For about 15 years, Sparks Entertainment has made a name for itself as a studio known for stylish visuals and compelling narratives, with owner Harry Sparks drawing upon his fascination with mainstream and adult cinema to inspire unique works.
With a collaborative mindset and a keen eye for talent, Sparks tailors roles to fit the stars he has in mind for new features, ensuring they can bring characters to life with panache.
I think casting the right person for a role is crucial. So I put a lot of thought into who will play what role during the planning stages of a shoot.
With the aesthetic flair and depth of his films, Sparks has garnered numerous XBIZ Awards nominations, including 14 nominations for 2012’s “Revenge of the Petites.” The studio's works span parodies like Beauty and the Beast XXX, cosplay-themed scenes and sci-fi projects like the company’s new flick, “Maid to Kill.”
Drawing upon the directorial flourishes of his favorite Hollywood creatives, not to mention his own special blend of auteur, Sparks now aims to push the envelope of imaginative releases and take his studio to newfound heights.
Light a match with Sparks Entertainment in this company profile, as the head honcho unveils his grand plans and inner thoughts.
XBIZ: Tell us about the founding of Sparks Entertainment and the biggest milestones you’ve achieved as a company since inception.
SPARKS: Sparks Entertainment was founded about 15 years ago. Since then, we’ve grown from creating only short films to full-blown independent feature films and web series for both mainstream and adult. It’s very exciting now because we just completed our latest web series, and are about to start another one.
XBIZ: Discuss the team behind Sparks. How does everyone work together to produce and sell content in this competitive market?
SPARKS: Teamwork is so important. We are a small business, so everyone works on a per-project basis. But I try to keep the same team from project to project because there is a shorthand there that really helps.
XBIZ: What sets your titles apart from traditional studio productions, aesthetically and content-wise?
SPARKS: The things that set our titles apart are stories and visuals. I’m very story- and plot-oriented and love the narrative aspect of it all. I also started in mainstream and watch a lot of independent films, so the visual style is going to be heavily influenced by those mainstream and independent movies I enjoy.
XBIZ: How do you handle marketing across a diverse array of channels and with various partners?
SPARKS: Having different partners helps reach a wider audience and that to me is very exciting. At the same time, there are certain titles that I want to keep exclusive to my own streaming website. Those are usually the web series and the features that make the streaming platform unique.
XBIZ: Describe your approach to getting feedback from fans in terms of the stars and content they desire most.
SPARKS: I definitely have a vision. That said, I enjoy hearing from fans about what they want to see and suggestions for casting. Sometimes, when it comes to casting, there are certain projects that I write with a certain person in mind for a role. But otherwise, I am open to suggestions.
XBIZ: Talk about how you direct performers on set and collaborate with them to bring out the best performances possible.
SPARKS: I think casting the right person for a role is crucial. So I put a lot of thought into who will play what role during the planning stages of a shoot. That makes things much easier than trying to shape a person into a role they don’t fit. On set, I don’t yell and scream at the actors because I’ve never felt that was the best way to get a good performance. It’s much more about a collaboration with the actor and building the performance as you go.
XBIZ: What are a few recent releases you’re especially excited about as far as their success?
SPARKS: I am really excited about “Maid to Kill.” Certain projects you feel more passionate about than others, and that’s one that I have wanted to make for several years, not really from the standpoint of making money, but I’m happy to have it finally off the printed page and out there for people to see.
XBIZ: Any buzzworthy projects currently in the works that you’re able to give us a preview of?
SPARKS: As a matter of fact, there is a project that I am shooting this summer. During the quarantine, I had so many ideas for original stories, and this is one of my favorites. I can’t say much about it now because I don’t want to spoil it, but it should be out at the end of the summer.
XBIZ: How do you stay creatively inspired to come up with exciting scenarios and compelling visuals?
SPARKS: I’m a big movie fan so I try to watch as many films as I can, both new and old. I also read quite a bit. I find that even reading the news can spark a great idea for a project, so I always try to stay informed about what is going on in the world.
XBIZ: What are your long-term goals with Sparks for this upcoming year and beyond?
SPARKS: I’m really looking forward to completing the projects that are in production right now. It will be very satisfying just to have them completed and released. Long-term, I look forward to continuing to build my body of work and challenge myself along the way with interesting and unique projects.
