Max Hardcore
Encyclopedia
Max Hardcore is a male pornographic actor, producer and director, who rose to prominence in 1992 with the film series Anal Adventures of Max Hardcore. His work has been classified as gonzo pornography
and described as "testing the limits of acceptability". His company, Max World Entertainment, was headquartered in Altadena, California.
. All of the actresses used in Little's movies are over the legal age of 18; however, they frequently dress and act in a way as to suggest that they are younger, possibly under the age of consent
. In his film Max Extreme 4, an actress, Regan Star, stated during one verbal exchange that she was 12 years old; similarly, in his film Max Extreme Schoolgirls 6, actress Mya Mason stated during one verbal exchange that she was 12 years old.
The sexual situations depicted in Max Hardcore's films frequently include acts such as urinating
on his female co-stars, fisting
them, or inserting specula
into their anuses or vaginas and widening them to extreme degree, as well as scenes wherein he forces them to vomit or blow snot
into their mouths or on themselves. Films by Max Hardcore often depict their director and star inflicting apparent pain and humiliation on his co-stars.
Hardcore calls his own material "vile and crazy" and considers that he has been influential on the porn industry, spawning many imitators.
Writer Susannah Breslin
, reviewing Hardcore's work, has commented: "In Max Hardcore movies – Pure Max, Hardcore Schoolgirls, Max! Don't Fuck Up My Mommy! – women are verbally and physically degraded in an unprecedented myriad of ways." The treatment by Hardcore of his female co-stars has been described by several critics as occasionally abusive. The tone of Hardcore's work has been considered misogynistic
. His films and alleged work methods have reportedly made him relatively unpopular in the porn industry.
and distribution of obscenity. The fact that the actress was over the age of 18 was not disputed; they brought charges based solely on the fact that the actress was portraying a character who was underage. Just before the case was brought to trial in 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the statute prohibiting adults from portraying children in films and books was unconstitutional (See Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition
). Based on this ruling, the child pornography charges against Little were dismissed. The misdemeanor charge of distribution of obscenity was retained, but the jury failed to reach a verdict. An additional obscenity charge was subsequently levied against him by L.A., again resulting in a hung jury
. Little commented after the trial that, "It was a frivolous waste of public resources."
On October 5, 2005, while Little was in Barcelona
to attend an international FICEB
Erotic Expo, the offices of Max World Entertainment were raided by the FBI. Five video titles and the office's computer servers were seized, ostensibly for research toward a federal obscenity indictment or a charge related to the 2257 record-keeping law.
In the execution of the search warrant, one officer accidentally discharged a weapon into the floor of an upstairs office, as the housekeeper was being detained below. No one was injured.
After the FBI raid, Little released the following statement:
In 2007, Little and his company, Max World Entertainment, Inc., were indicted by the United States Department of Justice
Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section
with five counts of transporting obscene matter by use of an interactive computer service and five counts of mailing obscene matter, relating to five movies showing fisting, urination and vomiting. Little was subsequently found guilty on all charges, and sentenced to 46 months in prison. On appeal, the 11th Circuit Court in Atlanta, Georgia upheld the conviction, but remanded his sentence. Little began serving his sentence on January 29, 2009.
The jury ordered the internet domain www.MaxHardcore.com to be forfeited but declined to forfeit Little's house in Altadena, California
.
Little was originally held at Federal Correctional Institution, La Tuna
in Anthony, Texas
, a low security correctional facility for men. He was transferred to the management of the Community Corrections Management, Long Beach facility on January 21, 2011 in preparation for his release, and served the final five months of his sentence under house arrest
. He is Federal Bureau of Prisons
number 44902-112 and was released on July 19, 2011.
Gonzo pornography
Gonzo pornography is a style of pornographic film that attempts to place the viewer directly into the scene. The name is a reference to gonzo journalism, in which the reporter is part of the event taking place...
and described as "testing the limits of acceptability". His company, Max World Entertainment, was headquartered in Altadena, California.
