Tom Byron Sets Up His Own Studio
By: Scott Ross
5-7-2003
CHATSWORTH, Calif. - AVN Hall of Famer Tom Byron has decided to branch off from Extreme, the studio he has been a part of for the last five years, and start his own company - tentatively called Evolution, with product hitting stores as early as July.
"Evolution is an appropriate name. I've been in this business since 1982. I've gone through a lot of changes - a lot of evolution if you will. There are a lot of subtle reasons for why it works," Byron told AVN.com.
"I want to get back to what got me here as a performer and a director. I want to get back to making good porn. Fan-friendly porn," added Byron.
Byron maintains that his relationship with Extreme partner Rob Black is still solid, but the bridges that Black burnt and the extreme nature of the porn they were making took its toll on everybody involved in Extreme.
"I'm just to old. I don't need that in my life. I think a lot of went on over there that was unwarranted," admitted Byron. "After a while you start looking at what life is about. The bottom line is that we were here to make porn and make money - which we haven't really been doing in the last year
Good looking girls, good sex, good music, and snappy editing. "My editing is going to be even snappier nowadays because I've been working on Final Cut Pro and I'm getting really good at it." said Byron, who had still been editing with analog equipment until this year.
Taking a page from Elegant Angel owner Patrick Collins book, Byron's company will require all directors to shoot and edit their own material. "Besides being cost-effective, it makes for a better movie. Patrick Collins, when I started with him, he told me right off the bat to do it all myself. That way from beginning to end you have your hand on the product. Then every time you shoot and edit you learn something that lets you make it better the next time," he said.
In the beginning, Evolution will tap Eli Cross and a new director from Ohio named Guy Cobbo to turn in projects for the new studio. "I want to have these up-and-comers be able to flesh out their concepts. I want to give them room to develop," said Byron, who intends on starting an interracial line, featuring white women and an African-American man.
Byron recently retired from performing after two decades in front of the camera, but is considering the possibility of shooting a P.O.V. series. "I'm really self conscious about my body now. I'm 42 years old. Even though I work out and stuff, you can't stop the midriff. You just can't stop it. Plus I have arthritis - both knees and my lower back. I can't do a sex scene - but maybe a P.O.V. scene. Just so I can get laid. But also so I can shoot it so I can hide certain aspects of my body that I literally don't want to share with the world anymore."
"I know what I like to see and what the market can bare, so I can make sure every base is covered. I'll do some features for the cable market - but really, I just want to make some good sex scenes," he said.
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