Steven Hirsch
Encyclopedia
Steven Hirsch is the co-chairman of Vivid Entertainment
. Hirsch founded Vivid in 1984.
The second generation of his family to be in the business, he is credited by AVN
as the creative visionary who saw the potential to change the nature of the adult entertainment industry.
Early on, Mr. Hirsch differentiated Vivid by developing movies that could be enjoyed by couples because of high production values, well-written scripts and plotlines, gorgeous actresses, all packaged with unequaled sensuality. He created the "Vivid Girl" concept, which revived the Hollywood studio system of signing beautiful and talented adult stars to exclusive contracts. His glamorous cover girl packaging for Vivid video box covers made them the first to be suitable for display in mass-market retail stores. The faces of Vivid Girls began appearing on billboards in high traffic venues such as Sunset Boulevard and Times Square. The Vivid brand was further extended through advertising, product licensing and innovative marketing, and the company has been the industry pioneer in many technological advances that have broadened distribution channels and content delivery systems.
In recent years Vivid has brought adult into the mainstream through image-building programs such as multiple series on Showtime and frequent appearances on popular television and website venues such as TMZ and articles in The New York Times, The Economist and Forbes. He developed separate imprints such as Vivid-Ed, Vivid-Alt and Vivid-Celeb, the enormously successful concept that has marketed sexually explicit videos featuring Pamela Anderson
, Kim Kardashian
, Jimi Hendrix, Kendra Wilkinson
, Montana Fishburne
and many others. In addition to a hardcover book with HarperCollins, Hirsch developed Vivid Comix and graphic novels with Avatar Press and erotic novels with Thunder’s Mouth Press. He has overseen a licensing program that has extended the brand name to snow boards, action figures, fine photographic art, cigars, high performance wheels, condoms, virility supplements and many other products, all of which are cross-promoted with Vivid's DVDs, video-on-demand offerings, Internet sites and other marketing programs.
In 2011, Hirsch offered $5,000,000 (£3,000,000) to Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge's sister, Pippa Middleton
, to take part in an adult movie. He also stated that if her brother, James, also joined her and took part in a separate scene, he would receive $1,000,000 (£600,000).
He and his original partner, David James, an industry veteran with extensive international experience, were later joined by a third partner, Bill Asher, a Dartmouth College graduate with an MBA from the University of Southern California, who has engineered the company's recent financial success through a series of transactions and alliances. The three are co-chairmen of the company.
Vivid Entertainment
Vivid Entertainment Group is an adult video producer, featuring a catalog of VHS and DVD titles and internet content. In 2006 it was described by Reuters as one of the handful of studios that dominate the U.S. porn industry....
. Hirsch founded Vivid in 1984.
The second generation of his family to be in the business, he is credited by AVN
AVN (magazine)
Adult Video News is an American trade journal that covers the adult video industry. The New York Times notes that AVN is to pornographic films what Billboard is to records...
as the creative visionary who saw the potential to change the nature of the adult entertainment industry.
Early on, Mr. Hirsch differentiated Vivid by developing movies that could be enjoyed by couples because of high production values, well-written scripts and plotlines, gorgeous actresses, all packaged with unequaled sensuality. He created the "Vivid Girl" concept, which revived the Hollywood studio system of signing beautiful and talented adult stars to exclusive contracts. His glamorous cover girl packaging for Vivid video box covers made them the first to be suitable for display in mass-market retail stores. The faces of Vivid Girls began appearing on billboards in high traffic venues such as Sunset Boulevard and Times Square. The Vivid brand was further extended through advertising, product licensing and innovative marketing, and the company has been the industry pioneer in many technological advances that have broadened distribution channels and content delivery systems.
In recent years Vivid has brought adult into the mainstream through image-building programs such as multiple series on Showtime and frequent appearances on popular television and website venues such as TMZ and articles in The New York Times, The Economist and Forbes. He developed separate imprints such as Vivid-Ed, Vivid-Alt and Vivid-Celeb, the enormously successful concept that has marketed sexually explicit videos featuring Pamela Anderson
Pamela Anderson
Pamela Denise Anderson is a Canadian-American actress, model, producer, author, activist, and former showgirl, known for her roles on the television series Home Improvement, Baywatch, and V.I.P. She was chosen as a Playmate of the Month for Playboy magazine in February 1990...
, Kim Kardashian
Kim Kardashian
Kimberly Noel "Kim" Kardashian is an American socialite, television personality, model, actress and businesswoman. She is known for the E! reality series that she shares with her family—Keeping Up with the Kardashians, and its spin-offs including Kourtney and Kim Take New York...
, Jimi Hendrix, Kendra Wilkinson
Kendra Wilkinson
Kendra Leigh Baskett , professionally known by her maiden name, is an American television personality and glamour model...
, Montana Fishburne
Montana Fishburne
Montana Fishburne also known by her stage name Chippy D., is an American pornographic actress. She entered the adult film industry in 2010 at the age of 19....
and many others. In addition to a hardcover book with HarperCollins, Hirsch developed Vivid Comix and graphic novels with Avatar Press and erotic novels with Thunder’s Mouth Press. He has overseen a licensing program that has extended the brand name to snow boards, action figures, fine photographic art, cigars, high performance wheels, condoms, virility supplements and many other products, all of which are cross-promoted with Vivid's DVDs, video-on-demand offerings, Internet sites and other marketing programs.
In 2011, Hirsch offered $5,000,000 (£3,000,000) to Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge's sister, Pippa Middleton
Pippa Middleton
Philippa Charlotte "Pippa" Middleton is an English party planner, socialite and younger sister of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge...
, to take part in an adult movie. He also stated that if her brother, James, also joined her and took part in a separate scene, he would receive $1,000,000 (£600,000).
He and his original partner, David James, an industry veteran with extensive international experience, were later joined by a third partner, Bill Asher, a Dartmouth College graduate with an MBA from the University of Southern California, who has engineered the company's recent financial success through a series of transactions and alliances. The three are co-chairmen of the company.
External links
- Vivid Entertainment web site
- Steven Hirsch interview Hustler Magazine
- Vivid EntertainmentVivid EntertainmentVivid Entertainment Group is an adult video producer, featuring a catalog of VHS and DVD titles and internet content. In 2006 it was described by Reuters as one of the handful of studios that dominate the U.S. porn industry....