Nature of content
Max Hardcore's films generally consist of sexual acts executed by himself, with women who act like underage girls or their upset mothers, with an emphasis on anal sexAnal sex
Anal sex is the sex act in which the penis is inserted into the anus of a sexual partner. The term can also include other sexual acts involving the anus, including pegging, anilingus , fingering, and object insertion.Common misconception describes anal sex as practiced almost exclusively by gay men...
. All of the actresses used in Little's movies are over the legal age of 18; however, they frequently dress and act in a way as to suggest that they are younger, possibly under the age of consent
Age of consent
While the phrase age of consent typically does not appear in legal statutes, when used in relation to sexual activity, the age of consent is the minimum age at which a person is considered to be legally competent to consent to sexual acts. The European Union calls it the legal age for sexual...
. In his film Max Extreme 4, an actress, Regan Star, stated during one verbal exchange that she was 12 years old; similarly, in his film Max Extreme Schoolgirls 6, actress Mya Mason stated during one verbal exchange that she was 12 years old.
The sexual situations depicted in Max Hardcore's films frequently include acts such as urinating
Urolagnia
Urolagnia is a paraphilia in which sexual excitement is associated with the sight or thought of urine or urination. The term has origins in the Greek Language .Those who enjoy urolagnia may enjoy urinating on another person or persons, or being urinated upon...
on his female co-stars, fisting
Fisting
Fisting is a sexual activity that involves inserting a hand into the vagina or rectum. Once insertion is complete, the fingers either naturally clench into a fist or remain straight. In more vigorous forms of fisting, such as "punching", a fully clenched fist may be inserted and withdrawn slowly...
them, or inserting specula
Speculum (medical)
A speculum is a medical tool for investigating body cavities, with a form dependent on the body cavity for which it is designed. In old texts, the speculum may also be referred to as a diopter or dioptra...
into their anuses or vaginas and widening them to extreme degree, as well as scenes wherein he forces them to vomit or blow snot
Mucus
In vertebrates, mucus is a slippery secretion produced by, and covering, mucous membranes. Mucous fluid is typically produced from mucous cells found in mucous glands. Mucous cells secrete products that are rich in glycoproteins and water. Mucous fluid may also originate from mixed glands, which...
into their mouths or on themselves. Films by Max Hardcore often depict their director and star inflicting apparent pain and humiliation on his co-stars.
Hardcore calls his own material "vile and crazy" and considers that he has been influential on the porn industry, spawning many imitators.
Writer Susannah Breslin
Susannah Breslin
Susannah Breslin is an American writer best known for creating the blog The Reverse Cowgirl and for her on-camera reporting for the Playboy TV program Sexcetera. Her writing and television work tends to deal with sexual and pornography-related topics. She has also written for periodicals including...
, reviewing Hardcore's work, has commented: "In Max Hardcore movies – Pure Max, Hardcore Schoolgirls, Max! Don't Fuck Up My Mommy! – women are verbally and physically degraded in an unprecedented myriad of ways." The treatment by Hardcore of his female co-stars has been described by several critics as occasionally abusive. The tone of Hardcore's work has been considered misogynistic
Misogyny
Misogyny is the hatred or dislike of women or girls. Philogyny, meaning fondness, love or admiration towards women, is the antonym of misogyny. The term misandry is the term for men that is parallel to misogyny...
. His films and alleged work methods have reportedly made him relatively unpopular in the porn industry.
Prosecutions
Based on Max Extreme 4, the city of Los Angeles in 1998 charged him with child pornographyChild pornography
Child pornography refers to images or films and, in some cases, writings depicting sexually explicit activities involving a child...
and distribution of obscenity. The fact that the actress was over the age of 18 was not disputed; they brought charges based solely on the fact that the actress was portraying a character who was underage. Just before the case was brought to trial in 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the statute prohibiting adults from portraying children in films and books was unconstitutional (See Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition
Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition
Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition, , struck down two overbroad provisions of the Child Pornography Prevention Act of 1996 because they abridged "the freedom to engage in a substantial amount of lawful speech." The case was brought against the Government by the Free Speech Coalition, a "California...
