JD Daniels: The Man Behind ‘Friends in Heat’

December 5, 2023
ALEXANDER

With the adult content world being saturated with either Fans material or major studio offerings, there is still a faction of independent porn studios. Enter Luxxxe Studios. Making a splash this last year with their debut series, Friends in Heat, the studio is working on bringing back the nostalgia and feel of porn from the '80s and '90s — where storytelling and exclusive models were mainstays in the biz. Industry regular Justin Yurmouth leads the cast, along with players that include Brian Bonds, Jayden Jaxx, and Aaron Trainer, to name a few. Streaming on NakedSword, the series is now in its second season and boasts music from porn musician Dakota Payne, as well as multiple award nominations, including one from this year’s Fleshbot Awards.

At the helm of the series is Luxxxe Studios founder JD Daniels, who started his studio work for Bacchus Video back in 1998. Since then, he has filmed over 72 studio scenes, with work for Treasure Island and Noir Male leading at the top. In 2021, JD moved behind the camera and put his all into creating Luxxxe Studios and putting together a production team and star cast, proving that independent porn makers still have a strong voice in the industry. This month marks the finale of Season 2. Will there be a Season 3? We got the scoop from JD himself as we chatted with him about his career, the series, and his big return to porn.

How did you first get into the adult industry?

I started out go-go dancing to help pay for my doctorate education, then a friend introduced me to someone looking for performers. Being young and loving sex, I said why not and I stuck with it. Who knew I would still be doing it twenty-five years later?

You used to be a performer. What made you make the move to work behind the camera?

I am still a performer. The desire to be a performer never left me. I’m just taking a little break to get Luxxxe Studios up and running. After winning nineteen awards, including 2020 Ravens Eden Living Legend (Lifetime Achievement Award) and then the first-ever Performer of the Decade in 2021, I wanted to start sharing my knowledge and experience to help other performers achieve greatness and success in the industry. I also wanted to start creating and making films that are unique, different, and memorable. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for some time and it wasn’t until recently that I could actually do it.

Do you miss being a performer on camera?

I do, that’s why I’m looking forward to my return to performing in 2024. I plan on starting out first with Fans content and then back to studio work. I’m in talks to collaborate with several performers for my return to Fans content. I want to make it spectacular and unforgettable for fans to enjoy.

How has the porn industry changed the most since you started?

When I first started, you had maybe a handful of performers people knew. Now you have such a variety of performers in all different shapes and sizes. You have so many people of color working and thriving in their work. There is so much more diversity now. People of color are being recognized and appreciated for their hard work, not only in front of the camera but behind the scenes too, including myself.

What do you love most about producing?

I love organizing things, seeing it all come together and uniting people who have been wanting to work together, and then seeing the fabulous result. There is something special you feel when it’s all done and you see that final product and you get to say, “I helped make that happen.”

How did you come up with the idea of Friends in Heat?

I did a Just For Fans with my ex-partner, Ignite the Fuck. It was a two-part movie that won awards. When I was trying to figure out what I wanted for Luxxxe Studios, that video popped in my head and it inspired me. I wanted to recapture that energy that was more mainstream and filled with eroticism, steam, heat, and fire. I also wanted to give it a Hollywood feel by drawing in the elements of the '80s TV dramas like Dallas and Dynasty. Then I spoke with Jasun Mark about my concept and vision for the movie and he helped me to come up with the name. The rest is history in the making.

What makes the Friends in Heat series different than other porn out there?

That’s simple. It has an eroticism and storyline that builds from episode to episode. Most porn doesn’t have post-sex scenes and cliffhangers that draw you in and make you want to watch the next episode. Jasun Mark was able to take my vision of the series and elevate the movie beyond my expectations. He gave each scene a unique but cohesive style for the movie. We also brought back tan lines from the yesteryear of porn. I find tan lines very sexy and I’ve gotten great feedback from the fans, industry professionals, and fellow performers.

What do you look for most in casting a model?

Charm. Personality. Attitude. Respect. Kindness. Determination. Confidence. Their work mindset. Professionalism. Their willingness to work with a diverse group of people. We believe in being progressive and having a diverse cast at Luxxxe Studios and we want our models to represent that level of class.

What did you love most about filming Friends in Heat?

