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courtneys@telus.net
info@bdsm-alternativeloving.com
http://www.bdsm-alternativeloving.com/index.html
SENSUOUS SADIE: You produced the video Alternative Loving.
What motivated you to get involved with this project?
COURTNEY: "In early 2001 it became evident to me that there was no
feature length film out there that explained the BDSM and D/s lifestyles
in a comprehensive, positive and non-exploitive way and that it might be
commercially viable."
Sadie: Can you tell me a little bit about the video?
Courtney: "In a nutshell, it is comprised of interviews with Dr.
Gloria Brame and her husband, Will Brame, authors of 'Different Loving'
and Viola Johnson, author of 'To Love, To Obey, To Serve' as well as
interviews with 20 other Doms, subs, switches of all sexual preferences
plus sexologist, Dr. Pega Ren. The interviews are intercut with SM play
scenes and a play party and the whole documentary is divided into
distinct sections including the history of SM, the psychology behind it,
Dominants, Submissives, Safety, Public Play and on and on."
Sadie: What makes it unique and different from the various other BDSM
videos?
Courtney: "I'm only aware of one other serious documentary on SM, a
half hour film made a couple of years ago called 'Out of the Darkness'
made to be shown to police and psychologists as an educational tool.
"I haven't seen it, but hear it's very good. So one difference
would be the length. My film is 95 minutes long. and the DVD is the
'Director's Cut' at 107 minutes."
Sadie: We've all seen low quality BDSM films. How would you describe the
characteristics of a quality piece?
Courtney: "As a filmmaker, quality is a factor of production values
and they begin with how it is shot. I wish I had had the budget to shoot
on film but I didn't, and since it was intended for TV, Video and DVD, I
shot on BetacamSP Video, which is state-of-the-art video. Quality is
very much concerned with the intent of the film, the point of view of
the filmmaker and his or her purpose, as well. And, of course, the
bigger the budget, the better the production values. I spent a lot of
money, and got an equal amount of services, props and equipment donated
for free. Also the entire cast and crew worked for free, or rather, for
deferred fees once the hard costs are recouped."
Sadie: Your video has been described as explaining the lifestyle with
"dignity." Was this your goal? How did you go about producing
a video with this in mind?
Courtney: "My intent is what determined the tone of the project. I
wanted dignity and the people I chose to be in it would only be in
something that reflected that. It's a serious subject about a lifestyle
that defines the people in it, and not some Jerry Springer kind of
exploitive thing."
Sadie: Dr. Gloria Brame, William Brame and Viola Johnson are all
featured in the video. How did you get the participation of such
well-known writers and activists?
Courtney: "I decided that I needed to interview some recognized
authorities on the lifestyle and Gloria Brame was at the top of the
list. So, I contacted her and she agreed to be interviewed. She brought
in her husband, and directed me to Viola Johnson, and Doug Harris of The
Sanctuary in Atlanta."
Sadie: You recently showed the film at The National Association of
Television Producers Expo (NATPE). What was the response there? Were
they shocked, or generally pretty familiar with the BDSM lifestyle?
Courtney: "NATPE was a blast. We were part of the Canada Booth and
shocked our fellow countrymen big time. I took a friend of mine, Maeve,
who is interviewed in the movie, as my assistant. She is a gorgeous,
6'1" in heels, woman who wore a leopardskin outfit and knocked
everyone out.
"We got a great response to our trailer from broadcasters, networks
and distributors from all over the world. Reality checks came later when
they had all viewed the full program. None had a clue about SM."
Sadie: You're in the process of negotiating deals with international
distributors. What are some of the interesting issues and challenges
you've faced with international distribution?
Courtney: "Actually I acquired a distributor at NATPE, ZIA Film
Distributors LLC, in Santa Fe. They are doing the negotiations
worldwide. The main problem is that BDSM is way too out there for PBS,
Discovery, History, TLC etc. HBO and Showtime prefer bogus SM material,
and Playboy and the erotic film market want beautiful hardbodies having
sex, which is not what I made. So my show is caught in the middle.
"That said, we're on air on Granada TV throughout the British
Isles. The bad news is that it is on their 'Men and Motors' cable
channel, which is half motor racing and half soft core porn. The irony
is that the guys that love racing want sex, and I don't give that to
them. And Smers I suspect aren't necessarily motor sport fans. It should
be on a woman's channel or lifestyle channel or documentary channel. At
least it's playing in heavy rotation there and people can see it on
TV."