). Based on this ruling, the child pornography charges against Little were dismissed. The misdemeanor charge of distribution of obscenity was retained, but the jury failed to reach a verdict. An additional obscenity charge was subsequently levied against him by L.A., again resulting in a hung jury
Hung jury
A hung jury or deadlocked jury is a jury that cannot, by the required voting threshold, agree upon a verdict after an extended period of deliberation and is unable to change its votes due to severe differences of opinion.- England and Wales :...
. Little commented after the trial that, "It was a frivolous waste of public resources."
On October 5, 2005, while Little was in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
to attend an international FICEB
Barcelona International Erotic Film Festival
The Barcelona International Erotic Film Festival, or FICEB is an annual Spanish pornographic film festival and awards ceremony....
Erotic Expo, the offices of Max World Entertainment were raided by the FBI. Five video titles and the office's computer servers were seized, ostensibly for research toward a federal obscenity indictment or a charge related to the 2257 record-keeping law.
In the execution of the search warrant, one officer accidentally discharged a weapon into the floor of an upstairs office, as the housekeeper was being detained below. No one was injured.
After the FBI raid, Little released the following statement:
In 2007, Little and his company, Max World Entertainment, Inc., were indicted by the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section
Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section
The Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section is a section of the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice in charge of protecting the welfare of America's children and communities by enforcing federal criminal statutes relating to the exploitation of children and obscenity...
with five counts of transporting obscene matter by use of an interactive computer service and five counts of mailing obscene matter, relating to five movies showing fisting, urination and vomiting. Little was subsequently found guilty on all charges, and sentenced to 46 months in prison. On appeal, the 11th Circuit Court in Atlanta, Georgia upheld the conviction, but remanded his sentence. Little began serving his sentence on January 29, 2009.
The jury ordered the internet domain www.MaxHardcore.com to be forfeited but declined to forfeit Little's house in Altadena, California
Altadena, California
Altadena is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, United States, approximately from the downtown Los Angeles Civic Center, and directly north of the city of Pasadena, California...
.
Little was originally held at Federal Correctional Institution, La Tuna
Federal Correctional Institution, La Tuna
Federal Correctional Institution, La Tuna is a low security Federal Bureau of Prisons facility for men in Anthony, Texas. The prison is near the Texas-New Mexico border, located on Texas State Highway 20, near Interstate 10. The complex is north of the city limits of El Paso...
in Anthony, Texas
Anthony, Texas
Anthony is an incorporated town in El Paso County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,850 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Anthony is located at ....
, a low security correctional facility for men. He was transferred to the management of the Community Corrections Management, Long Beach facility on January 21, 2011 in preparation for his release, and served the final five months of his sentence under house arrest
House arrest
In justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
. He is Federal Bureau of Prisons
Federal Bureau of Prisons
The Federal Bureau of Prisons is a federal law enforcement agency subdivision of the United States Department of Justice and is responsible for the administration of the federal prison system. The system also handles prisoners who committed acts considered felonies under the District of Columbia's...
number 44902-112 and was released on July 19, 2011.
External links
- The Official Max Hardcore Website
- United States Department of Justice press release, announcing Max's conviction and sentence
- Federal Bureau of Prisons information on Paul F. Little
- Max Hardcore found guilty on 20 counts of obscenity by Tampa, Fla. jury
- rotten.com article
- Biography from talkingblue.com
- Feds Nail Hardcore Producer, thesmokinggun.com article
- Max Hardcore Trial Travesty, by Steve Nelson, Adult Industry News
- News story about a 2005 raid on Max Hardcore's studio
- Max Hardcore Raided by Feds in Obscenity Probe News release from Free Speech CoalitionFree Speech CoalitionThe Free Speech Coalition is a non-profit trade association of the pornography and adult entertainment industry in the United States...
(October 4, 2005) - Hoffman Hardballs Hardcore Interview by David Hoffman (February 11, 2003)
- "Devil in the Flesh: From painful sex to foul-mouthed revenge fantasies, a meaner brand of pornography takes the back door to commercial success." by Peter S. Scholtes, City Pages (January 14, 1998)