Keith Manheim’s Blog

KM STUDIOS TO STOP DVD DISTRIBUTION (Press Release)

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - Keith Manheim Studios has opted to “go green” by pulling out of DVD distribution.

“Over the past two years there’s been a surge in online digital distribution, while there’s been a steady decline in physical DVD sales,” said KM Studios owner Keith Manheim. “We’re in a unique position to capture that upswing while leading the effort to become more eco-conscious. We have decided to go digital; that way we can better serve our customer, and we at KM Studios believe that digital distribution is the way to go. This is also a great way to help the environment.

“Now that we’ve gone all-digital, we can get our products out faster and in a more efficient way and at the same time serve the needs of the consumer while being mindful of our carbon footprint,” he added.

The studio henceforward will deliver its product in two ways: via an exclusive contract with a video-on-demand provider, and on its pay site, where customers can download and own all KM Studios releases in digital rights management-free video format. The download formats include MPEG4 H.264 (which easily transfers to iPod and AppleTV) and Windows Media. All downloads are encoded for full DVD quality, Manheim said.

Users who do not wish to download the content can view it on the pay site in either Flash video or via a Windows Media stream.

“By cutting down on packaging, we’re ensuring a continued move toward sustainability and a better future,” Manheim said. “This decision meets the service needs of customers in the most effective way possible. Consumers demand good-quality, affordable content, and research [has shown] that the majority of Internet users now have access to high-speed broadband. Consumer trends have made this decision easy.”

KM Studios is a division of KM Studios UIA International Inc., a New Zealand company that has served the gay market since 1997. The studio has produced gay adult movies since early 2002; it has produced eight titles since January 2005.

The company also offers a webmaster affiliate program, KM Bucks, which pays a 70% revshare.

Source: GAYVN NEWS

Add comment November 20th, 2007

Competition in DVD distribution

I got the news just a few days ago that we were in high risk, and in fact have lost our distribution. The reason being is the highly competitive niche of the Twink DVD market.  I have to agree that we are not set up to battle the giants like Bel Ami® or other big brand name studios, but that has never been our intention.  We started setting out with the goal to make porn we liked as a group of highly diversified pornographers. We have proved that with the Keith Manheim website, it retains, sells and competes with large number of websites out there and scores highly on many user review and webmaster written review sites.

We regret that this is happening but as always there are opportunities at every turn and we will surely not stop distribution the Keith Manheim line of DVDs.  This year we are set to launch five new titles and are in negotiations with a new distributor that appreciates our artistic values more than our previous company.

Add comment May 25th, 2007

Shooting Quality Porn

Shooting gay porn is the most fun aspect of my job.  I get to see all these cute guys, casting them in my ultimate fantasy and get to decide what their role will be in my films. 

Before I start a project, I always have a script in mind and a basic timeline of events to make the movie more interesting. Some directors forget all about this and only focus on the sex but my personal opinion is that the story line does matter, after all if someone watches the whole feature they’re going to be clueless afterwards and sit up only with a few tissues of wet cum in their hands.

I’ve often been criticized for the ‘quality’ of my porn, some critics say its bad, while others praise it as first class.  The real issue is that we all are different and like different things. Reverent Mercury might want the camera to stay still focusing only on the close ups while Prime Minister Blair might like to see more of the action going on all around him. 

You can quickly see after you buy the first film from a certain director or a studio what kind of flavor they offer, and if you like it, buy more. 

That was my input on Quality… more to cum on my blog soon!

Add comment May 14th, 2007

Getting soft?

That’s not really what I mean, I apologize to those that like to read my blog regularly but this month I’ve had my mother over from Europe here in Thailand and we’ve been traveling where no Internet has gone before… sort of.

Thailand is a really nice country, the people are nice and the boys are hot, I had no problem warming my bed every night while in the South of the Kingdom for 8 nights straight!  I’ll keep you posted, but no pictures from my bedroom!

This accompanying photo is of me riding the back of an elephant, what a clumsy animal, although graceful and strong they are really slow and lazy, taking every opportunity to scratch their ass at every tree and riping up turfs of grass in every step.  But who doesn’t love’em? :)

Add comment May 7th, 2007

Picking the President

Firs of all, if you’re offended by this picture of if you love your President, then skip on to the next post. 

As with all great adventures, while in New York I checked out the Madam Tues Wax Museum (is that spelled right?)… it was great fun but I guess the highlight of it was when I was in the president room and President Bush got fingered by yours truly.

I have lots of other pictures and I will post them if I’m really out of things to write about, but for how lets have a laugh in this one and move on.

PS.  How do they make it so real, his nose even had nose hair in it!  ;)

Add comment April 23rd, 2007

Hand Held Cam Stabilizers

One of the great things about shooting handheld is that you can shoot like a pro without the expensive equipment or bulky armor suits that some people wear to get their camera to shoot motion free video.  I ran across VariZoom Image Stabilizer for Canon XL2 and I thought I’d give it a try since my shoulder was sore and my video, to be honest, had been too “hand held” for my taste. 

Combined with the image stabilizing effects of the XL2 lens and the VariZoom setup I have complete, noise free control over the camera movements without impairing my artistic style ;)  Highly recommend it, but then you can always get the 10.000 armor suit.

Add comment April 19th, 2007