SAN FRANCISCO - Who says the western is dead as a cinematographic art form? Certainly not Raging Stallion Studios, which reported achieving a pre-order sales record over the weekend with its new western epic, To the Last Man.
The two-disc film, controversial because it contains depictions of graphic violence, stars Ricky Sinz and Scott Tanner supported by a cast of nearly a dozen other RSS exclusives and a passel of non-exclusive performers. To The Last Man was directed by Chris Ward, Ben Leon and Tony Dimarco. It is the studio's most sweeping production since last year's Grunts, which won best picture, best director, best actor and other top awards at several adult industry awards shows.
Ward, who is also the studio's president, was thrilled by the first sales returns.
"This weekend saw our highest sales so far for 2008, and this at a time when retail sales are very poor," he said. "To The Last Man is going to be the biggest hit movie for the entire industry this year, especially if these early numbers hold up. We are planning on making another major movie next year, but we need to wait and see how To The Last Man performs. We cannot afford to undertake projects with $200,000 budgets unless they are able to make a strong profit return. Obviously we are all thrilled with the early numbers."
The studio calls To The Last Man "a [director Quentin] Tarantino-inspired production." The DVD will include the complete version and a non-violent, all-sex edit. Customers also will receive two special-features discs that include an extensive behind-the-scenes documentary, half a dozen solo performances, the directors' commentary, features shot by The Sword, star interviews and bonus scenes from earlier western-themed movies secured in the Raging Stallion film vault.
To The Last Man will be available as a double boxed set that contains both parts one and two of the film. Parts one and two also will be available individually. The movie will see limited Thanksgiving weekend release through TLA Video and GayDVD, with a wider worldwide wholesale street date of Jan. 1.
Ward also confirmed rumors that a graphic "dead porn star calendar" entitled "They Died with Their Boots On" was printed in limited numbers, but only as a private marketing tool. Ward noted the calendar will not be sold.
"We sent it out to reviewers and people in the industry," he said. "It was a limited run, numbered and signed by photographer Geof Teague, so if there are any left over after our marketing needs, we can decide if we want to offer them to our customers."
The calendar displays most of the actors in the movie in their death scenes.
"It's a rather horrific calendar - not something you would want to look at every day," Ward said.
