Adding to the unfortunate situation, attention was brought to the financial difficulties being suffered by Pachard and his family, as a result of his long illness and exorbitant medical expenses.
Pachard, whose career began in the 1970s with classic titles like “Babylon Pink” and numerous volumes of the “Swedish Erotica” series had relationships with a who’s who of industry personalities and superstars through the years and — when it came down to it — dozens of those who know him or had only heard of him came to offer their help.
“It’s historic,” veteran performer and porn patriarch Bill Margold said from the set of “We Are the World XXX,” a feature title being produced to benefit the Henri Pachard Cancer Fund. “I’ve been in the business since 1972 and I’ve never seen anything like this — everyone coming together for Pachard.”
In fact, all the performers and production crew offered their services for free. The cast list includes several stars from Sullivan’s past, and included Porsche Lynn, Ona Zee, Cara Lott, Georgina Spelvin, Amber Lynn, Randy Spears, Tom Byron, Bill Margold and Ron Jeremy, as well as writer Raven Touchstone and director Roy Karch. Cameramen Jane Waters and Ren Savant, as well as photographer Chris King contributed to the project.
Contemporary stars also volunteered to appear, including Stephanie Swift, Jada Fire, Manuel Ferrara, Tee Reel, Moxxie Maddron, Penny Flame, Meggan Malone, Holly and Troy Halston, Anna Mills, Savannah Jane and Kandi Hart, among others.
Legendary performer Amber Lynn took the reins of the “We Are the World XXX” project, and collaborated with Margold to put the plan in motion. Heavyweight directors John Stagliano, Brad Armstrong and Paul Thomas each volunteered a scene, as well as the iconic Ron Jeremy, who directed and performed for the movie.
The movie contains five scenes, each with its own director and stars, but follows a central storyline. Each scene is in some way a homage to Pachard. From the scene Stagliano shot of Lynn, Moxxie Maddron and Manuel Ferrara using a toilet as a prop, to the scene Armstrong directed that depicts the meeting of a young Pachard (Randy Spears) and his future wife Deloras (Jada Fire) on a movie set.
Armstrong’s scene, which was dressed to look like an old Hollywood set, complete with period costumes, added a certain familial touch. Jason Sullivan, aka Ralph Parfait, Pachard’s son, shot camera.
When his scene was done, Stagliano, who reprised his Buttman role, showed Pachard some footage on his camera’s LCD screen. A sly, knowing smile crept across the ailing director’s face as he immediately started clapping and let out a loud “Bravo!”
“Henri is one of those old school guys — a filmmaker in the true sense of the word,” Stagliano said. “He knew how to put shots together. He comes from a different era, a bygone generation that needed a whole other skill set to produce a movie than what it takes now. He’s a gentleman, a craftsman, a creative guy and someone who I respect a whole hell of a lot.”
Stringing all the sex scenes together is an ongoing narrative where Margold, playing the role of the Historian, moderates a debate between the Angel and the Devil, played by Georgina Spelvin and Ron Jeremy, respectively.
“I’m very pleased to be able to contribute to this project,” Spelvin told XBIZ as she was putting on her angel wings. It was Spelvin who played Miss Jones in the classic “The Devil In Miss Jones.” “I’m thankful to be here today for Henri who is a wonderful man. Friends support each other when they are down. Seeing him here today smiling made it all worth it.”
The set resembled the scene of an old family reunion at times. Ribald stories, tales of a bygone era and good cheer permeated Goathouse Studios in North Hollywood. At one point Stagliano was reminiscing to Spelvin about meeting her for the first time through Margold in 1974 at a dance review in San Diego, Amber Lynn talked to Ron Jeremy about attending Bobby Hollander’s funeral and Manuel Ferrara excitedly told anyone who would listen how amazing working with Lynn was.
The penultimate scene, an orgy directed by Amber Lynn, was staged as a big party comprised of many of Pachard’s friends. Pachard made a cameo appearance on the set that night, and was surrounded by a bevy of naked starlets, to which he remarked, “Where’s my Viagra?”
In the sequence, assembled cast members raised a toast to him, in a touching tribute that was real, despite also being part of the script.
“Even though it was obvious that Ron was sick, it was still important to have him play a part in the scene and it made him so happy,” Lynn said after production had wrapped. “It was necessary to show the emotion and love.”
Hustler founder Larry Flynt (who was filmed in his Beverly Hills, Calif. office) plays the role of God who creates the world of XXX.
Lynn, who had not intended on spearheading the project, was ultimately glad that she had stepped up to fill the role on behalf of Pachard.
“I feel like it was an honor and a privileges to be able to put the project together and it became really big — a lot bigger then I ever hoped or dreamed that it actually would, and I’m really proud of the project,” she said. “I’m really proud of the people that worked along side me to make this movie what it is now.
Distribution has been offered by Steve Hirsch and Vivid Entertainment, with proceeds from sales to benefit the Pachard family. Once the movie is released, it will be historic for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the monumental efforts by individual performers and crew people to help one of their own.
“The bottom line is to bring revenue to the Pachard family and it’s really great that it became a community event for the industry,” Lynn added. “Now, it’s a ship that needs to be sailed, and go out and do its job — and with great hope and promise, it will do exactly that.”
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