MONTREAL — Gamma Entertainment has announced its acquisition of Burning Angel Entertainment, the prolific label founded by performer-filmmaker Joanna Angel.
The purchase includes BurningAngel.com and its “extensive catalog of hardcore content,” a rep said. “The brand acquisition, alongside a new multi-year producer agreement with Joanna, is set to take the top alt-porn brand to the next level of cinematic excellence when the studio formally becomes part of Gamma’s premium network, Adult Time, in February.”
The decision was “very exciting, but emotional,” Angel said. “Thinking back to how this all began as a DIY college experiment in my dorm room at Rutgers University in 2002, it feels incredibly surreal to announce this. Burning Angel and Gamma have been in a website partnership agreement for the past six years, during which Gamma has designed, maintained and optimized BurningAngel.com, so I've already had a relationship with their team. This relationship intensified when I came on as a guest director for Pure Taboo, and while it was a project produced by Gamma Films, the cross promotion between the Burning Angel members and the Pure Taboo members proved to be incredibly successful.”
Gamma Films Head of Production, Bree Mills, soon approached Angel about Adult Time. “We discussed the different ways the Burning Angel content could benefit the platform. From a creative perspective it was simple, I wanted to be a part of it and she wanted the content to be there. I half-jokingly said, ‘You know, this would be a lot easier if you just bought the brand!’
“And, well — an offer came in shortly after. My emotional instinct at first was to say no. Burning Angel is my child, all my blood sweat and tears and half of my entire lifetime has gone into it. But the more I thought about it, the more sense it made. The thought of being an active part of a bigger platform excited me, and would completely benefit the current Burning Angel members, and grow the brand for new fans and members as well.”
The early goal of the company was primarily to “show the world that punk girls were hot,” said Angel.
“Burning Angel was more of a brand than it was a production company. We did a lot of parties and events, we had a large presence at lots of tattoo conventions, and from 2002-2005 we only had nude photo sets and didn't even produce videos. I was more concerned with getting a message across than I was with creating content,” Angel recalls. “We had a small office, I oversaw a lot of the web programming and maintenance, I went to a lot of the web shows and promoted our own affiliate program that was taped together with virtual band aids, but did get a fair number of signups. “
Angel notes her passion has shifted, over the past ten-plus years, to “a love for production. The quality of the early Burning Angel movies didn't matter much; the important part was that everyone had tattoos. But over time, my passion for creating porn has really grown. From ‘Cum on My Tattoo’ to ‘Cindy Queen of Hell,’ from ‘POV Punx’ to ‘Metal Massage,’ from ‘Bratty Teens Like It Rough’ to ‘Dong of the Dead’ — I really love all the different genres of smut I have been fortunate enough to create as a director and producer. And there is truly no better home for the wide span of content that I have created than Adult Time — even better than Burning Angel itself.”
Angel will maintain her prolific pace as a producer and performer. “The fans will not notice a change. I will continue to deliver them the quirky punk/tattoo/goth content they know and love. I will also be guest-directing other projects for Adult Time that will be announced in the near future.”
“However, I would like it to be known that this is not an exclusive directing or performing contract. I spent a good portion of my adult career tied to one company and I want to branch out in every way possible at this juncture in my career. I plan to appear in as many films as possible, in front of and behind the camera. I am incredibly excited for this next chapter of my adult career, and Burning Angel's second life as a company. I graciously thank Gamma for the opportunity.”
Angel and Mills will work together to develop new Burning Angel content; Angel’s personal website, JoannaAngel.com, will remain independent from Adult Time and Gamma Entertainment.
"Joanna and I have already been working closely together on a creative level for the past year, after she joined our team for ‘Trailer Park Taboo,’ the multi-nominated feature she wrote and directed for Pure Taboo,” said Mills.
“That experience led to us talking about other projects and, when I pitched her the idea of Adult Time, it was at the same time she was contemplating where she wanted to focus the next phase of her career. The opportunity for Burning Angel to become part of Gamma made a lot of sense, given where we both want to grow. I am thrilled to include Burning Angel as a Gamma Films studio. It is a brand that I have always admired and I'm excited to see it carry on into its next iteration."
Mills and Angel have already begun production on a new Adult Time series, “Lady Gonzo,” filmed by Mike Quasar.
"Burning Angel has been one of Gamma's trusted partners for over six years, and we are delighted to have them officially join our roster,” said Gamma Entertainment President Karl Bernard.
“Their brand has always been creative, original and engaged with their fans, values that are completely in line with our vision for Adult Time. I look forward to seeing them continue to thrive, and for all of the new projects we will develop with Joanna in the future."
The entire Burning Angel catalog will be accessible to members of the newly launched Adult Time platform; the membership also allows access to Gamma’s entire 50,000-scene catalog.
Visit Burning Angel online and follow their Twitter handle.
For additional details about the launch of Adult Time, click here.
