“Kenzie’s interest was in not only inhabiting but in fact deconstructing the clichéd binary representation of women in psychological thrillers.” – Seth Gamble
LOS ANGELES, CA – (JANUARY 24, 2022) – The pivotal third episode of three-time AVN Best Actor and Gamma exclusive contract performer Seth Gamble’s official feature directing debut, Deranged, is now available on wicked.com. Produced by four-time AVN and XBIZ Director of the Year Axel Braun, the eight-part series’ latest episode finally showcases a steamy sex scene between lead actors Kenzie Taylor and Tommy Pistol.
Dr. Charlie Hayes (Taylor) is a brilliant psychologist with a very diverse practice. Clinician, educator, and counselor, her voracious appetite to understand what makes the human mind tick drives her very existence. Charlie navigates her own dark past as she unveils devious characters and accomplices, tying up loose ends and pursuing her number one nemesis – the deranged Dr. Joseph Curwen (Pistol).
“Fully inhabiting the mind, mannerisms, and reality of a malevolent character can be as alienating as it is rewarding, but my wonderful wife Kenzie was fully committed to bringing Charlie Hayes to life,” writer/director Gamble observed. “Her interest was in not only inhabiting but in fact deconstructing the clichéd binary representation of women in psychological thrillers. She knows some of the best, most duplicitous female characters are irresistible precisely because we’re curious about what drives a woman from an internal thought to actually stealing and lying—and even committing murder. Her absolute mastery of the character’s psychology enhanced her performance at every turn.”
“Kenzie delivers an acting tour-de-force in this series,” says Braun, sounding genuinely excited. “I’ve worked with Kenzie many times, most notably on Captain Marvel XXX, and I also know her well on a personal level, so I knew exactly the level of passion and commitment she could bring to this role. To say she didn’t disappoint would be a gross understatement because she actually exceeded all my expectations. It takes a special kind of dedication to deliver a performance of this caliber in such a complex movie, and it takes a very special kind of person to bring out the best in everyone around you. Kenzie is that person. I can honestly say she has made it difficult for me not to cast her in every lead role of every project I tackle because she truly is the whole package: she is a phenomenal actor and an explosive sexual performer. She possesses plenty of emotional depth and a great sense of humor, she is loyal, consistent, hard-working, and always a pleasure to be around. The fact that she is also drop-dead gorgeous is literally the icing on the cake, and with Deranged she will make that clear to everybody.”
Of Pistol, Gamble notes, “Based on shooting Deranged and having worked with Tommy many times as a fellow actor on both comedic and dramatic adult projects, I believe there’s a two-stage process when working on genre films. Actors start by developing a role in a thriller as they would for a comedy: identify the driving needs of the character, develop a backstory, and make personalization choices. But once a performer is deeply involved in the process, as the director I’m going to step in and make adjustments based on the script. Tommy treats his craft with the utmost seriousness, and he was always open to my input.”
“Tommy needs no introduction,” offers Braun, who has worked with Pistol in many movies including the critically acclaimed blockbuster Suicide Squad XXX, in which he played the Joker. “He is one of those very few male performers who deeply care about acting, and he always brings something unexpected to the plate. His incredible talent for improvising is only matched by his uncanny ability to fully absorb a script and completely inhabit each and every role he plays. In Deranged, he managed to infuse Joseph Curwen with a layer of humanity and levity that made the audience almost forget how despicable a human being he is, and he accomplished this through a magnetic powerhouse performance that will undoubtedly be remembered.”
On the dramatic and erotic tension that ultimately culminates in Pistol and Taylor’s sex scene, Gamble is succinct. “From the very beginning, the common bond between the three of us was trust. I can’t emphasize that enough. Movies in this territory often deal with betrayal and danger and characters incapable of trusting one another, but paradoxically, trust between the performers and the director is paramount. It’s the one quality absolutely necessary to make a really great psychological thriller.”
Gamble is also quick to express gratitude to respected cinematographer and longtime collaborator James Avalon for his invaluable contributions. “Finding and maintaining a consistent look is the biggest challenge for a cinematographer. You know anyone can make certain things look great and make one location look spectacular, but when you put it all together and you watch the movie back, there needs to be consistency. And James knows that we have to create that consistency every day when we go to work and maintain it under so many diverse conditions. I look to a cinematographer to take my ideas and lend them more beauty or economy than I might have thought of, so James and I have a very personal artistic-creative rapport. I appreciate him so much – to know he has been in this industry as long as he has and to still see him bring the same passion is so important and refreshing. I would say he is the cinematographer I could have only dreamed of when I started directing. My gratitude is endless. To collaborate with him as a director after all the amazing projects I’ve worked with him on as an actor is truly an honor.”
“Seth is an incredibly talented actor who has that fire to be a really great director,” Avalon says, expanding on the collaborative nature of their relationship. “He’s always actively looking for the most unique angles to tell a story. It starts with how heavily he invests himself with the performers. He’s inquisitive, wonderful with actors, and a lot of that stems from his ability to listen and to watch, instead of talk. He’s a big believer in finding and letting what’s working happen as opposed to trying to change what’s working to work for the camera. He never falls back on established patterns, and that’s one of the best qualities a director can have.”
The newest episode of Deranged, starring Kenzie Taylor and Tommy Pistol, is now available on wicked.com. For public relations assistance please contact Daniel Metcalf at 818-266-7910 or email dlm@aeonfortyeight.com.
