It's a two-hour drive from Los Angeles to Palm Springs, so I set out early to arrive by director Steven Scarborough's announced start time of 8:30 a.m. It's the final shooting day of Mischief, one of Hot House's lush outdoor movies that they like to alternate with their grrrrr! sex club titles.
When I arrive, Scarborough and partner (business and life) Brent Smith come to fetch me outside a huge walled estate not far from the town's main drag that is serving as the movie's location. Once inside, the compound turns out to be a wonderland of individual locations: pool, vast lawns, streams and ponds, groves of trees, verandas — all totally secluded from prying eyes.
While some glamours and group photos are being shot, the crew finishes setting up for the poolside action scene. A camera dolly on winding tracks is already in place, as are lights and reflectors.
The last thing to go up is an immense square of filmy white fabric (a "silk") to tame the harsh sun and spread natural light evenly over the acting area. The silk is as big as a ship's sail and rests in a frame supported by two adjustable stanchions on either side of the concrete deck.
There is a whole truckload more of similar equipment — all owned by Hot House, not rented, Scarborough tells me. It's an impressive array, really Hollywood class, and helps explain Hot House's reputation for technical and visual excellence. This is the most professional set-up I've encountered yet.
Another source of visual excellence is Kent North who has just emerged from makeup and already has a bulging hard-on in his Speedo. Happily exhibitionistic, he smiles broadly at the general admiration it inspires.
Kent, Jed Willcox, Jason Kingsley, and Marco Paris huddle with Scarborough who outlines what he wants in the scene. As the title suggests, the theme is mischief and in this scene sunbathers Marco and Jason get quite annoyed when mischievous Kent and Jed, in the pool, squirt them with water cannons.
After a camera rehearsal the dollied tracking shot is scrapped because the camera can't get low enough to capture the background actions of the pool imps and the foreground reactions of the loungers when they are suddenly drenched. Videographer Richard Board will get the shot by crouching down and sidling along as he holds the camera.
To Jed and Kent, Scarborough says, "Get closer together and then notice these guys over here. Conspiracy time. Playful."
A couple of takes later, a gust of wind turns the silk into a real sail. Cast and crew jump up and grab the frame and the stanchions to prevent the silk's taking off like a giant kite. After more sandbags are added to weight down the stanchions, filming resumes.
With each take the poolboys' aim has improved dramatically. Marco gets it square in the face when he jumps up and yells his lines, "Hey! What are you doing? Stop it!" He and Jason cannonball into the pool in retaliation.
As the guys horse around, Marco lets out a queeny, "Bitch!" Scarborough, watching the monitor, says, "Did he say bitch? Thank god for dubbing!"
There's another take from a different angle, after the cannonballing, of the guys in a corner of the pool kissing. Scarborough then tells the performers that he wants them to emerge from the pool in a group still kissing. After several tries, he decides what the best shot is and has them do it one more time. "I hate to put them through it again," he whispers, "but it's got to be right." They do it, and it is.
Food is here and it's time for lunch. After lunch the silk is repositioned in anticipation of the shift in light during the afternoon. At 2:00 Scarborough positions the models for oral sex. Board moves in on one couple, then the other.
As Kent devours Jed, Scarborough, watching the monitor, says, "Jed: all the way out, all the way in." Then to the other couple, "Jason, get your butt movin'." He continues to give directions and occasionally whispers, "Wow!"
When it's time for rimming, Marco and Kent, on all fours, kiss while Jason and Jed lick their asses. I mosey over to the veranda to get a private view of Jason's ass and dangling balls as he's bent over licking Marco's. Scarborough abandons the monitor to get closer to the camera and give detailed directions about what to shoot.
After enough footage of Jed and Kent, and a pause for stills, the camera moves to Marco and Jason. "A little closer," Scarborough says. "Okay, now show it to me! Pull his ass apart." Marco, face on the mat, moans loudly as Jason buries his tongue in his upturned, spread-open ass.
After this, condoms and lube are handed out. It's time for fucking! They've been waiting for this. Tops Jed and Jason are rock hard and plunge right in. "Get Jason and Marco," Scarborough directs. "Jason, long strokes! Frame it so I see Jason's ass too." Marco moans, "Fuck me. Fuck my ass," in his throaty baritone — very hot!
Scarborough gives them a new position: Jed and Jason on their backs, Marco and Kent bouncing on their cocks. "Five seconds after I say 'action,' sit on the dicks," Scarborough says. "Rolling. Action." A pause... and Marco and Kent lower their holes onto the hard-ons.
When enough coverage has been obtained, it's time for cum-shots. Marco is first with a shower of jizz. Kent isn't ready, so Jed beats off. Then Kent really shoots while Jason plays with his nipples — "Twist them off," Kent tells him. Jason, the last, crowns the scene with a huge ejaculation.
It's 5:30 by the time face-shots of the guys coming and the surprise ending (with Jared Wright) are filmed. Then it's back to L.A. for me — and the wait to see whether Marco's "bitch" is erased from the soundtrack begins.
Mischief will be in stores November 22. Hot House is distributed by Paladin, 800-228-8395.
Photo courtesy of HotHouse.com.
