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Interview with Courtney Smith - Writer/Producer/Director
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| Discipline Magazine |
Discipline: Tell us about the project?
CS: "BDSM-Alternative Loving" is a comprehensive BDSM documentary aimed at helping those becoming interested in the lifestyle and as a validation for those already in it who would like something to show their friends and relatives to explain their involvement. It is a low budget project shot on professional Betacam SP.
Discipline: When did you start working on this?
CS: The project began in April 2001 when it became evident to me that there was no film out there like this and that it might be both commercially viable.
DM: What were the steps you took to realize this project?
CS: I decided that I needed to interview some recognized authorities on the lifestyle and Dr. Gloria Brame was at the top of the list. So, I contacted her and she agreed to be interviewed. She brought in her husband, William Brame and directed me to Viola Johnson, and Doug Harris of The Sanctuary in Atlanta. Before getting the complete budget together, I took a chance and did a credit card trip to Atlanta where I did the interviews with Gloria, Will, Viola, Doug and boy bob.
When I returned to Vancouver, I contacted a couple of friends of mine who are not in the lifestyle, and they agreed to put up some money. I managed to get Angela Bowie to agree to fly up from Phoenix to do the narration and she was a delight. Extremely professional and a whole lot of fun to work with.
I then arranged interviews with 20 Dom/mes, subs and switches who are het, bi, gay and transgendered. These included some of the top people from the Seattle area who agreed to be interviewed and do scenes. I rented a studio, and set up 20 play scenes of the various activities we enjoy and the last day of the shoot was a full blown play party with a large portion of the Vancouver community there as players and participants.
DM: Were there many highs and lows with developing such a project? Tell us about them.
CS: Actually there were no lows and the highs were many. Meeting Gloria Brame and Viola Johnson was a treat. They are both goddesses in my mind. Doug and bob Harris gave me their club for the Atlanta interviews and were great hosts.
The Seattle people were amazing in their support of the project. People I did not know personally, based on a couple of emails and a phone call, drove up to Vancouver and bared both their souls and bottoms for the film.
The Vancouver community went even further by helping crew the film as well as be in it. There were also people from Victoria and Nanaimo involved. Everyone gave their time and energy for free.
DM: What reactions have you had to your project so far?
CS: The reaction has been great from those who were part of it and those who have bought the video. I did a free screening for cast and crew here in Vancouver and the attendance and response were extremely good. Perhaps, I was right in believing that a film like this was needed to explain the lifestyle. Whether it is ultimately financially successful, only time will tell.
DM : What impact are you hoping that your project will bring to the world in general, and the scene in particular?
CS: I'm hoping that the film will do exactly what it was designed to do, as I said earlier, and that is to educate and inform people wishing to know more about the lifestyle, the media and those in authority who need to know why we do what we do and why it's okay. There are so many mistaken beliefs out there about SM that need to be addressed.
DM: What is your next project? Tell us about it?
CS: I would like to do a sequel on Polyamory and Swinging and perhaps one on Bi-sexuality and for fun I'd love to do a documentary on all-nude ballroom dancing!
DM: You worked with many people on this project. That must have been interesting. Tell us about some of the people you worked with?
CS: I mentioned some people earlier. Gloria and Will Brame are great people, generous of spirit, extremely knowledgeable and supportive. Viola Johnson is an amazing woman. In addition to being a full time slave, and author, she is working to establish a facility for aging SMers called "Coming Home".
Sadly, boy bob owned by Master Doug Harris passed away on March 29th of this year. he possessed the uncommon heart of a devoted slave and will be greatly missed. Doug Harris is a wonderful man and runs a great club. Also MissDemeanor ( Deborah) passed away on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2003. As a mainstay in the PNW scene, she will be greatly missed.
Jeff Gord and Lady Serena and their Forniphilia bondage work are truly awe-inspiring. As was the Japanese rope bondage of James Mogul. Doug House was my production co-ordinator without whom the play scenes and play party would have been much more difficult to pull off. I could go on and on. Let me say that everyone involved was in their own unique ways, a pleasure to work with and to get to know.
Interview by Midnight Rider - Discipline Magazine
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