LOS ANGELES — Wicked Pictures and the lines it distributes have received more than 90 XBIZ Awards nominations for the 2014 ceremony on Jan. 24 at the Century Plaza Hotel.
This tally was achieved through the high-caliber work of the company’s contract talent, the distribution of equally impressive movies by others, and successful ventures into emerging markets, the company said.
Veteran contract director Brad Armstrong’s hit gothic fantasy "Underworld" led the way for the company’s in-house productions with nearly 20 major nominations. The DVD’s special effects, fine performances and production values were recognized with such coveted nominations as Feature Movie of the Year, Director of the Year - Feature Release, Best Actress (jessica drake), Best Actor (Brad Armstrong / Steven St. Croix), Best Supporting Actress (new Wicked Girl Asa Akira / Asphyxia Noir) and Best Scene - Feature Movie. Armstrong was also nominated for Director of the Year - Body of Work.
Contract star Stormy Daniels received a wealth of attention that spoke to the diversity of her work in the last 12 months. Her stylish Samantha Saint vehicle "Change of Heart" received nominations for Best Actress, Best Actor (Brendon Miller), Director of the Year - Feature Release and Couples-Themed Release of the Year. In other highlights, Daniels' coming-of-age story "Wanderlust" earned star Rilynn Rae a Best Actress nomination, and Brendon Miller received a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his work in her hit comedy "Divorcees." Stormy's Wicked Passions release "Rebound" was honored with nominations for both Couples-Themed Release of the Year and Best Actor - Feature Movie (Michael Vegas).
Another Samantha Saint project, veteran contract director Jonathan Morgan's "Samantha Saint is Completely Wicked," earned both Vignette Release of the Year and Best Scene - Vignette Release (Samantha Saint and Lexington Steele). Other high points for Morgan included an All-Sex Movie of the Year nomination for "Lisa Ann Can't Say No," while his trademark comedies "Hotel No Tell" and "Getting Schooled" received Best Scene - Couples Release nominations.
Saint also earned critical acclaim for her work with director Barrett Blade. Their Editor's Choice action blockbuster "Bikini Outlaws" received nominations for both Couples Themed Release of the Year and Best Scene - Couples Release (Madison Ivy & Mick Blue). Kelly Shibari's work in Blade's Wicked Passions release "Summer Lovin'" earned a Best Non-Sex Acting Performance nomination.
Actor/director Derrick Pierce’s fight-world romance "Tuff Love" received several high-profile nominations, including Couples-Themed Release of the Year, Director of the Year - Feature Release, Best Actress - Feature Movie (Adrianna Luna) and Best Actor - Feature Movie (Pierce).
Writer-director-producer-host jessica drake’s informative sexual wellness series "jessica drake’s Guide to Wicked Sex" was honored with Specialty Release of the Year nominations for "jessica drake’s Guide to Wicked Sex: Woman to Woman" and "jessica drake's Guide to Wicked Sex: Anal Play for Men." The Wicked Girl's enduring popularity as an actress was recognized with such high-profile nominations as Crossover Star of the Year and Female Performer of the Year. The newest member of the Wicked family, Asa Akira, earned a Female Performer of the Year nomination in addition to sex scene nods and her "Underworld" accolade.
Other lines distributed by the company, including Marc Dorcel, abbywinters.com and JoyBear Pictures, all received major nominations. Dorcel’s big-budget European release "The Ingenuous" earned nominations in such diverse categories as Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction and European Feature Release of the Year. Dorcel also received European Studio of the Year, as did abbywinters.com. Long noted for their commitment to lesbian erotica, abbywinters.com received an All Girl Release of the Year nomination for "Girls Climaxing." Britain's JoyBear Pictures received European Feature Release of the Year for "Educating Reeves and "Pearl Necklace."
Wicked Sensual Care, acclaimed creators of luxurious, cruelty-free and PETA-certified lubricants and enhancers, received a Sex Lubricant Company of the Year nomination. Additionally, the WSC's popular OverTime Delay Cream for Men earned a nomination for Sexual Enhancement Product of the Year.
Reflecting on his company’s performance over the last year, Wicked Pictures president Steve Orenstein appreciated the diversity of the XBIZ nominations. "I'm thrilled to see our contract directors and independent creators so well received," Orenstein said. "Brad, Stormy, Jonathan, jessica, Barrett and Derrick all deserve to be recognized. On the talent side, jessica, Samantha and Asa deservedly stood out as well.”
