Once Upon a Time in the Valley 1

When Steve Jacobs (Parker Ambrose) decides to strike out for Hollywood with the intention of making it big in porn, he goes in with his eyes wide open. It's a tough job in a tough city, but even with a steady head on his shoulders, Steve is not prepared for just how cutthroat the business can be.

Director Seth Gamble called this film "a love letter to the time that raised me," and as a viewer, I couldn't agree more. The 1990s vibe is strong with this project, and it feels pulled straight out of a time when the contract star and sprawling features were the foundation of porn. Jennifer White delivers her best, Parker Ambrose arrives as a leading man, Ken Feels is brilliantly unhinged, and the sex is off-the-charts hot.

The film's sexual introduction comes in the form of industry leading man Jake Python (Ken Feels) and Steve laying the pipe to an enthusiastic young blonde on a small set. Impressed with the young stud's performance, Jake suggests he look him up if he ever makes it out to L.A. A few months later, Steve does exactly that, and Jake introduces him to a director (Derrick Pierce) who can get him work, as well as co-star girlfriend Stephanie (Sinatra Monroe). Sinatra rides Jake like a stallion, her ample ass and bountiful boobs bouncing deliciously. It's a great way to start the action.

Steve makes his way to a modeling agency looking for representation and is shocked at how cold and impersonal the whole process is, but his focus and determination remains steady. Steve gets booked on a shoot with Lotta Passion (Jennifer White) and Laura Lovely (Stella Lux), and he's over-the-moon at the opportunity to work with Passion, who is one of the biggest porn stars in the business. On set, he finds her to be a bit more stiff and standoffish than he'd anticipated, but she does give him a strong piece of advice about being careful whom he trusts. Their scene goes off without a hitch, including a spectacular shared cowgirl on a spiral staircase (holy cow, Jennifer!) and a standing missionary that defies physics balancing. Despite Lotta's harshness towards him, Steve considers the gig a huge success, and he shares his jubilation with Jake and Stephanie (who he's been living with since his arrival in the city). To his surprise, Jake doesn't seem as happy for Steve's success, and the seeds of a bitter rivalry begin to take root.

Steve's next gig is a nightmare of delays, but Lotta's presence on the set makes the agonizing experience bearable. Meanwhile, the director, desperate not to lose time and money, moves on to the next scene, which is a campy alien/scientist schtick featuring European bombshell Cherry Kiss and the smoldering Christian Clay. The relationship between Steve and Lotta takes on a more snarky tone as he starts to razz her about her fading star status and she begins to mock him for being a cocky newcomer. Meanwhile, Steve's relationship with Jake sours as his former friend's jealousy over his ascension starts to cause problems at home. Things get worse when the famous Rose Rockefeller (Queenie Sateen) requests Steve for a scene. She coerces him into a blowjob before the shoot even begins (that woman could suck the chrome off a car bumper), and reveals that she's already booked him to star with her in a huge movie in the next month.

"Part 1" of the epic film ends when Steve gives Lotta a ride home after discovering her broken down on the highway, and the two walk in on Lotta's boyfriend Ron (Nathan Bronson) banging a hot young starlet named Misty (Melissa Stratton).

This is the kind of porn I miss: a full movie with fully developed characters and a dedicated plot that is served by the sex rather than the other way around.