Something I’d wanted to write for a while was a lot on how I/we plan and organise film days.

By admission, it’s not a uniform formula, a lot can depend on the context on who is involved and how many people and who is taking on board what elements of organising.

So firstly, while some subs are obviously better than others – I plan around the Dommes. This doesn’t mean, in theory, I cannot plan with another sub – particularly if they are a creator and we’re splitting the workloads.

Also it’s somewhat slightly different if it’s a paid shoot – so for the sake of this post it is about more collaborative efforts.

There’s also overlap, but differences on whether something is a small shoot 1 or 2 Dommes, and myself and max one other sub – and larger days with multiple people in different roles.

Let’s Begin

So, I guess, if someone was a Domme interested in shooting with me on a small/one-on-one basis.
The things first off, would be to look at dates and locations. Location not just being *which city* but also whether to use a specific dungeon, studio, space, etc.
I guess, maybe even before that, looking where kinks/interests overlap. Now this isn’t just *what we’re into* but also *what sells* and *what do we want to put out to further our brand*
For example, a Domme I can think of is into pegging, but will not filming pegging. They only peg with trusted/long-term partners/regulars and do not want pegging content available so not to deal with people they won’t peg.
Likewise, there’s stuff that sells very well for me, that I’m into, so would like more of. But the stuff which doesn’t sell that very well for me – so I will do it if it fits for the other persons needs – the day on the whole has to be worth both our whiles.

From there we can fine tune everything, like making sure we’ve a videographer booked. Sorting out the length of the shoot to consider also things like trains etc and also wanting a lot of scenes, but also not exhausting ourselves. Going beyond 8 hour days can sometimes be less productive.
We can also see if we can fine tune some of the high level activities to create scene ideas that will be fun, will sell well (ha!) be what we want… and thus being able to pack accordingly.

Incidentally, I have worked out a lot of stuff which sells well for me – there is a kinda theme, Sweaty Feet, Sockjobs, Dirty Socks, Cum Eating, Sock Smelling, Orgasm Control, Dirty Feet, Smoking, Human Ashtray, Made to Cum, Bondage Blowjobs…
There is one of those I’m not that into, but I am into money. So… but then also a few I am. Mind, also one which is now getting restricted a lot (Human Ashtray) so I’m worried on long term impact of sales there.

If it is a small day it’s also quite easy, especially if there’s time, for one or the other to shout out “could we..?”

But what about larger days?

Yep, they’re a lot of fun but also have the potential to be chaotic.
I also don’t mean to throw too much shade, but before I moved into creation I was part of some larger film days where I didn’t leave entirely satisfied, or I know there were Dommes and/or other subs who were frustrated. So, there was stuff I wanted to learn from that.
Some of the frustrations often came down to too many subs, spending too much time on scenes not wanting to do and not enough on content wanted, lack of suitable subs for what Dommes wanted (and even the “I will do it!” subs might seem eager, but if they’re not into it and the scene is lacklustre everyone loses), subs feeling mis sold, and so on.
So. I wanted to learn from that.

There’s only a handful of locations I’m happy doing larger shoots at. First and foremost, a lot of places charge per head, and have maximum counts anyway. So booking a dungeon which has a max of 6 people and £25-£50 per head on top of the room hire makes limited sense to invite people for the sake of it. However, of course, some of the larger locations are costly as well with higher overall day rates.
Though in some cases, the premises are large and it’s *sometimes* possible to film two scenes at once in different locations without worrying about noise bleed. Mind. We have needed release forms when someone has been caught through a window inside/outside during a shoot or can be suddenly heard.

Larger shoots of course need everyone’s interests and wants with an aim to get them. As there is also opportunity to work with other people then often ideas can be pitched in group chats and people be “yeah, I’d want in on that”. Not everyone will be in every scene, sometimes it is nice to have a scene with everyone – but often these end over-compromised since it has to be stuff which everyone is into and good with.

There will often be a shared document where discussed or other ideas can be drafted.
If people are involved in those scenes they can also add to those ideas.

I’ll give an idea based on something we did…

Scene : Bully or Be Bullied
People : Cate, Rosa, Carrie, Blacksheep
Scenario : It is a detention scene, everyone is either a bully or a nerd and the bullies will bully the nerd. Teacher walks in and then punishes the nerds for being wedgied/untidy/covered in spit.

And simple, anyone else can add or remove their name if they want in, or expand on the idea.

There isn’t necessarily obligation to, but it helps pool things together and get closer to what everyone might be happy with.

Often, when done, there might be a list of 20-30 scenes! That’s a lot and too many to do in a day (though, we did do 20 in a day once)
So the next phase is everyone picks a couple of scenes they would MOST like to do.

This in itself should set a priority plan for the day, it should also make sure everyone has an amount of scenes they are happy with.

I guess, however, again within this process there could be other gaps identified. For example if scenes are wanted where those already attending can not do. If there would be benefit to inviting another Domme, or opening up to subs. Either directly inviting folk known, or putting out a casting.

If it is known subs then the terms they’re involved with is effectively between us. But castings tend to always be put out with a requirement to contribute to the cost, known as a “film tribute”

What’s a Film Tribute?

Not something I should need to justify. Initially, when I started pulling these days together I didn’t want to use them – but it became very obvious very quickly they were required.
Number of people who failed to show after paying the contribution = 0
Number of people who said they’d pay on the day and ghosted… number who ghosted after bank details were passed… number who ghosted where there was no contribution requested from them…. or any of the above and then pulled out. Yep. Lots.

Aside from that, a Domme basically said to me, all her shoots have a tribute. If we do this one without a tribute it undermines her own shoots.

What ultimately happens with the money is it goes towards the costs of the day, which can easily run into high hundreds, and subsequently takes the edge off what everyone else is financially contributing to the day.
While the film subs don’t get use of the footage, they also pay considerably less than the share of the day and their only required work is to come along and do some scenes they’ll hopefully enjoy, in line with their fetishes, with people who they might not otherwise be able to do stuff with. Although, if they are a creator, then yes they may also get use of the footage if everyone agrees.

But, of course, because I’ve tried to learn from the mistakes of shoots I’ve been on, part of my vetting is seeing that this would be good for the subs who are coming as well as all of us. That they aren’t sitting around all day feeling forgotten about for one or two scenes, or background furniture.
Unless that’s what they’re into. I guess.

We do also try to keep tally marks on how many scenes everyone is getting to make sure it’s even, or in line with expectations.
Obviously even priorities can be subject to change as consent is an ongoing thing, weather can impact outdoor scenes and sometimes time pressure causes things to shift.

Anyway. A brief overview of some of the planning that goes along.