Or everything you always wanted to know about Japanese erotic bondage when you suddenly realized that you didn't speak Japanese
The Beauty of Kinbaku
Kinbaku
and Art
Please note: no part of these articles may be reproduced by any means without the express written consent of the author or the publisher, King Cat Ink.
This page is best viewed on Google Chrome.
Behind the scenes still of the 3 story suspension - 4 - take off.
Or everything you always wanted to know about Japanese erotic bondage when you suddenly realized that you didn't speak Japanese
The Beauty of Kinbaku
Kinbaku
and Art
Please note: no part of these articles may be reproduced by any means without the express written consent of the author or the publisher, King Cat Ink.
Chapter Sixteen
Kinbaku and Art-American Bakushi Part 10 -
Filming "Wives of the Skies"
by Master “ K”
This page is best viewed on Google Chrome.
Please join me next time as we continue our exploration into the fascinating subject of “Kinbaku and Art!”
Well, it has been done before and with great success. One need only point to the wonderfully funny and wise “I Am an S+M Writer,” the film adaptation of the great Oniroku Dan’s novella “Season of Infidelity” (which featured Kinbuku by my late sensei Yukimura Haruki) as proof.
Recently, another project was added to this list when writer/director Honey Lauren approached my friend and deshi Yzen about the possibility of our doing Kinbaku for her comedy short film project “Wives of the Skies.”
Behind the scenes still of the 3 story suspension - 4 - take off.
Needless to say, I was very intrigued and even more excited when I read the excellent and tasteful script which tells the story of a pair of free thinking 1960's stewardesses and their romantic complications. Complications that include a healthy dose of rope in their relationship, much to the consternation of a visiting bachelor dinner guest.
Over the past few years it’s been very gratifying to see how many women artists, photographers and filmmakers have begun to include artistic Kinbaku in their various projects.
Kikkou over hishi body harness and chair tie with Maddison Bullock.
It's the groovy 60's in "Wives of the Skies". Director of Photography Davey Robertson films a dancing and now blonde Maddison Bullock)
I was even more enthusiastic when the writer/director and her producers agreed to a rehearsal session so that we could better understand her requirements and the needs of her script.
A lot of fun was had (as attested to by some of the accompanying photos) and some useful creative decisions were made, one of which was particularly rope centric. We determined to try to do Kinbaku ties that were a little “over the top” in order to enhance the humor of the script and to try to do only those that might actually have been around in the mid 60’s in Japanese magazines like Kitan Club. These included a classic ushirode (hands in front) shibari and a kikkou over hishi body harness. There was even a hopping-in-rope rehearsal!
At the end of the afternoon we felt like part of a “team” and not just the visiting “rope guys.” That’s as it should be and I have found that on serious productions such as “The Neon Demon” and on the various fashion shoots I’ve done the “rope guys” are treated with the same dignity and respect as other craft participants such as stuntmen and make-up artists. In this case I was especially impressed by Honey's thoroughness as her team even explored the way different lighting effects might affect the "look" of our Kinbaku ropes on camera.
Comedy and Kinbaku?
Such recent exciting work would include performance artist Millie Brown’s thrilling video “Pendulum,” photographer Melanie Pullen’s 2017 LA Art Show installation and composer/singer and music vid director Iliona Blanc’s sexy and melodic “Goldfingers,” which is now making the rounds of prestigious European film and video festivals.
Still from the movie "I Am an S+M Writer", 2000.
Thanks to the talent of the director, the marvelous actors and the wonderful crew, the shoot was a delight to be a part of for Yzen and myself and, based upon what I saw in person and on the various set monitors during the shoot, my impression is that “Wives of the Skies” will be a very entertaining and even moving short film “dramedy” whenever it sees the light of day.
One of the highlights of the filming was when we were asked to tie a roast chicken in a Kinbaku manner so that it could be served to the befuddled male guest. I did say the two stewardess roommates were dedicated rope lovers after all. I’m glad to say the result provided one of the bigger laughs of the day for the crew.
The rehearsal was held over a long weekend afternoon at my dojo where Honey explained her ideas and Yzen and I explained some possibilities and explored safety and comfort issues with two of her stars, the lovely and talented Rachel Alig and Maddison Bullock, who was also a co-producer. We also demonstrated how each of the ties was to be accomplished within the always limited time frame of a film project.
Most of the shoots that I’ve been on have involved a lot of waiting around time. However, this wasn’t the case here and Yzen and I were busy every moment shuffling in and out of the crowded sets to do our bits.
Shoot days are tough and chaotic and such was the case with “Wives of the Skies.” Tremendous pressure is put on the director and the crew to get the material they need within the time and budget allowed. This was especially tricky in this case because the production had elected to shoot in a vintage mid-century apartment which gave the scenes shot there a wonderful period feel but limited the working space. This meant that only a very small and dedicated crew would do much of the filming.
This was because there was a surprising amount of Kinbaku included in the script. As mentioned, we had to do several very complicated ties and do them many times over as lights were moved and camera angles adjusted. And then there was the chicken!
Writer/Director/Actress Honey Lauren.
Ushirode (hands in front tie) on actress Rachel Alig.
Cast on the crowded set, left to right: Drew Brandon Jones, Maddison Bullock and Rachel Alig.
Yzen adjusting a rope between shots.
(Rachel Alig, Maddison Bullock, Yzen and Drew Brandon Jones)
Master "K" prepares the ushirode.
Inspecting the tie from every angle. (Rachel Alig & Honey Lauren)
Maddison Bullock: Can I still hop?
Lighting effects.
Rope rehearsal at the dojo. Left to right: S.M Scappa (producer), Master "K", Honey Lauren (writer/director).
The chicken ready for close-up.
That's a wrap! Yes, the actors were really tied as these rope marks attest.
Tying the knot! Don't all comedies end in a wedding?
Fancy white ribbon by the "rope guys."
A touching conclusion. (Drew Brandon Jones & Rachel Alig)
Rachel Alig gets a touch up. Make-up comes to her when she can't get to them.
Maddison Bullock prepares to hop into the scene in her kikkou over hishi body harness.
Links to Other Chapters of Kinbaku and Art
