SAN FRANCISCO—An R-rated version of Raging Stallion Studios’ noir-esque gay adult opus Focus/ReFocus has been picked up by Breaking Glass Pictures for mainstream distribution. The “retail-friendly” DVD is expected to debut March 30.
“This is the first time RSS has ventured into the non-porn entertainment industry,” Raging Stallion President Chris Ward said. “We shot Focus/ ReFocus with the idea that it could be reworked into a mainstream release. What surprised all of us was how excited the distributors were to get their hands on this movie. Obviously here at RSS, we are all proud that our work quality is now considered up to Hollywood standards.”
The mainstream version will not be the four-disc goliath RSS distributed in the XXX arena. Another notable change: Only Tony Dimarco—not Dimarco, Ward and Ben Leon—will be credited as the director in the mainstream. Ward said the single directorial credit was appropriate, because Dimarco helmed most of the footage used in the mainstream version.
“Although Ben and I directed some of the footage utilized in the non-porn version, Tony directed 90 percent of it,” Ward explained. “Ultimately, this movie is his, and he has earned solo director credit.”
Even without the hardcore gay sex—or maybe especially without the XXX content—Focus/ReFocus is a plot-driven murder mystery that employs tone and storytelling devices reminiscent of classic 1950s film noir. Dimarco said gay adult audiences and reviewers have reacted positively to the movie, and he is eager to discover how mainstream consumers will respond—particularly since he always has employed Hollywood sensibilities in his projects.
“I have been making heavily plot-driven films for years, and Chris suggested that we fully film a mainstream retail version of our XXX feature for general release,” he said. “It was a great opportunity for me to express myself as a filmmaker. This is a very sexy mainstream movie.”
The edited version of Focus/ReFocus is expected to be available at all major retail outlets.
For information about the XXX version, visit RagingStallion.com. For information about the mainstream cut or the indie distributor founded by Richard Wolff and Richard Ross, visit BreakingGlassPictures.com.
