Action International Pictures (AIP), also known as West Side Studios, is a film production and distribution company founded in 1986.
[2] Although Josh Brolin was ultimately cast in Thrashin', Winters' choice was a "pre-21 Jump Street", Johnny Depp.
Like many low-budget film productions, AIP's original films used many of the same cast and crew in many of the films, including David Prior's brother Ted as an actor and writer; the apparently versatile William Zipp as actor, writer, director, producer, and stunt man; and an occasional well-known actor such as Cameron Mitchell, who appeared in Space Mutiny and three other AIP ventures.
[7] Winters bought out his partners in 1992, and re-branded AIP as West Side Studios.
This was acknowledged as a nod to his 30-year association with West Side Story, as well as to de-emphasize action films.