This article originally ran in the August issue of AVN magazine.
It was fitting that the ride to the Grabby Awards this year was so memorable for Falcon Studios Group director Nick Foxx: “Our ride over was pretty epic in our party bus. Music blaring, the hottest porn stars riding the stripper poles, everyone was excited and our new president, Tim Valenti, gave us all a really wonderful pep talk to unite us going into the awards.”
The pep talk? Turned out it wasn’t necessary. When Foxx got off the bus, he arrived in more ways than one—his co-directorship with Steve Cruz won for Raging Stallion’s two-part Total Exposure project, along with Best Videography and Best Movie.
“I felt so proud and happy to be nominated this year, and then was beyond exploding with excitement that Steve and I won! I personally felt validated, and that after eight years in this industry and one Grabby nomination to date, that I finally made it. And that my work stands out in our industry. Steve and I worked so hard on Total Exposure, and I couldn’t be happier to share this with him,” says Foxx, who arrived at the studio in 2013 and quickly put his stamp on the then-new Falcon Edge line.
Foxx notes that some viewers sent him private messages thanking the duo for taking the veil off of their favorite performers—and for taking the time to actually show who they are as humans. The director points out that they didn’t edit the performers to make them look better, or to conform to a certain persona. They showed who the cast was, as raw and exposed as they could.
“I personally have to sneak away for a few minutes for non-porn clarity to get recharged with a smile on my face and energy to keep the crew and performers going,” Foxx says. “With a project like this, with the little crew we have, you really have to know that this is going to be a constant stream of physical work and mental work to achieve what we wanted to show in the end product. Any less would mean less for the viewer, so me and Steve had to keep everyone going under some of the toughest conditions.”
Through the process, the director learned that he is a much more patient and understanding person than he thought he was before this project, which presented sometimes-extreme conditions.
“We were on a ranch multiple hours from any other people. There is zero cell service, zero Wi-Fi, heat into the 100s, dust and bugs everywhere, our generators went out, then the backup generators—meaning no electricity nor hot water at times,” Foxx recalls. “Steve, myself and our film crew were in this environment for two weeks straight. I learned they are all strong, too.
“I honestly went into this project a bit intimidated because Steve has a strong personality and is a force on set. I didn’t want to disappoint, feel like I couldn’t keep up with him, and highly hoped we would get along throughout this unique process. But we did! We were a crazy-awesome force together. We filmed and interviewed equally and attacked every sex scene with two cameras, and tag-teamed every position, finishing each other’s thoughts.”
Foxx—who was brought in to help on the massive project—doesn’t know when or if the partnership will happen next, meaning fans will have to wait a while to see Thelma and Louise in action again. Or is that Fred and Ginger? Chip and Dale?
“Psst…I’m 29,” answers Fox. “I have no idea who those references are! Ha, joking…kinda. I’d say me and Steve are like Cady and Regina from Mean Girls. We’re friends, we’re rivals at times, but ultimately we have a great understanding of each other and we kill it when we are together…Steve is pretty much an open book. But most people don’t see behind the scenes how passionate he is and how hard he works to have his visions met to his standards. He’s a kickass guy and he brings that energy to his sets—and isn’t afraid to make sure he gets what he wants.”
But with Foxx’s new projects, a reunion might be a while. “This year has been full of change! I can tell you that I am now the sole director for Hot House, and am working exceptionally hard on re-branding it and really making it mine to lift this brand back up to the glory it used to be,” he says. “I have a few videos coming out with our new way of approaching the brand.”
That includes The Trainer (“one to look for, definitely”), and Foxx will be re-working the classic leather line Skuff, an iconic Hot House series that debuted in 1999 and was last seen with the fourth installment in 2009. Part 2 won the GAYVN Award for Best Leather Video in 2004, while Part 4 won Best Fetish Release in 2010—joining a long line of fellow Hot House entries to win those categories, including Verboten, Black-n-Blue and The Missing. Foxx hopes to own those accolades again.
“I’m super excited about that one. I’m now in creative control of a legacy brand and want to do right by it. I am teaming up with Rough Trade Gear LA to wardrobe the movie, and really make leather and fetish perfectly modernized. Big things are happening to Hot House, and I think everyone should really keep an eye on it.”
