[3] An injury forced Stefano to take a break from performing and in the interim he learned how to edit.

[4] He began his directing career with Extreme Associates in the mid-1990s under the name Luciano.

[6] In 2003, Platinum X Pictures was launched by Stefano and Jewel De'Nyle (whom he would later marry), bankrolled by Red Light.

[6] Platinum X featured directors Manuel Ferrara, Brandon Iron, and Steve Holmes, and produced very similar content to Red Light.

[6] Around the same time, Red Light began distributing the films of Amateur District and Candy Shop, a studio headed by Stefano specializing in interracial content.