Titan Media is an independent San Francisco–based gay pornographic studio founded by director and cinematographer Bruce Cam and Robert Kirsch (1961–2001) in 1995.[1]
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Gay pornography |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, United States |
| Products | Pornographic films and internet pornography |
| Website | TitanMen.com |
Overview
editThe company grew to become one of the largest producers of gay adult content in the world. According to Cam, the company was created to "Eroticize safer-sex and portray positive gay sexuality, with a wide range of men, set in the panorama of nature."[2] Consequently, all of its films are condoms-only, the company does not film bareback scenes.[3] Titan is owned by parent company Io Group, Inc.[4] The studio has won several gay pornographic film awards.[3]
History
editTitan Media was founded in 1995 by Bruce Cam and Robert Kirsch (1961–2001).[5] It has grown to become one of the largest gay porn film studios.[6] In 2001, the company launched a mid-priced product line under the ManPlay brand, and launched a line of products with younger men under the TitanMen Fresh label. In 2005, Titan acquired former gay pornographic studio MSR, and has been re-releasing its old videos on DVD.[7]
In 2005, Titan Media released a film titled Cirque Noir starring Buck Angel, marking the first time a trans man had been featured in an all-male film produced by a company specializing in gay male porn.[8][9] The decision to cast Buck Angel in a scene has been praised as a "landmark role" in the representation of trans men in gay porn "whose magnitude cannot be understated."[10]
In 2008, they[who?] were against a proposed bill by Charles Calderon to increase the California porn tax to 25%.[11]
In 2011, Falcon Studios, Raging Stallion and Titan Media joined with the anti-piracy company Porn Guardian.[12]
Legal affairs
editIn November 2003 Io Group filed a lawsuit against Larry Flynt Publications alleging copyright infringement. It alleged that 220 Titan Media photographs were published on the LFP owned website StudClub.[4]
In December 2003 the company asked file sharing website Kazaa to block its users from downloading 1,400 of its films.[13] Titan alleged that Kazaa's owner Sharman Networks had the capacity to monitor activity on the network through "spyware" installed on users' computers, and that it could use that capability to block its users from downloading its films.[13] In January 2004 Titan wrote to the Senate Judiciary Committee, complaining that Kazaa had refused to cooperate.[13] Kazaa had told a Senate committee in 2003 that it would improve its content filters to help users avoid offensive material.[13]
In 2007, Titan claimed $2.7 million in damages for copyright infringement and other alleged violations against GayForIt, a video hosting website.[14] In 2008, Titan Media sued Veoh for hosting pirated videos, but the district court ruled Veoh not liable.[15]
In March 2010, Channel 1 Releasing, Corbin Fisher Entertainment and Titan Media/Io Group, filed a $29 million suit against the two operators of three gay pornographic web sites over the alleged infringement of more than 200 videos.[16]
In spring 2010, they won a $1.35 million default judgment against Antelope Media, which operates MonsterCockTube.com. U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney granted the judgment after the defendants failed to file an opposition.[17] MonsterCockTube.com remains in the ownership of the defendants after Titan Media was refused a turnover order for the domain. No further court action has been taken against Antelope Media.[18] In 2011, their anti-piracy motion was denied by Susan Illston.[19]
The controversial lawyer Marc Randazza has been contracted by Titan Media.[20]
Video lines
edit- TitanMen, the original line with "...positive gay sexuality, with a wide range of men, set in the panorama of nature."[2]
- TitanMen Fresh, a line of products featuring younger adult models.
- ManPlay, a mid-priced product line launched in 2001.
- MSR, recently acquired product line that Titan is re-releasing as DVDs
Directors
editExclusive performers
editScotch Inkom,[23] Philippe Ferro,[24] Dario Beck,[25] Jessy Ares, Dillon Buck, Tony Buff, Dean Flynn,[26] Alex Baresi, Marco Blaze,[27] David Anthony,[28] JR Matthews,[29] Christopher Saint,[30] Will Parker, Tibor Wolfe,[31] Chad Manning.
Awards and nominations
edit2010: Best Newcomer (European Union) – Alex Marte (HustlaBall Award) [2]
2009: Best Fetish Film (Grabby Award); GLBT Studio of the Year (XBIZ Award)
2008: ManNet's 12th Annual Best 100 Videos of The Year [3]; Best Videography & Maleflixxx VOD People's Choice Award (Grabby Award)
2008 XBIZ Award: GLBT Studio of the Year[32]
2009 XBIZ Award: GLBT Studio of the Year[32]
2010 XBIZ Award: Gay Studio of the Year[32]
2011 XBIZ Award: Gay Studio of the Year and Gay Director of the Year (Joe Gage)[32]
2012 XBIZ Award: Gay Studio of the Year [33]
2013 XBIZ Award: Gay Movie of the Year for Incubus Parts 1 & 2 and Gay Director of the Year (Joe Gage)[34]
References
edit- ^ Bruce Cam
- ^ a b "2003 Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival". Archived from the original on June 22, 2008. Retrieved December 30, 2006.
- ^ a b "Cam Refuses DAVID". Archived from the original on June 5, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2008.
- ^ a b Titan Sues Flynt
- ^ eros.org.au
- ^ "kaisernetwork.org". Archived from the original on April 27, 2006. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
- ^ Titan Media Acquires MSR Catalog
- ^ "Susie Bright's Journal : Buck Angel and the 100% Man Clit". Susiebright.blogs.com. September 11, 2006. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
- ^ "Cirque Noir - gay porn DVD review at BananaGuide.com". Banana Guide. Archived from the original on June 15, 2007.
- ^ "Why are Trans Men Erased From Porn?". Intomore.com. June 7, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
- ^ "Gay Porn Times". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2011.
- ^ "jrlchartsonline.net". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2011.
- ^ a b c d USA Today
- ^ "JRL Interviews". www.jrlchartsonline.net. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008.
- ^ Betsy Schiffman (August 28, 2008). "Tip to Studios: Fire the Lawyers and Embrace the Web". Wired.com. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
- ^ xbiz.com
- ^ "Titan Wins $1.35M Judgment Against MonsterCockTube.com", AVN
- ^ Justia
- ^ "RIAA smells victory / Case transfer would aid music industry", San Francisco Gate. [1]
- ^ Joe Mullin (May 11, 2015). "Bribery, gay porn, and copyright trolls: The rise and fall of lawyer Marc Randazza". Arstechnica.com. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
- ^ Bruce Cam
- ^ Harold Creg
- ^ "Titan Media Signs Scotch Inkom as Newest Exclusive AVN".
- ^ "Titan Media Grants Yagg Camera Crew Philip Ferro Exclusive | JRL Charts". jrlchartsonline.net. Archived from the original on March 16, 2011.
- ^ "Titan Media Signs Dario Beck to Exclusive Contract". January 10, 2010.
- ^ Victor Banda
- ^ "Titan Signs Marco Blaze to Exclusive Contract AVN".
- ^ "Titan Signs David Anthony as Newest Exclusive Performer AVN".
- ^ Titan Media Hitches Up to JR Matthews August 6, 2019 Archived 9 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "JRL Interviews". www.jrlchartsonline.net. Archived from the original on August 12, 2009.
- ^ "Titan Media Signs Tibor Wolfe as Exclusive Performer | JRL Charts". jrlchartsonline.net. Archived from the original on October 2, 2010.
- ^ a b c d XBIZ Award Winners, XBIZ, February 2011
- ^ XBIZ Award Winners, XBIZ, January 2012
- ^ XBIZ Award Winners 2013, XBIZ, January 2013