Homegrown Video

Last updated
Homegrown Video
Company typePrivate
Industry Pornography
Founded1982;42 years ago (1982)
FounderGreg Swaim
Headquarters Los Angeles, United States
Key people
Greg Swaim (Founder)
Farrell Timlake (aka Tim Lake) (President)
Spike Goldberg (CEO)
ProductsAmateur, homemade adult films.
Website homegrownvideo.com OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Homegrown Video is an independent amateur pornographic video production company based in San Diego. [1] Established in 1982. it was the first company to commercially release and distribute homemade, amateur pornography on videotape. [2]

Contents

History

Homegrown Video was born out of the back room of a tiny mom and pop video store in San Diego, CA. The advancement of video cameras and VHS tapes allowed Greg Swaim, the store's owner, to begin filming real couples at his popular sex parties. Swaim called the videos “Homegrown Videos” and rented them at his shop. [3] In 2007, AVN magazine listed “Homegrown Video #1”, the brand's flagship title, as one of the 50 most influential adult video titles ever released, as it was responsible for creation of the amateur pornography genre in adult video. [4] Homegrown Video was the first company to distribute people's homemade sex tapes; Swaim solicited amateur tapes by advertising “Send in your home videos and earn up to $20 per minute” at the end of each Homegrown Video tape. [5]

In 1993, Swaim sold Homegrown Video to Farrell Timlake (adult performer Tim Lake), [6] who had submitted amateur videos of himself and his wife in the past. Swaim sold the company due to a mismanagement of funds and impending bankruptcy. [7] Still inspired by the first Homegrown Video VHS they ever watched, the Timlakes decided to purchase the company in 1993, with money borrowed from Farrell's mother. [6]

Timlake and his partners expanded the business to the Internet, cable television while taking the sales of their videotapes and DVDs worldwide. Author Eric Schlosser, in writing about Homegrown Video said the company served “as a clearinghouse for the democracy of porn, supplying hard-core videos by the people, for the people". [5] The self-titled flagship title is now well past 800 volumes [8] and is acknowledged as the longest running series in the history of porn. [9]

Homegrown Video's establishment and domination of the amateur porn market is evident in its 11 AVN Awards [10] and 2 XBIZ Awards for Best Amateur Release, Best Amateur Series, and Niche Studio of the Year. [11]

Farrell Timlake, President

AVN Hall of Fame inductee Farrell Timlake (stage name: Tim Lake) [12] and his partners have grown the brand's extensive library of amateur content in an ever-growing variety of niches.

In 1997, Timlake was brought on as Associate Producer and porn industry consultant for Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s feature movie, Orgazmo , which included a cameo performance. [13] Much of the porn humor, and porn industry details, in the movie has been attributed to Timlake’s real life experiences in the adult industry. [14] While researching for Orgazmo , Trey Parker was invited to an adult industry filming party at Buck Henry's house, which had been rented for the shoot. [15] The resulting footage of the xxx-rated film Profiles #8, [16] includes in the background mainstream actors Carrie Fisher, Richard Dreyfuss, and Timothy Hutton, in addition to Trey Parker and Matt Stone. [17]

Timlake has, to date, performed in over 72 films, as well as directed and produced over 17 titles, culminating in 11 AVN Awards. [10]

Spike Goldberg, CEO

Homegrown Video CEO and self-professed “porn nerd” Spike Goldberg was interested in creating an amateur porn series to sell online; Goldberg's brother introduced him to Farrell Timlake, who hired Goldberg as he demonstrated keen awareness of the fledgling online market. Goldberg was made a partner in Homegrown's parent entity, New Destiny Internet Group, where Goldberg lent his knowledge of technology and analytics to the company. [18] By 1998 Goldberg revamped Homegrown's web department, and by 2000, Homegrown became the Internet's go-to source for quality amateur videos. [19] Being part of the technology and business side of porn put Goldberg in the spotlight in 2004, when he led the industry trade group to fight technology patent lawsuits filed by Acacia Research. [20]

In March 2013, with over a decade of hands-on experience, trusted business relationships, and a strong ethic guiding him, Goldberg was promoted to CEO of Homegrown Video. [21]

Starting in 2002, Acacia Media Research filed suit against more than 1000 adult production companies, including Homegrown Video, over patent infringement claims over the use of Digital Media Transmission technology. [22] During the course of the nearly-decade-long litigation, Acacia entered into licensing agreements with Hustler, Vivid, and Wicked. [23] The creation of the "Adult Media Defense Group" in 2007, led by Homegrown Video CEO Spike Goldberg, spoke out publicly over the legality of the suit. [24] As lead defendant in the case, Goldberg asserted that it was impossible to file suits based on a key patent that was indifferent to the mode of telecommunication. [25] The suit was invalidated in 2009 by a federal judge; [25] a federal appeals court affirmed the ruling in 2010. [26]

