Next Door Studios’ Jeremy Babcock Sneaks Us a Peek at His First 3-Part Feature

How did you get your foot in the directorial door of porn?

Kind of a crazy story, but I was on set every shoot week in 2019 doing BTS, interviews, content for the social channels, etc. I'm way more of an editor than a cameraman, but I had trained up on the cameras they were using for the scene shoots "in case of emergency", and as it happened, it was only weeks later that we lost one of our staff directors. I found out one morning about an hour before I arrived on set that I'd be directing that day (talk about STRESS)! As it turned out, I ended up directing for the next 2+ months while we found a replacement.  That time directing actually put me in a perfect position to evolve into my current Chief Creative Officer role over the next couple of years. I guess more than getting my foot in the door, I happened to be in the room when the door slammed shut with me inside, so I just rolled with it.

What sets your work apart from the work of other directors in the industry?

Hmmm.  I guess in terms of the stories I like to bring to our audience, I spend a lot of time asking "Why?" and "Who does this appeal to?" I love the psychology of porn, and my goal is always to connect with people on some human level.  I love telling "porn-world" stories that are fun or snarky but also resonate on some authentic level.  Two people having hot sex is great, but seeing that scenario that builds to their sexual encounter can really take a scene to the next level, and make for repeat viewing.

How does it feel to have completed your very first three-part feature?

I am SO excited.  We've been dialing in our Next Door Films brand for almost a full year now, and we have an amazing team working on these.  These Films normally come in at about an hour apiece, so this feature will end up being about 3 hours of content.  Having this platform to tell a thoughtful story and follow a character's journey is an absolute blast.  The work Conrad Parker and Big Mike did behind the cameras for these films is amazing.  It's beautifully shot content, with a really strong cast of models.

Can you tell us a little bit about it, of course without giving too much away?

Of course!  One thing we've found over the last year is that people really connect with the characters in our Next Door Films scenes, and we just recently released our first sequel (Just Curious 2).  It's amazing how much people loved seeing that story continue, so we wanted to take that a step further.  Our feature, Changes picks up right where Just Curious 2 leaves off, as we follow Jayden Marcos' character back to his normal life.  We have a built-in backstory available for this character, having just had his first gay sexual experience, and this film explores his return to his normal life.  This film covers a lot of ground—exploring sexuality, dating, friendship, love, hookups, and even a budding bromance.

What were you looking for when casting the production, and what did the talent bring to the project?

This was a very rare project where I got EVERY single person on my wish list. In our world, that basically never happens, but from day 1, the models in this film were the basis of the characters we were writing. I really wanted an eclectic cast of characters for this one, and I had met or worked with each of these models previously, giving me an idea of "who" they could be in our film.  They all deserve a shout-out, so here we go!  First Jayden Marcos is a phenomenal actor. The guy could be working in Hollywood.  He can make you laugh one minute, and cry the next—hopefully both in this film. Des Irez gets to play sweet and fun and gay, and basically be his lovely self, which is balanced by the low-key calm sweetness from Kane Fox. These guys both bring great energy and heart to the film. Episode 2 is really the time to shine for Tony Genius. We took the risk of going full comedy for this one, and Tony nailed it.  His expressions and body language really carry this scene. Kyle Fletcher gets to play an eccentric and difficult home buyer. The combination of Kyle as aloof and quirky was so fun with Tony's acting range.  Then we tossed in Andrew Miller playing his same character from the Just Curious films, to make this a really fun 3-way.  Finally, we have Jayden with Derek Kage in the 3rd episode.  Derek has a gravity to him, both on-screen and in person, and I knew I wanted him to close out this story. These two guys deliver a really charming bromance that ties all the chaos of the rest of the film together with a nice bow.  Every single guy showed up and embraced the acting in this film, and I couldn't be happier.

Were there any challenges or obstacles along the way?

Wouldn't be a porn film without obstacles!  I got a miracle with no casting changes, so we were due for some road bumps.  The biggest was the weather. Southern California in April, and we pick the only week with rain. A few of my outside plans became inside scenes. Our other challenge was time. We knock these films out in a day, and I got overambitious in a few places...we put some extra creative energy into a few pieces, which meant we had to trim a few other pieces.  Totally worth it, the films are gorgeous!

What do you think is the sexiest aspect of the production?

The models, first and foremost.  Beyond that, I think connecting with the characters is sexy. These films let you take a journey with the characters, and we do our best to tap into real situations and emotions so that the sexual arousal is enhanced by the human connection of it all. By the time they actually have sex, you've got this extra layer of emotional fantasy there, to go with the physical.

As a director and producer, you are but one of many moving parts that goes into making a great film. What’s it like to assemble and work with your crew?

Love this question.  It's really challenging to bring together talented people to build a great crew, but it's so rewarding once it all clicks. I'm so proud of Anthony & Mike and the entire current team and the energy they all bring to the table. Top to bottom, (ignore the pun), this team has the skills to jump in where needed, help each other out in any area, and just gel together to make great content. From the view through the lens, to set designs, wardrobe, and even the casting team, everyone nails their role. I genuinely enjoy working with all of them. It's rewarding creatively, but also just plain fun, too.