2011: The Adult Industry in Photos, Part 5 (SFW)

On-Set: 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The XXX Parody' (Adam & Eve) with Lexi Belle & Anthony Rosano, 11/27/11 -- also see the 2010 and 2009 editions of "The Adult Industry in Photos" (Koga/LAist)

We're taking a candid look at the past twelve months for the adult industry business headquartered in the San Fernando Valley. This post continues our series from Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Here is one more "must-see porn" movie that we recommend from last year:

Horizon (Wicked Pictures). Sam Hain, who'd previously directed parodies of The X-Files, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Tron, and who was profiled last May on Last Call with Carson Daly, penned an extremely ambitious dark science-fiction narrative, influenced by Aliens and Battlestar Galactica, about the near-extinction of the human race in the year 2085 after an alien invasion of planet Earth.

Loaded with an all-star ensemble cast that includes Wicked Pictures contract stars Jessica Drake, Alektra Blue, and Kaylani Lei, Hain veterans Kimberly Kane, Bobbi Starr, and Andy San Dimas, as well as Misty Stone and Aiden Starr, not to mention Rocco Reed, Tony De Sergio, and Bill Bailey, Hain deliberately chose actors who could convey the emotions presented by the often-complex relationships (including as Fleshbot noted a post-DADT domestic partnership), minus the cheese factor inherent with typical adult productions.

The movie also establishes the technical milestone of being the first adult release of any variety to have been shot with the RED EPIC-M, which is the same camera system that's been used by directors Ridley Scott and Peter Jackson for Prometheus and The Hobbit. Coupled with intricate cinematography and complex lighting, the end result is a film packed with visually-stunning imagery that demands to be seen on high-definition television screens equipped with Blu-ray players.

Horizon is nominated for 12 XBIZ Awards including Feature Movie of the Year, Director of the Year - Individual Project, Acting Performance of the Year - Female, Supporting Acting Performance of the Year - Female, Supporting Acting Performance of the Year - Male, Non-Sex Acting Performance of the Year, Screenplay of the Year, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Special Effects, Best Editing, and Marketing Campaign of the Year, as well as 13 AVN Awards including Best Actress, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Director - Feature, Best DVD Extras, Best Feature, Best Makeup, Best Non-Sex Performance, Best Overall Marketing Campaign - Individual Project, Best Screenplay, Best Special Effects, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress.