Chris Steele is being pulled in a million different directions, but he wouldn't have it any other way. Since taking over as the studio head of Jet Set Productions in March, it's been an exciting time for the industry veteran.
The large production arm under Marina Pacific Distributors started a new era earlier this year when it hired the former star and former director of production for Falcon. With the release of Just Add Water last month - following hits Jet Set Fraternity Gang Bang 2 and Code Violators by award-winning director Andrew Rosen - the studio is getting back on track.
"The main thing that I've been focusing on is developing a regular production schedule," Steele says. "Jet Set Men has kind of suffered in the last couple of years with inconsistency in releasing, and that's no way to build up brand awareness."
Coming soon will be The F Word (from Rosen) in December and On Fire! (co-directed by Steele and Chad Donovan) with a wide release in January. Add in the success of recent hit Cock Tease from Steele, and things are looking good for the studio.
"Cock Tease is a different movie...I've never shot a movie like it," Steele says. "It is a lot of teasing. One thing that I feel is missing in a lot of porn - and it's the directors' fault, because we get excited and we've got hot boys and we want to get them naked - but we forget that there's a lot of people out there who are really into the set-up and into playing out the scenario. Joe Gage is a real master at that. Cock Tease has a lot of set-up for each scenario."
Marina Pacific is also gaining steam with its Latin Heat line. Steele recently sent Chad Donovan and his crew to Argentina to shoot two movies. The Jet Set International line also continues to feature new European product from directors Stephane Moussu and Michael Paris (who both contribute to Marina Pacific's raw Entry Club label). Dolphin Entertainment from director Alex Clark is also exclusively with Marina Pacific, and famed director Paul Barresi recently contributed Dildo Devils under the Toy Boxxx line.
"Quite frankly, when I was at Falcon, Jet Set was not even listed as a competitor...and that's definitely going to change," Steele says. "I was at Falcon for three and a half years. I know a lot about production and consistency in quality in production, and having produced some more popular titles, I understand what it takes to make a movie something people want to see."
That's shown by Steele getting star Dean Phoenix - most famous for his work with John Rutherford at Falcon and COLT - to star in On Fire! "Dean is very selective, he's not just going to do any movie.... One thing that I do know how to do is word of mouth. I know how to get people interested in a movie, and that's what Dean Phoenix does for us with On Fire!... It was a real big coup to have him."
Steele notes that Jet Set Men will continue to be the home for the all-American jock, boy next-door look.
"Chris has brought a tremendous level of energy and excitement and savvy.... He's kind of shaken things up here and gotten everyone very excited. The mood has really changed," director of marketing John M. Tegan says. "We're doing a lot of re-thinking of how the company is perceived out there and how we want to be perceived.... We basically need to transmit the spirit that we feel inside to the outside. And that is, we feel like we're doing a great job, and it's a matter of getting the word out and letting people know that there are some really great movies coming out of this place."
Steele helped launch Jet Set Men Live - a monthly live sex show on the studio's re-launched website - as part of an effort to build the brand.
"One of the reasons I'm doing it is I have a lot of experience personally in live shows. I did them for four and a half years on my website every Thursday at 9 - Must-See TV! - and I know it works," he says. "Everybody is following the same business model: shoot content, slap it on. There's no interaction, there's nothing live, it's all shot and slapped. And with live content, it's a different experience for the users. And I feel like it's something that people will see as a value in the long run to become a member of Jet Set Men."
The studio will also be launching the blog GaySexBoogie.com and will create a unique website for each new release that includes photos, downloads, trailers, story descriptions, and reviews. And with On Fire! Jet Set Men is creating a firemen calendar and also packaging samples of its new ÜZE Lube with the DVD.
"Getting people familiar with the product and making it a brand that they trust is a big challenge, and it's exciting, but I'm working with the top professionals in the business," Steele says. "Mick Hicks, who is one of the best photographers in the business, is my photographer. I'm using all the same crew and models I've been working with for a long time, just gearing them all for Jet Set Men now, and getting more people interested."
CONTACT INFO: MarinaPacific.com; JetSetMen.com; (800) 999-5530.
GayVN
- By
