PHILADELPHIA — Mainstream film distributor Breaking Glass Pictures will release Michael Stabile’s “Seed Money,” the documentary chronicling the rise of Falcon Studios and its founder Chuck Holmes, on video-on-demand and DVD in October.
Holmes founded Falcon Studios in the early 1970s, and then used philanthropic efforts and connections to fuel the gay rights movement of the 1990s.
Stabile, who began working on the documentary in 2009, has called Holmes the “gay Hugh Hefner.” Holmes died in 2000 from complications related to HIV/AIDS
“He created an empire of fantasy and freedom, and then was passionate about using his vast fortune to advance gay rights,” Stabile told XBIZ last year. “He’s one of the unsung heroes of gay liberation.”
“Seed Money” premiered at FilmOut San Diego where it was nominated for Best Documentary. Later, the film was shown to audiences at 40 other festivals worldwide, including OutFest, Frameline, Inside Out Toronto, NewFest and the Cleveland International Film Festival, where it was again nominated for Best Documentary. Next month, the documentary will be screened at events in Long Beach, Calif., and Joshua Tree, Calif.
"Director Mike Stabile has crafted a loving homage to the legendary Falcon Studios and the man, Chuck Holmes, who created the empire", Breaking Glass Pictures co-President Richard Ross told Broadway World. "This is a fitting tribute to a bygone era, and the beginning of the most recognizable brand in gay adult films."
While the film used crowd-sourced funding for its early production, companies like San Francisco-based NakedSword.com were generous in coming aboard with finishing funds. Falcon Studios itself gave the filmmaker access to its vast library of films and to unseen photos and video of Holmes.
The film features interviews with many stars who knew and worked with Holmes, including Jeff Stryker, Tom Chase Steven Scarborough, Chi Chi LaRue, Jim Bentley and John Rutherford.
“Seed Money” will be available to buy or rent starting Oct. 4 on the following platforms — iTunes, Amazon Instant, Google Play, Vudu and on-demand through local cable and satellite providers.
A trailer of “Seed Money” can be viewed here.
