Extreme Associates

Extreme Associates

Company type	Independent
Industry	Pornographic film production
Founded	1997
Founder	Rob Zicari, Janet Romano
Headquarters	Los Angeles County, California , United States
Products	Pornographic films (DVD and digital media)
Owner	Rob Zicari, Janet Romano

Extreme Associates, initially known as Extreme and later Extreme 2.0, operates as an independent producer of pornographic film content, offering a range of DVD titles alongside digital media. The company is owned by Rob Zicari (also known as "Rob Black") and his former spouse Janet Romano ("Lizzy Borden"). It has gained notoriety for its provocative content that often includes themes of erotic humiliation and aggressive sexual acts. Extreme Associates has confronted obscenity allegations in the United States and maintains a partnership with the adult entertainment firm Evolution Erotica.

History

The origins of Extreme Associates trace back to Rob Zicari's Extreme Video, with the formal creation of Extreme Associates occurring in 1997 following the departure of Zicari, Tom Byron, and Van Damage from Patrick Collins's Elegant Angel. While Byron and Damage eventually exited the venture, Janet Romano joined the company in 1998, shifting her role from performer to director.

In 2003, the company faced federal obscenity indictments. Known for its contentious position within the adult industry, Extreme has been involved in public confrontations with major entities such as Vivid Video, Elegant Angel, Adult Video News, and Larry Flynt. The studio's activities have been spotlighted on television shows including America's Most Wanted, Nightline, and The Daily Show, as well as in publications like Time and Details. It has also been featured in documentaries such as PBS Frontline: American Porn (2002) and The Porn King vs. The President. According to co-owner Janet Romano, additional documentary projects are underway.

Between 1999 and 2003, Extreme managed a professional wrestling promotion called Xtreme Pro Wrestling (XPW).

In March 2006, Extreme secured exclusive U.S. distribution rights for Shots Video Netherlands, recognized for series like Men's Lounge and Deep Throat Anal. Since 2004, Shots had served as Extreme's exclusive European distributor.

By April 2006, Extreme’s productions were accessible via video on demand on AdultRental.com. Starting May 2006, their content became downloadable on portable devices such as the iPod and PSP.

In February 2007, Extreme obtained exclusive distribution for all productions from Baller Nation, an all-black adult film studio.

Facing declining DVD sales and retailer refusals to stock its titles by September 2007, Extreme halted DVD production entirely to concentrate on its video on demand service, ExtremeVOD.com, which had been launched in February 2006.

To enhance brand visibility, Extreme releases approximately one hour of complimentary clips monthly on various "porn tube" platforms, although the direct impact of this strategy on sales remains difficult to quantify.

Obscenity prosecution

The production of Lizzy Borden’s film Forced Entry, which includes simulated rape scenes, was documented in the PBS Frontline episode American Porn broadcast on February 7, 2002. The filmmakers reportedly found the content disturbing enough to leave the set. In an interview featured in the documentary, Zicari defended the nature of their material and openly challenged then-Attorney General John Ashcroft to take legal action against them. He remarked, "We've got tons of stuff they technically could arrest us for... I will be the test case. I would welcome that... to make a point in, I guess, our society." These scenes likely triggered a federal undercover investigation.

On April 8, 2003, federal authorities conducted a raid at Extreme Associates’ offices and confiscated five videos. The inquiry involved cooperation between the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Los Angeles Police Department’s Organized Crime and Vice Division. On September 5, 2002, a postal inspector had joined the Extreme website undercover, viewed video clips, and ordered tapes shipped to Pittsburgh. Subsequently, on August 6, 2003, Rob Black, Lizzy Borden, and Extreme Associates were indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on ten counts related to producing and distributing obscene materials via mail and online channels. The charges carried potential penalties of up to 50 years imprisonment and fines reaching $2.5 million for Zicari and Romano individually; Extreme Associates faced probation terms up to 50 years alongside fines up to $5 million. Prosecutors also sought seizure of all films involved in distribution profits as well as assets including the domain extremeassociates.com. This case represented the first significant federal obscenity prosecution in ten years.

On March 11, 2009, facing reinstated obscenity charges and aiming to avoid trial proceedings, Extreme Associates along with its owners entered guilty pleas. This effectively resulted in the closure of the company and removal of its website from operation.

