How about a thumbs up?!

We recently submitted a couple of proposals on topics we'd like to present at the next SXSW festival--and we'd love your thumbs-up support on either or both if you're so inclined.

Both proposals have been included in the SXSW 2010 PanelPicker, the rather sadomasochistic tool that the event uses to help determine which topics will ultimately be included... your "yes" votes and comments can definitely make a difference!

#1 - The Porn Police Are STILL at the Door
Not just for pornographers, the notion for this panel grew out of our work curating CineKink, as we noticed that entries submitted by filmmakers from the adult sphere typically included notice that federal record-keeping requirements for sexually explicit material had been properly met, while those coming from the independent film world did not. (If you’re thinking “2257, huh?” that could probably be you!) Making matters worse, the regulations have recently been expanded to cover not just actual or documentary depictions of sex, but simulated situations—ie fiction—as well.

Yikes, you say? Pick this panel!

#2 - Was It Something I Said? TOS And Content
Meanwhile, this panel was inspired by the frustrations we've experienced over the years trying to position and promote a sex-related endeavor on the internet--from finding a web host and sending email blasts, to processing ticket sales and donations, to creating an identity in social marketing and getting our videos placed on popular sites. Seemingly the old adage--“I’ll know it when I see it”--flourishes online, where murky definitions of what content is and is not allowed abound. One gatekeeper’s “inappropriate” is another’s “adult” is another’s “offensive, obscene and/or pornographic.” How are we affected as users and creators--and is there any recourse?

Wanna find out? Pick this panel!

Another kerfuffle down under!

We've just got word from Jennifer Lyon Bell that her CineKink award-winning short film, Matinée, has been banned from screening publicly in Australia.


















Jennifer's piece was scheduled to run tomorrow at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival. But the event has been informed by the nation's censorship board, the Office of Film and Literature Classification, that of all of the selections submitted for permission to screen as "unrated"--which is typically how Australian festivals are able to screen independent works which haven't gone through a costly classification process--Matinée could not be exhibited. (Another film presented at CineKink, Tony Comstock's documentary Damon & Hunter enjoyed this dubious distinction back in 2006!)

In a statement of protest published by MUFF, Jennifer questions the OFLC's decision:

The sexual relationship portrayed by the characters Mariah and Daniel in Matinée is not only a consensual, emotional and nuanced relationship, but their sex plays an important role in the story of the film. The story is not tacked on to the sex; rather, the story has everything to do with the way the characters continue to communicate nonverbally throughout the entire sex scene.

And festival director Richard Wolstencroft, after extolling the work's artistic merits and noting its relevance in promoting a positive view of female sexual empowerment, criticizes the ban as sexist and hypocritical in light of other recent descisions by the OFLC :

Lars Von Trier’s ‘Antichrist’ was recently passed by the OFLC for the Melbourne International Film Festival. This film depicts extremely high levels of sexual violence and genital mutilation, and encourages a phallocentric vision in its audience that touches on the idea that women are inherently evil. ‘Matinee’ depicts actual sex between two adults in a loving and consenting partnership, and significantly it focuses on the importance of women’s pleasure in sexual intimacy, and presents a remarkably strong female lead. Passing ‘Antichrist’ but banning ‘Matinee’ reveals a tendency in the OFLC to suppress films which strengthen female sexuality on screen and to allow films which encourage view that female sexuality is damaged, fractured or violent.

There's been some talk that MUFF will go ahead with its originally intended screening as an act of civil disobedience. That would be as part of the Mini Muff Session #5, scheduled for Wednesday, August 26 @ 7pm.

Action Alert: Vote for the Yodeling Dominatrix!

Don't ever say we're not timely! Well, okay, lots of times we're not, but tonight we're responding to an urgent plea from CineKink alum Tonya Bezra, who writes:

There was just an amazing act on America's Got Talent where a woman did a really cute 50's domination scene... but the judges "gong showed" her off so she couldn't even finish.  The judges all expressed disappointment at her not staying with what she had done in the qualifying rounds which was "yodeling dominatrix" like in a more pvc cat woman look.  My heart just went out to her.  Because it was clear that she didn't want to be a one-gimmick pony and the 50's housewife dominatrix thing was so cute.  Anyway, so my fantasy of fantasies is that people will call in and vote for this woman.  Her name is Manuella Horn.  To vote for her you dial 1-866-602-4505.



Here she is, above, doing a retro-themed roleplay performance on tonight's episode.

And here is Manuela's infamous appearance as the "Yodeling Dominatrix", when she made the first qualifying round back in June.

You have until 6 am ET/3 am PT to cast your vote and fulfill Tonya's fantasy!