With the phenomenon of “cameras everywhere,” the possibility of doing anything under rhe radar – from BDSM to Bread and Breakfast – is virtually impossible. Of course, this erosion of privacy can be a topic in just about any forum, from politics to sexual expression. So, when a question that includes all aspects of intrusive technology with respect to BDSM comes across my desk (and I don’t even have a desk!), I jump at the chance to attempt a cogent answer. So, here it is!
Reader: My Mistress and i have been thinking about a play kidnap scene but are uncertain about Health and Safety precautions, and of course the law. How can we do this safely and avoid involving the Police or the public unintentionally?
As we all know, privacy is going the way of the horse and buggy. One must assume that if you want to attempt an abduction scene, you will have to keep in mind you will be observed. The question is whether this intrusion will insure a trip to the local police station. Your question acknowledges the Police could get involved.
If you imagine an abduction scene as being a “mini-movie,” you can use this to great advantage – from planning aspects to legal issues. From the planning side, making a “movie storyboard” is a great way to go. It doesn’t have to be elaborate, but it can take you from “point a” to “point b” to “point c” in an easy-to-picture way. By visualizing every step, it will help you identify those areas most likely to go right — or wrong. A storyboard gives you a great overview and makes controlling the whole project a lot easier.
As to the legal concerns, it is clear that the actual kidnapping is always the riskiest part. And the more true-to-life you want to make the scene, the more dangerous it is. With video cameras all over the place, prepare for the best but expect the worst. I am not giving any legal advice here (this is the “BaadMaster disclaimer”), but I have discovered one great concept that can take some of the risk out of an abduction scene. I call this the “reality TV movie” strategy. With the popularity of reality TV, this approach has a lot to recommend it. It takes a bit of extra work, but if you wish to stage a realistic abduction scene, it is well worth the effort.
First of all, write a quick abduction script. Title it something like, “The Abduction of Amber.” Then have each person involved sign an actor’s contract/release form and attach a photocopy of his/her driver’s license. Verify that everyone is of legal age. Finally, you must have a video camera with you and take some footage of the “project.” This doesn’t make you immune to Murphy’s Law, but it gives you a degree of protection should things go wrong.
And what can go wrong? Two untoward things can happen when you stage a public abduction. One, a cop actually sees the kidnapping and intervenes. The “reality movie” explanation – with all your “actors” ready to state that it is a movie project and with all the release forms in order – will, more than likely, head off any problems. Another, somewhat similar, problem can occur if someone sees the abduction and calls the police. In this case, you might wind up with cherry tops pulling you over. Again, the movie setup gives you the best chance of not having any further hassles. Be respectful, have your paperwork ready, spend the twenty bucks and register this “script” with the WGA and you will likely be fine. At the very least, if you are arrested, the charges will likely be dropped.
You might think all this preparation takes the fun and spontaneity out of the scene. This might be true to some extent; but we live in the real world. Just as safe sex is essential in the world of STD’s, so is caution indispensable in a world of aggressive law enforcement. Anything worth doing well is worth doing right. And taking a lot – if not all – of the worry out of an abduction scene more than compensates for the extra planning and paperwork this approach requires.
This “reality TV” concept does not preclude the need to follow all of the procedures that I outlined. Make sure to agree on safe words, have an outside friend available on the cellphone and pre-negotiate all hard and soft limits. You don’t want problems at the destination after the abduction goes well. The less that is left to chance, the more fun you will have. Movies and TV have filled our minds with all sorts of nifty, sometimes sexy, visions of what a kidnapping looks like. With this in mind, why not star in your own movie? That, to me, sounds like the most fun!
After a ten year run as head writer for the legendary bondage.com, and an equally long run as the host of the hit internet show “Baadmaster’s Dungeon,” we are pleased to welcome the one and only Baadmaster to KinkWeekly. His thoughts about all things BDSM will now appear regularly on these pages. From the mental aspects of D/s to the nuts and bolts of S&M play, Baadmaster will cover every facet of this ever expanding lifestyle.