Getting to work with so many talented people like Jasun Mark, Anthony Duran, and Mark E. Hersh. I got a better understanding of how all the staging is done, the lighting, and everything that it takes to make a film. I got to make my directorial debut alongside Jasun Mark in the second season of Friends in Heat in episode 3, “Revelations.”

I am so grateful to Anthony Duran for introducing me to Jasun Mark who is such an invaluable resource and SJam Graphics and Creations by Scott for their brilliant work. When Anthony wasn’t able to do season 2 due to a scheduling conflict, we were blessed to be able to bring on the talented Mark E. Hersh, who has become the official Director of Photography for Luxxxe Studios.

What did you love most about working with Brian Bonds and Justin Yurmouth?

I loved seeing them work together. Not only did I get to work with Brian, one of my closest and oldest friends, and Justin, another of my closest friends, but they had such fantastic chemistry on set as Jake Carmichael and Darryl MacDaniels. They really made the scenes pop and set the tone for the series. They are the perfect leading men to represent the Friends in Heat series.

I’m so proud that Brian was able to get his first GAYVN Supporting Acting Nomination for his role as Darryl MacDaniels in the award-nominated Friends in Heat Season 1. I can’t wait to see what honors and accolades Justin gets from his work in the full series.

Is there going to be a Season 3? What can audiences expect?

I am proud to announce that there will be a Season 3! Nothing is set in stone for the story yet but I’m working with the Luxxxe Studios Insider, Robby Lewis, and Stephen Michaels on bringing you something that is hotter and jam-packed with drama. It’s going to have dramatic changes and plot twists that I know the audience is going to love. That’s all I can say for now.

Dakota Payne wrote a song for your series. What did you love most about working with him?

I originally approached Dakota Payne after hearing his song "Loves Me Not." It was perfect for the award-nominated Season 1 of Friends in Heat. It fits Jake’s and Darryl’s characters perfectly. We came up with the idea of creating an original song for Season 2. That’s how "Smoke and Mirrors" got its start. After that was released, I suggested the idea of doing a special remix of "Loves Me Not" for Season 1. Dakota loved the idea and came up with the idea of the title "The Luxxxe Remix." I loved seeing Dakota Payne’s passion, creativity, and dedication to his art. He and Trent Park are a phenomenal team. Working with them to bring this song to the public was amazing. They really captured the essence of season 2 of Friends in Heat. They are both classy, unique, and talented artists. They created a masterpiece. Now we have the Luxxxe remix of "Loves Me Not"
coming out on December 8, 2023.

What are the biggest obstacles in being an independent adult filmmaker?

Finding talent that could embody the Luxxxe Studios Brand. We were able to get multi-award-winning XBIZ Performer of the Year Dillon Diaz to write Season 1, and acclaimed actor, director, and writer Stephen Michaels to write Season 2, his first adult film script. One thing I must say is Anthony Duran getting Jasun Mark to direct was a godsend. He dedicated a lot into Friends in Heat from directing, doing the music, editing, and whatever else we needed to do to bring the series to the screen.

We were excited to get talented award winners Brian Bonds, Aaron Trainer, Jake Waters, Jason Collins, Ryan Carter, and Archer Croft and to be able to work alongside our Luxxxe Studios Exclusives, Justin Yurmouth, award-nominated Jayden Jaxx, and newcomer Luke London. I also got to introduce audiences to new emerging talent Matteo Nevaeh. We were honored that Jason Collins chose us to make his return to studio work.

How do you unwind after a long day of filming?

I like to listen to some old-school music, or I’ll take a drive to nowhere with the top down. I love how the wind blows through my hair. Sometimes I’ll hit the gym or put on some old TV shows to let my mind just relax. What I love to do to remind myself that it’s all worth it is to sit out on my patio and enjoy my Atlanta skyline view. It reminds me how far I’ve come and to not stop striving for greatness.

Are you working on any other projects?

I really enjoyed working with Jasun Mark and look forward to having him do more work with Luxxxe Studios. We have some ideas that we know he’s going to love. There are a lot of other great projects coming up that I can’t really give the details on yet. I am in talks with directors, performers, writers, and producers to come up with new material for Luxxxe Studios, including a new series. Audiences are going to love the surprises we have for them in the coming months.

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What is your message to fans of Friends in Heat?

We are going to keep bringing the eroticism, sensuality, and innovation that they love from us in the next season, and in everything we bring to them from Luxxxe Studios.

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Watch Friends in Heat at NakedSword.