Black Widow, the American distributor of edgier European lines like “German Goo Girls” (GGG) and producer of stateside fare like “José Pusher’s Pimping Adventures,” effected the name change to more accurately depict what the company does, its head of sales told XBiz.
“We distribute a lot of European content,” Lisa Radamaker said, “but the name change incorporates our work in production.”
Radamaker conceived of the name Black Widow last year while working for Private North America, and Private N.A. COO Ric Williams thought it was a perfect fit a new venture he had in the works.
At the time, Williams was launching Black Widow Releasing to distribute “German Goo Girls” in America.
“Private thought the line was too edgy,” Willaims told XBiz, “so GGG signed the contract with Black Widow, not Private North America.”
A few months later, Private shuttered its operations in the states and Williams was out of a job. He assured GGG that Black Widow Releasing was viable and invested his own money and that of partner Robert Goodman, a lawyer based in Dusseldorf, to distribute GGG out of Andre Madness’ warehouse in Van Nuys. By the end of 2004, Black Widow needed more space.
Black Widow claims contacts in 42 countries, and has begun distributing several European series in the U.S., including England’s “British Lesbians Pissing,” “UK Student House” and “Kinky Wrinkly.” The latter details the adventures of a septuagenarian London man with much younger women.
“Dave Cummings calls us all the time,” Williams said. “He says, ‘Finally I’ve got some competition.’”
Black Widow has recently signed its first contract performer, the 19-year-old Dane Malou, for original content. Williams confirmed that Malou will be the more innocent face on a company whose niche will be more hardcore.
“Malou will start (by) doing solo and girl/girl scenes,” Williams said. “She’s going to take her time” before filming anything more representative of the company’s current repertoire. Williams, who ran a small mainstream talent management company before going to work for Metro, said, “That’s my MBA in marketing talking.”
The company also is co-branding a toy line from Denmark called Waterwoman, which is a disposable water-filled vagina. Black Widow has been distributing a single Waterwoman with certain DVD purchases.
The new Black Widow Media has plans for six more domestic lines in its hardcore niche, as well as continued cultivation of European producers for distribution here. Closer to home, Black Widow sponsors the third week of Porn Star Karaoke every month, two miles from its North Hollywood offices.
