The importance of behind the scenes material

Posted at 15:00 on 2 Mar 2022 by Pandora Blake in behind the scenes, films, mission statement, Pandora Blake, values

We recently received this comment and it seems like the perfect opportunity to speak about the importance of behind the scenes material in what we do.

The BTS at the end of the main movie is edited highlights, so the full BTS movie still has extra material for keen fans. Performer consent is one of our core values, and especially with edgy or taboo scenes, it's absolutely essential that we make the consent of everyone involved clear and transparent to all viewers. The post-credits highlights serve to show a glimpse of the reality on set to everyone who watches the film, even if they don't watch the separate BTS video.

As well as on the membership site where a lot of auxiliary materials such as interviews and the BTS videos are available, we also publish content on other platforms and streaming sites where we upload scenes as a single file. The post-credit outtakes mean that performer consent is visible even if someone is watching the film on Clips4Sale, ManyVids or PinkLabel, while leaving extra value for members of the subscription site which is the only place viewers can access the full behind the scenes video.

The other reason is to defend our brand against piracy. Of course, we hope that members won't share our films on filesharing sites, because they know that doing this impacts our ability to cover costs and to keep doing what we do. But if our films do end up on a tube site, we want performer consent to be visible there too so that the film doesn't end up being viewed out of context where it might have a very different feel and negatively impact our reputation: particularly if it's uploaded with a new (and less positive and respectful) title, keywords and description, as often happens.

Overall, including this material in the main film ensures that it can't be avoided, and that makes our values clear and transparent to all viewers, regardless of where and how a video is accessed. It also provides us with a small degree of legal protection in the event that someone were to maliciously report our site, or one of our videos, to the authorities.

I hope that clears up our position on behind the scenes material. We've recently updated our mission statement to bring it in line with our values, including our focus on transparency in our working practices: you can read more here. 

The centre of attention

Posted at 15:30 on 5 Mar 2022 by Persephone Hazard in asked for, bare bottom, barefoot, BDSM, Becci Belacqua, behind the scenes, consensual, face slapping, film, FM|F, hand spanking, Miss Kelley May, nude spankee, paddle, playful, spanking bench, Stephen Lewis

Kinky people talk about headspaces a lot. It’s the word we’ve come to use to describe someone’s frame of mind as they play: are you taking a sadistic pleasure in your partner’s kicks and gasps, or trying to coax them into a state of genuine euphoria? Are you offering up control to a dominant presence you’re aching to serve, or do you want them to take it from you in a battle of wills? There are as many headspaces as there are fantasies, of course, and every set of play partners has its own dynamic.

One of the core truths of healthy, consensual BDSM is that the exchange of power is more complex than it seems at first glance. Ostensibly one party is in control and the other has surrendered it - but in truth the experience is collaborative, and the submissive partner is usually the real centre of a scene. The deeper into your headspaces you are, the more real your fantastical scenario becomes.

Becci’s character in this week’s film is a perfect example of that collaborative creation of a dynamic and a space. The whole surprise was their idea: they suggested to Stephen that he bring them into date night as a present for his partner, and throughout they're clearly very into the story the three of them are telling. They've chosen a state of mind in which they deeply wants to please them both, and the submission they're exploring is of the eager, adoring sort.

In real-life play that’s one of my favourite headspaces to be in, so it’s exciting to see it depicted on camera. Kelley and Stephen - who are an offscreen couple as well as frequent co-stars - nurture it beautifully, strict and sensuous by turns with a wicked gleam in their eyes at their more sadistic moments. And Becci - who is the true centre of attention here - has been an excellent surprise for them both.

Shot through the heart

Posted at 15:30 on 19 Mar 2022 by Persephone Hazard in behind the scenes, Clara Hewitt, Faerie Willow, film, F|F, hand spanking, OTK, sci-fi + fantasy, Strict, switch

They say that there are only seven basic stories in all of history, and we’ve taken artistic licence with all of them in this week’s mythological daydream of a film. When we managed to arrange a weekend’s worth of shooting in a gorgeous period house with two amazing performers at our disposal, we knew we wanted to try a few new things - and Venus Chastising Cupid was an incredibly fun tale to explore.

Faerie Willow was a perfect pick for our cheeky, mischievous take on Cupid, while Clara Hewitt’s knack for maternal sternness made for a great reinterpretation of classical readings of Venus. It was a great weekend of filming all told, and this was a wonderful way to wrap it up - particularly as it’s a scenario that makes fantastic use of the pink, stripy welts Willow had all over her bottom from earlier scenes!

We don’t claim to have absolutely nailed the scholarly accuracy in our retelling of this forgotten legend, but we certainly had a whole lot of fun with it.

What's in a name?

Posted at 15:00 on 30 Mar 2022 by Pandora Blake in gender, name, non-binary, Pandora Blake, pronouns

Pandora Blake is the name that I've been using for my porn work since I first began in 2006, starting with my shoots on English Spankers and Girls Boarding School. In that time I've matured. I've had a child, come out as non-binary, become a business owner and activist. I've undergone immense personal growth and hope to continue to do so. I've retained the name because it's very recognizable for people who are fans of my early work, but I don't feel that it expresses my full self.

Pandora, as a very feminine name, feels like a persona that I put on for work when I'm playing a feminine character. When I'm doing activism work, I tend to go by Blake as a gender neutral version of my name which feels more comfortable for me and more expressive of my non-binary self. So on Dreams of Spanking, when I'm performing as a woman, which I'm still very happy to do, I will be referred to as Pandora and she/her. But when I'm playing a male role or doing a scene where I'm my own non-binary self, I will be referred to as Blake and they/them.

I know that for many people sexual desire is highly gendered. Our fantasies are often informed by the cultural categories we grow up with, and a lot of us are attracted to very masculine, or very feminine, archetypes. I get that. And so I don't mind playing those masculine or feminine roles in adult roleplay; in fact I actively enjoy it. It's an outlet for two facets of my complex gender identity. 

I am Pandora. I am also Blake. I am Pandora / Blake.