Elegant Angel

Elegant Angel (EA) was founded in 1990 by Collins in partnership with pornographic film maker John Stagliano as a subsidiary of Stagliano's Evil Angel Video. In 1996, Collins established Elegant Angel as a separate company, and in 1998 it ended all cooperation with Evil Angel. His departure from Evil Angel has been called "less than amicable", and he and Stagliano are apparently "ex-friend[s]". On 27 May 1997, he shot dead Glendale police officer Charles A. Lazzaretto and wounded two others at the company's warehouse in Chatsworth. Throughout the night he exchanged fires with the police and at 6am next morning police entered the building and found Gonzales dead from a gunshot wound. ==Operations and management==

In 2004 the studio stopped production for two months. Production was also halted for a month in early 2004 when the studio joined the moratorium on filming caused by Darren James's HIV infection. In response to the HIV outbreak in the industry in March the same year, Koretz had threatened to instigate legislation requiring mandatory condom use. In June 2014, Collins announced the installation of a new management team at EA. Premiere Sales Group president and proprietor Drew Kennedy was selected as the new president and So-Cal Wholesale Distribution owner Gabriel Guzman will serve as COO. Collins changed his mind after a week due to complications from his pending divorce. Guzman instead started ArchAngel Productions in October 2014 and another company, Exquisite Multimedia, purchased the content of Elegant Angel in 2015 in order to form a partnership with Patrick Collins's ex-wife, Cindy Collins, who owns the trademark name "Elegant Angel". ==Films==

Elegant Angel has produced several multi-award-winning film series including Buttwoman, Big Wet Asses, The bribe was US$100 and a box of chocolates, and Collins became the first American pornography director to film in Budapest. Niche-themed series that followed the 2004 hiatus included Cum Drenched Tits, teen-themed films like ''It's a Daddy Thing, and ethnic-themed releases like Up That Black Ass, Big Black Wet Asses and Latin Booty Worship''. Some of Elegant Angels' most successful series have focused on the niche of female ejaculation. Squirtwoman was the first, followed by Swallow My Squirt, ''Flower's Squirt Shower starring Flower Tucci, Cum Rain Cum Shine and Squirt in My Gape''. More recent series include Blow it Out Your Ass, which focusses on milk enemas and anal creampies, and the snowballing line, Sperm Swappers. ==Actresses==

Actresses who have starred in EA films include Cytherea, Flower Tucci, Brianna Love, Jada Fire, Alexis Texas, and Riley Reign. English star Nici Sterling appeared in many of the company's earlier films. Tiana Lynn starred in Cum Rain Cum Shine in 2004. She then started working for the company behind the scenes, as a receptionist and in public relations. Lynn quit performing in February 2006 to work in Elegant Angels' sales department full-time. ==Directors==

Patrick Collins originally directed several of the companies films himself. He had previously directed the Sodomania series whilst working with Stagliano. Collins would go on to direct Squirtwoman starring Cytherea, Cum Rain Cum Shine in 2004, and the solo masturbation line All By Myself. Cates later directed films including Sodomania 7 and Sleeping Booty. The studios original directors were Collins, and the young team of Rob Black, Tom Byron and Van Damage. Wallice had previously acted, however turned to directing when, after a false HIV test scandal, he was revealed to be HIV-positive. ==Distribution deals==

In late 2003, Elegant Angel arranged for Devil's Film to take over the exclusive distribution of Elegant Angel titles in the U.S. The deal was dissolved in early 2004, in a mutual agreement by both companies. In November 2006, Elegant Angel announced that it would distribute its videos in Europe exclusively through Red Light District Video, but in April 2007, Elegant Angel launched its own European division, Elegant Angel Europe. == Awards ==

The following is a selection of some of the major awards EA films have won. • 1996 AVN Award - 'Best Vignette Release' for Sodomania 12 • 2001 AVN Award - Best Oral-Themed Series - Blowjob Adventures of Dr. Fellatio • 2004 AVN Award - Best Vignette Tape - ''Mason's Dirty Trixxx 2'' • 2005 AVN Award - Best Anal-Themed Feature - Big Wet Asses 3 • 2006 AVN Award - Best Oral-Themed Series - Glazed and Confused • 2008 AVN Award - Best Gonzo Release - Brianna Love Is Buttwoman • 2008 Empire Award - Best All-Sex DVD - Alexis Texas is Buttwoman • 2009 AVN Award - Best Big Bust Series - Big Wet Tits • 2009 XRCO Award - Best Gonzo Series - Big Wet Asses • 2010 XBIZ Award - Gonzo Movie of the Year - Tori Black Is Pretty Filthy • 2012 XBIZ Award - Studio of the Year • 2012 XBIZ Award - Feature Movie of the Year - Portrait of a Call Girl • 2013 XBIZ Award - Feature Movie of the Year - Wasteland • 2013 XBIZ Award - Gonzo Release of the Year - Lexi • 2017 XBIZ Award - All-Black Release of the Year - Big Black Wet Asses 14 • 2017 DVDEROTIK Award - Lesbian Release of the Year - Squirt Gangbang 5 == References ==