Content Characteristics

Extreme Associates promotes itself as a provider of the most intense hardcore adult content available online. The material is often labeled as "highly violent," "disturbing," and akin to "slasher pornography," frequently regarded as "patently offensive." Lizzy Borden, the company's founder, compares their productions to slasher films and reality television, aiming to provoke strong reactions from audiences. Co-founder Rob Zicari highlighted the studio’s dedication to upholding freedom of speech amidst backlash, emphasizing their audacious approach within a tightly controlled market.

Slap Happy

Slap Happy is a gonzo-style rough sex series developed by Brandon Iron and distributed through Extreme Associates. The series, directed by either Iron or Coffee Ron, showcases themes of male dominance paired with female submission, incorporating both intense physicality and verbal interaction. After pitching the concept to 34 different companies without success, Iron ultimately secured distribution with Extreme Associates, exemplifying the studio’s commitment to niche and provocative content within its catalog.

Actresses

Extreme Associates has featured prominent performers including Alana Evans, Alexandra Nice, Amber Lynn, Anastasia Blue, Ashlyn Gere, Bridget the Midget, Heather Gables, Iroc, Jasmin St. Claire, Jessica Darlin, Jewel De'Nyle, Juanita Chong, Kendra Jade, Kristi Myst, Lizzy Borden (who also serves as producer and director), Monique DeMoan, Nikita Denise, Stryc-9, Tiffany Mynx, and Veronica Caine. In 2000, professional wrestler Nicole Bass appeared in non-sexual bondage-themed videos.

After retiring, Ashlyn Gere returned to star in multiple Extreme Associates projects such as House of Whores and Extremely Yours: Ashlyn Gere. Gia Paloma was under contract until May 2006; she was previously married to director Coffee Ron. Kristi Myst also held a contract performer status with the company.

Currently, Paris Gables is the studio's principal contract actress and has expanded her role into directing. She initially signed with Extreme Associates in January 2005 and renewed her contract in 2006 after featuring in nearly a dozen productions. This highlights the company’s strategy of fostering exclusive talent to sustain its market position.

Directors

The current directing team at Extreme includes Rob Black, Lizzy Borden, Shane Bugbee, Mark Zane (also known as Alias), Ivan E. Rection, Chris Justice (Chris Evans), Coffee Ron, and Thomas Zupko. Past directors have included Matt Zane, Ashlyn Gere, David Luger, Derek Newblood, Gene Ross, Jane Waters, Luis Cypher (Bobby Darlin), Luciano (Michael Stefano), Scott Snot, Slain Wayne (Eric Brummer), Smiley Johnson, Tiffany Mynx, Tom Byron, Brandon Iron, and Van Damage.

Michael Stefano began his directing career at Extreme during the mid-1990s under the name Luciano before transitioning to other studios such as Red Light District Video.

Thomas Zupko served as director from 2000 until 2003, making his debut with In the Days of Whore. Following stints at Elegant Angel, Sin City, and Hustler Video, he returned to Extreme in 2006 with Lisa Ann Defiled. In 2006, Zupko earned a Ninfa Special Jury Award at the Barcelona International Erotic Film Festival.

Church of Satan affiliate Shane Bugbee directs the satanism-inspired Club Satan series, which began with Club Satan: The Witches Sabbath in 2007. This production encountered controversy when several crew members left during a scene involving blasphemous acts. Actor Rick Masters remarked that Bugbee had "crossed a line."

Awards

Key accolades earned by EA encompass:

• 1998 XRCO Award for 'Best Gonzo Series' awarded to Whack Attack
• 1999 AVN Award recognizing 'Best Gonzo Release' for Whack Attack 2
• 2000 AVN Award for 'Best Anal Sex Scene - Video,' featuring Anastasia Blue and Lexington Steele in Whack Attack 6
• 2000 XRCO Award honoring the 'Best Group Sex Scene' with Kristi Myst's performance in In The Days of Whore
• 2001 AVN Awards presented for In The Days of Whore, including 'Best Vignette Release' for Terrors From the Clit 2, 'Most Outrageous Sex Scene' starring Tyce Bune and Bridgette Kerkove, and 'Best Anal Sex Scene - Video' for Kristi Myst
• 2006 AVN award bestowed with the 'Reuben Sturman Award' recognizing founders Rob and Janet Zicari

References

Other sources

External links

• American Porn – a documentary produced by Frontline (originally aired in 2002, updated in 2004), available for online viewing.
• Extreme Associates profile on the Internet Movie Database
• Studio profile at IAFD