Awards

List of accolades received by Homegrown Video
Total number of wins and nominations
Totals17
YearCeremonyCategoryWork
1995 AVN Award Best Amateur Release“Homegrown Video #432” [27]
1997 AVN Award Best Amateur Release“Southern Belles 4” [27]
1998 AVN Award Best Amateur Release“Southern Belles 8” [27]
2000 AVN Award Best Pro-Am or Amateur Series“Homegrown Video” [28]
2001 AVN Award Best Pro-Am or Amateur Release“California College Student Bodies 16” [29]
2004 AVN Award Best Amateur Series“Homegrown Video” [30]
2005 AVN Award Best Amateur Series“Homegrown Video” [31]
2007 AVN Award Best Amateur Series“Homegrown Video” [32]
2008Venus Fair - Berlin, Germany Best Amateur Label“Homegrown Video” [33]
2008 AVN Award Best Amateur Release“Cherries 56” [34]
2008 Adam Film World Guild Award Best Pure Amateur Company 2008"Homegrown Video"
2009 AVN Award Best Amateur Series“Cherries” [35]
2010 AVN Award Best Amateur Series“Homegrown Video” [36]
2001 XBIZ Award Niche Studio of the YearN/A [37]
2013 XBIZ Award Amateur Release of the Year, 2013"Homegrown Amateur Coeds #18" [38]
2014 XBIZ Award Amateur Release of the Year, 2014"Amateur College Girls 6" [39]
2015 XBIZ Award Amateur Release of the Year, 2015"Homegrown Video 850" [40]

[28] [29]

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References

  1. ↑ Schlosser, Eric. "The Business of Pornography". usnews.com. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  2. ↑ Gray, Rebecca. "People Still Like Their Video Homegrown". AVN Online. Adult Video News. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  3. ↑ "Homegrown Video". XBIZ . Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  4. ↑ "Pure Play Brings Homegrown Classics to DVD for First Time". AVN . Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  5. 1 2 "The Business of Pornography". USNews . Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  6. 1 2 "Content To Be HOMEGROWN". AVN . Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  7. ↑ "AVN.COM BUSINESS PROFILE 200604 - Homegrown Video: The Ultimate Amateur Evergreen". AVN . Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  8. ↑ "Homegrown Video Releases 800th Volume in Signature Series". AVN . Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  9. ↑ "Homegrown Video's President Spills His Seed". AVN . Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  10. 1 2 "Homegrown Video Revamps Box Art". AVN . Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  11. ↑ "Homegrown Video Snags XBIZ Niche Studio of the Year Award". XBIZ . Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  12. ↑ "2009 AVN Award-Winners Announced". AVN . Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  13. ↑ "Full cast and crew for Orgazmo". IMDb . Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  14. ↑ "Frequently Asked Questions about Orgazmo". spscriptorium.com. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  15. ↑ Wallace, David Foster (2005). Consider the Lobster: And Other Essays. Little, Brown. ISBN   9780759514928.
  16. ↑ "From Jackie Chan to Carrie Fisher: The 10 Most Unlikely Celeb Porn Stars". Cracked.com. 26 July 2007. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  17. ↑ "4 Legendary Pranks by Famous Comedians". Cracked.com. 12 September 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  18. ↑ "Arbitration Ordered In New Destiny/VMI Dispute". AVN . Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  19. ↑ "Homegrown Video By Rodger Jacobs". XBIZ . Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  20. ↑ "Patently Offensive". Forbes . Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  21. ↑ "Homegrown Video Wins Best Amateur Release at XBIZ Awards". XBIZ . Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  22. ↑ "Acacia Adds Charges". XBIZ . Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  23. ↑ "Acacia Adds Hustler, Vivid & Wicked". XBIZ . Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  24. ↑ "Patently Offensive". forbes . Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  25. 1 2 "U.S. Judge Invalidates Acacia's Remaining Claims". XBIZ . Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  26. ↑ "Judge Rules Acacia Patent Claims Are Invalid". XBIZ . Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  27. 1 2 3 Strokes, Peter. "Homegrown Video: The Ultimate Amateur Evergreen". AVN Online. Adult Video News. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  28. 1 2 "AVN Awards - Past Winners". AVN Online. Adult Video News. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  29. 1 2 "AVN Awards - Past Winners". AVN Online. Adult Video News. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  30. ↑ "AVN Awards - Past Winners". AVN Online. Adult Video News. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  31. ↑ "AVN Awards - Past Winners". AVN Online. Adult Video News. Archived from the original on 9 June 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  32. ↑ "AVN Awards - Past Winners". AVN Online. Adult Video News. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  33. ↑ "AVN Awards - Past Winners". AVN Online. Adult Video News. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  34. ↑ Hunter, Tod. "Adam Film World Names Annual Awards Winners". XBIZ.com. XBIZ.
  35. ↑ "AVN Awards - Past Winners". AVN Online. Adult Video News. Archived from the original on 8 June 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  36. ↑ "AVN Awards - Past Winners". AVN Online. Adult Video News. Archived from the original on 12 January 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  37. ↑ "Homegrown Video Snags XBIZ Niche Studio of the Year Award". XBIZ.com. XBIZ. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  38. ↑ Miller, Dan. "2013 XBiz Award Winners Announced". XBiz.com. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  39. ↑ XBIZ Award Winners 2014, XBIZ , January, 2014
  40. ↑ XBIZ Award Winners, XBIZ , January, 2015
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