Sadie: You included interviews with about 20 Dominants, Submissives, and
Switches, including heterosexuals, gays, bisexuals, and transgendered.
Do you feel that you received a representative sampling of all the
different approaches to the lifestyle?
Courtney: "I tried very hard to be inclusive but there's only so
much you can put in one film. It was pointed out that I could have had
more male submissives in it, and I wish I had. Also I didn't have any
crossdressing Smers, but then there are so many SM subgroups that I'd
have to make a mini-series."
Sadie: As part of production, you arranged for a full day play party
in Vancouver. What were some of the challenges of bringing live play to
video? Did you script any of it, or was it more loosey goosey?
It was easy. I put the word out and they came! Everyone had to sign a
waiver saying they were over 21 and willing to be seen on camera. I had
to have that to avoid lawsuits and unhappy people. The individual scenes
were on a closed set with the crew and the two players. It was serious
and respectful as they did their scenes. The play party wasn't scripted
at all. We set up play stations and a social area, filled it with people
and let them play while we shot what happened."
Sadie: Do you find that most of the viewers are scene people, or do you
reach a broad vanilla audience?
That's hard to say, most of the people who came to the cast and crew
showings in Vancouver and Atlanta were in the scene and I suspect most
of those who have bought the video and DVD on my website are in the
scene. So the only way to reach the broad vanilla audience will be
through TV like in England now."
Sadie: You write that, "In many cases, the growth of the
lifestyle is due to the fact that many baby boom couples have split up
upon becoming empty nesters, and the individuals have begun to
experiment with alternative sexual practices and lifestyles." I
might also add that our culture is becoming far more accepting of
alternative sexual practices. How do you see the BDSM community changing
in the next decade?
I have no idea. A psychic I'm not. It's obvious that it is growing, but
will it continue? I assume so. I believe city governments are becoming
more used to the community and its clubs and events and because of the
media, a little less frightened and a little more open. The SM community
itself can only continue to educate, inform and widen its base with
inclusive activities and profile in the larger community."
Sadie: How would someone go about purchasing copies of the video? How
much does it cost?
Courtney: "You can buy the video, DVD or Soundtrack CD on my
website at: www.bdsm-alternativeloving.com. The video is now $24.95, the
DVD, $29.95 and the CD, $19.95. Or if you go to any of the major
national conferences like Black Rose, SELF, IML, Thunder in the
Mountains etc. you can buy them from the ButtBoy Music booth in the
Vendor's Fair. ButtBoy donated his amazing scene music for the film, and
his Soundtrack CD is an hour of excellent music to play by."
Sadie: You are starting work on a new video on polyamory. How is that
going? Any other interesting projects?
Courtney: "I'm just in the researching and writing stage of the
next one on polyamory and swinging. I won't be making anything until
this film has recouped its capital costs."
Sadie: What is your background in BDSM? How would you describe your
personal philosophy?
Courtney: "I'm in the lifestyle, but that is really irrelevant to
the making of the documentary. It was my desire to give an honest look
at the scene, and to reflect my personal belief that what goes on in the
bedrooms and the dungeons of the nation between consenting adults is
their business and should in no way be censured by anyone or any
organization. Personal expression of sexuality is no different than free
speech as being protected by the constitution in my opinion."
Sadie: Is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers?
Courtney: "Have fun, play safe, practice safe sex, love your
neighbor and buy my video!
Sadie: Thank you for sharing your time with me!
Courtney: "You're most welcome!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sensuous
Sadie is the author of It's Not
About the Whip: Love, Sex, and Spirituality in the BDSM Scene (http://www.trafford.com/robots/03-0551.html).
She is the founder and leader (1999 - 2001) of
Rose
&
Thorn
,
Vermont
's first BDSM group.
Comments, compliments and complaints, as well as requests for reprinting
can be addressed to her at SensuousSadie@aol.com
or visit her website at www.sensuoussadie.com. Sadie believes the universe is abundant, and that sharing information
freely is part of this abundance, so she allows reprints of her writing
in most venues.
Copyright
2003 Sadie Sez Publications
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