Source: Adult Industry News
By: Rich Moreland
A Conversation with Scott Taylor of New Sensations/Digital Sin By Rich Moreland
Over the years I’ve maintained a rapport with Jacky St. James and her work with New Sensations/Digital Sin (NS/DS), one of the Valley’s leading adult companies. In writing about Jacky and her filmmaking partner, Eddie Powell, I’ve often run into the name, Scott Taylor. He is the founder and President of NS/DS and the visionary who gave this creative duo its start. Eddie came first, Jacky later.
This fall I was invited to talk with Scott and later learned how lucky I was. This CEO doesn’t generally give interviews.
From our conversation, I can sum up Scott Taylor this way. He is "hands on" with the NS/DS product and understands the value of working with good people. One could say that loyalty and friendship move to the front of the NS/DS corporate line.
"I look at every single movie we release," Scott says, to make sure it’s "what we want" and it’s "come out the way we want under certain guidelines."
In his mind, each film must measure up to the company’s standards in storytelling and technical expertise.
The advantage of this approach is obvious: integrity. It maintains ND/DS’ cinematic leadership in the industry and that depends on good and talented people. Scott values them above everything else.
"I’m very loyal. I attach myself to certain people even if they move on. I’ve had an excellent working relationship with everyone who has passed through here."
Scott emphasizes that he remains friends with everyone and doesn’t fault any director for moving to another company when offered a better opportunity. Moreover, there is never "any animosity" toward anyone who leaves the NS/DS family.
He sums up professional relationships this way.
"It’s been fantastic working with all these creative people. They truly are and that’s why they rise above the crowd either as a performer or as a director."
Scott’s list of past employees is impressive. Among the names are Peter North, Nacho Vidal, Will Ryder, Leeroy Myers, Jonni Darkko, Mike Adriano, and Greg Lansky… an all-star parade of talent.
The main subjects of our conversation are the recently successful Jacky St. James and Eddie Powell.
On Jacky, Scott points out what makes her so powerful as a director. She gets "acting performances" out of people that are so good they could never achieve that level of success without her expertise. "She’s really inspirational," he concludes.
It’s no secret that Scott recognized Jacky’s potential early on and mentions that script writing is really "seeing" the story in one’s head. Jacky is exceptional in this regard.
"She still is the best writer I’ve ever seen. She floats between different genres very well and she’s been a real joy to have along for the ride."
Scott is also unencumbered in his praise for Eddie.
"Eddie is so deserving of best director for so many years from what he does. His creativity is well thought out. It is not by accident."
And there is more because Eddie is the complete package.
"Eddie edits his own movies and writes his own music because he’s really trying to create a feeling. If anybody wants to know the secret to the company, it’s this guy who’s been such a rock in so many ways."
I’m interested to know if New Sensations and Digital Sin are one company or two branches of the same entity.
Scott mentions he started Digital Playground then sold his interests to finance a new distribution enterprise, Digital Sin, to release New Sensation’s films.
What followed led to the company we know today.
"I decide Digital Sin is going to become its own company. It’s going to produce its own series of movies and release these movies through New Sensations/Digital Sin. Digital Sin will be gonzo driven, New Sensations more feature oriented."
Now Scott has the best of both worlds and one company can follow the other depending on what the market dictates. Everything "will be determined by sales." Originally Digital Sin was more feature oriented and "rested on New Sensations’ shoulders," he says, then at some point DS began "outselling New Sensations."
As of this writing, gonzo is leading the feature, but who knows what the future will bring.
Finally, I inquire about the impact of cam girls on NS/DS.
They have created a new business model that is interactive, Scott says, and concedes that has affected the company’s online membership.
Scott Taylor is cautious but unfazed about the future.
"We just continue to make a genre-specific product that seems to appeal to our members. There’s always going to be a traditional model just in the form of movies. There are still people that want to sit back and be entertained by a good movie."
Netflix, HBO, and Showtime would agree.
