LOS ANGELES - It's official: Director Eli Cross has parted ways with SexZ Pictures, the company that produced his AVN Award-winning movies Corruption, Upload and Icon.
"There's no bad feelings on my part, and I hope there are none on Eli's part," SexZ Pictures CEO Bo Kenney told AVN. "It's just time for a change. Eli did well for us; he made three great movies that won major awards, and we appreciate the hell out of it."
Kenney threatened legal action against Cross and Adam & Eve last year over Cross' alleged participation in Ren Savant's Adam & Eve epic The 8th Day. The SexZ Pictures honcho has since dropped that complaint.
Cross, meanwhile, is moving on. The director's hi-def movie Intense Desires recently scored a Feminist Porn Award nomination for Lennox Films.
SexZ Pictures recently tapped ex-Wicked Picutres auteur David Stanley to direct Fleshed Out, starring company contract girl Hillary Scott. Kenney is also working on a deal to produce one movie a month with director Cyrus Cobain.
"Right now, we're taking a conservative approach with our budgets," Kenney said. "We're seeing that you can do more with less. The creativity of the movie is what should shine, and not how much money you spend on it. That’s what we’re looking for – creativity and good stories."
Eli Cross was in good spirits when AVN spoke to him this afternoon.
"I wish Bo and SexZ only the best," he said. "They've been great to me, and given me the opportunity to make some great movies I'm very proud of."
