’d really like Falcon to go back to its roots : “Pretty boys doing nasty things”… I wanna get surprised again, but it’s hard now that each scene is on the Internet before it hits our DVD players. It’s so obvious that “movies” are thought out in terms of scenes and not “full features”. Bring us back “Flashpoint” and the “Abduction” series, please!
wowseruk December 21st, 2010 at 1:58 AM
This sounds like good news for the industry and good news for the consumer.
I like Chris and the work Raging Stallion have done in recent years has been incredible. (and surely now, following this takeover, there must be a job opportunity for me.. perhaps Mr Ward’s new Raging Stallion / Falcon Liaison? I’ll leave that part up to you!)
Billy B December 21st, 2010 at 1:26 PM
Seeing as how most of the old Falcon movies are 4×3 and almost everyone has moved to 16×9 the value of the older movies seems to be more nostalgic than anything. When the former leader in gay porn DVDs is suddenly a mere footnote on another studio’s moniker it clearly demonstrates the continued decline in DVD sales making it less attractive to increase DVD production in a dying market. Eventually both studios will more than likely consist of member websites and naming sections on a VOD network.
George December 21st, 2010 at 2:41 PM
Sadly so much Ethnic porn is such low standard and so terribly produced. It really would be good if AEBN could now establish its own pure Ethnic studio, utilizing great hot Black performers like Race Cooper, Scott Alexander, Brian Bodine, Aron Ridge, Robert Axel, Damien Holt, Eddie Diaz and Marc Williams.
AEBN would really be doing such a good service to Ethnic porn if it would establish such a studio or site.
rene December 28th, 2010 at 11:44 AM
Some one know about castins for gay porn in puerto rico????
Mike January 5th, 2011 at 6:13 AM
What’s Next Ward’s COLT???
There is a Reason why all these Icon studios are falling apart.
#1 changing direction from their original style!
#2 MASS PRODUCTION…and lack of quality in those productions
#3 The lack of stars for each company.
The owners seem to forget it’s the Performers that make the following and fans…certainly not the Direction or lack there of. There are stars that have lasted over the years that everyone will watch whatever and whomever they work for.