For White Tiger, which opened its doors in May, signing Hot Desert Knights is proof that the company has served all of its lines well.
“This signing wasn’t a question of money for me,” Rob Ragan of White Tiger told XBIZ. “The great thing about this deal is that a company like Hot Desert Knights thought we would be the very best way to bring their product to market. That means we’re doing great things for all of our producers, and that makes me very happy. This is a real show of confidence.”
Hot Desert Knights co-founder Bill Gardner said Ragan’s reputation for fairness and professionalism toward his producers cemented the deal.
“Rob Ragan and White Tiger Releasing enjoy an outstanding reputation with both distributors and retail outlets,” Gardner said. “Rob has been in the business many years. He is known for his professionalism, courtesy and the efficiency in which he takes care of his clients. For that reason, we decided to grant to Rob and White Tiger Releasing the exclusive right to distribute the HDK product line in the U.S.”
Hot Desert Knights co-founder John Singleton said the distribution agreement allows the 8-year-old company to focus on making quality films. The studio previously distributed its own content.
“This was the most comfortable signing for me yet,” Ragan said. “Hot Desert Knights is a great company with a fantastic reputation for quality titles.”
Hot Desert Knights, which specializes in hardcore bareback content, joins a growing list of White Tiger producers, including D&E Productions, EON Films, PrideStudios/CircleJerkBoys and Seymore Dicks Presents.
White Tiger recently ended its distribution relationship with Happy Ending Pictures.
Ragan said he plans to continue signing new companies, although he stressed that he remains selective, often turning down production houses that don’t fit in with White Tiger’s standards.