Alex: How did you discover you liked bondage?
Todd: I started out as a pre-teen. I personally wanted to read horror and murder books, my family and teachers insisted I read Young Adult stuff and "happy" stuff. This was in the days of Pre-Harry Potter when most YA stuff was pretty dire. One book they had me read was called Something's Waiting for You, Baker D about a loner (check) with an overactive imagination (check) who gets kidnapped along with what was described as a chubby girl. They spend much of the book tied up and tape gagged. This got me curious about that and I started gagging myself with tape. I eventually worked up to tying my feet and then trying to tie my wrists. Most of my early wrists ties I could easily slip out of though I eventually figured out a way to tape my wrists behind my back. I found I enjoyed that the most. It's still my preferred self-bondage method.
Alex: You discovered adventure in one of the most fun ways: just trying things out and seeing what happened. It's amazing how for some people, us included, the first good impression becomes the standard. At this point, you're tying yourself up. How did you graduate to tying up others?
Todd: I had a couple of friends who would occasionally let me tie them up or who would tie me up, but it wasn't often. I started making mainstream films in my late twenties and would write the odd bondage scene into them. I finally settled on doing just regular bondage shoots a few years later as they were a lot less work.
Alex: What set you on the road to film making, and how difficult was it to set yourself up as a producer of films? That requires a lot of infrastructure, no?
Todd: In terms of mainstream films? I've always been a film buff--since before I was into bondage--and in a way always wanted to make films. I was taking some college courses for it and that's what started me out. Very low budget stuff, of course. My first film was just me, an actor, and an attractive actress who got tied up! I still dabble in filmmaking. I'm planning to do a film noir next year, for instance.
Alex: Film's a way of life for you, and when you have an eye for it such things just come naturally much as story writing does for others. When you made that first film, did you yet know bondage films were a thing?
Todd: Oh, sure. I had bought a couple of Harmony videos prior to making that first film. The Knotty Maid with Whitney Prescott was my first bought video. Whitney was my first real bondage crush.
Alex: I'm much too young to have seen such things when they were new, but I sure have seen the pirated versions. Somewhere in there, though, you had to have the thought "I can make this and sell too," right? Or was it more a thought of "let's have fun and see if we recoup the costs"?
Todd: What actually happened was that a friend of mine and I were at a film convention in Delaware. There were a few tables with "Scream Queens" there and we got to talking to one of them, who talked us into buying two of her videos. When we got home and watched them, we were stunned at just how bad they were. The one I got, you could literally see the girl's upper lip under her tape gag. I thought to myself, "If this jerk can do things like this and make money, I can do even better."
My early attempts were even meant to be crappy horror type movies loaded with bondage. But then I wrote a slasher film--this was shortly after the original Scream came out--with a full cast and everything (plus plenty of bondage). The film turned out to be more trouble than it was worth and didn't even get finished. After that I decided to just do the type of films I wanted to do--action and mystery--and skip the horror scheme. Now the films that followed that one weren't easy, either but I for the most part enjoyed doing them. But after a while I decided it would easier and more profitable to just do regular bondage shoots.
Alex: Was your first bondage damsel a friend already familiar with your interest? Or was it more a "Help wanted: bondage model" situation?
Todd: The first bondage model to work for me was someone I knew who did that sort of thing who was appearing at a film convention I was going to. So on the floor I asked her if she wanted to shoot for an hour. She agreed and came to my room later that night. Funny enough, she was also the first model to tie me up. At the end of the shoot, I decided to ask if she want to bind and gag me and she said sure. It was only for a few minutes, though.
Alex: I'm sure you enjoyed it though! I am assuming you went on sale back in the days of covert catalogues and VHS tapes? Those were times when I was a wee lad.
Todd: Actually, no. This was 2004, back in the Bee-Tokens days. A fellow photographer hosted my clips for a bit before I went with the SweetTies Group. I left them eventually over a disagreement regarding my clips, and started my own Bee-Tokens site. Now I'm on C4S and XSiteAbility.
Alex: 18 years on the market! Not bad, really! Congratulations on surviving that long. You've been around much longer than one my favorites was around. In simple terms, what goes into planning a shoot?
Todd: Mostly, I just reach out to the model. I'll kick around some ideas and improvise on the fly for others. Really big shoots, like the Rainbow shoot, I have planned in advance. I did a three model shoot a couple of years ago and had all the clips for the 3 model portion planned well in advance. I used to come up with story ideas for shoots but a couple of models suggested that nobody cares about plot in these things! Though there are a few standards, like the babysitter tricked into bondage.
Alex: I must admit that the rainbow shoot is pretty awesome looking and that I love the glow. I am a fool, however, and only recognize the beautiful Rachel Adams. Who are the other six ladies in the photo? Is that Tilly McReese?
Todd:
Vivian Ireene Pierce (Red)
Stacy Burke (Yellow)
Rachel Adams (Pink)
Tomiko (Green)
Kobe Lee (Purple)
Nyssa Nevers (Orange)
Fayth on Fire (Blue)
Alex: I thought I recognized a bunch of them. After I submitted, I knew that wasn't Tilly and for the life of me couldn't remember Tomiko's name. Obviously, all-star cast right there. What was the best experience you've had during a shoot?
Todd: Probably the Rainbow Shoot itself. We did it at FetishCon 2019. All 7 were on time and ready to shoot. I had them switch into the blouses and started taping them up. Rachel was actually the first one taped. Took a little over half an hour to get them all taped up. Vivian started them singing the Colonel Boogey March while they were gagged. We had some laughs that night for sure. When the clip was done, I took all 7 of them down to the main floor still tied and gagged except for their legs and put them in front of the FetishCon sign. Really grabbed some attention.
The only thing that would have made it better is if all 7 of them decided to tie me up afterwards!
Alex: Vivian does seem to be a very cheery personality like that. Some models, just based on their social media feeds, seem to be very personable people (even if people of business). I'll dare ask it though... what was the most frustrating shoot?
Todd: I'm not going to mention names but it was a different three model shoot. It was to start out with two models doing a custom. One of them was 30 minutes late, then started taking up time complaining about the shoot she just came from. When I finally got them going, neither one of them knew the script. The one who had been late kept disrespecting both me and the custom. By the time the third model came, I was totally off my game. I ended up ending the shoot early.
By the way, Vivian is a total sweetheart. One of my favorites to work with. Actually, all 7 of them are amazing, talented, and just plain fun.
Alex: Ugh! That sounds like a wretched time indeed! You must have been glad when that session end.
When ones does a shot in hotel room, I suspect he does not tell the hotel management that such is why he wants the room unless it's an occasion like FetishCon. Correct?
Todd: I never tell the hotel management why I want a room no matter what. It isn't their business, frankly lol. I'm giving them money to stay in a room. I'm sure if they see me come in with my light kit they have an idea of what I'm up to, but they don't say anything.
I will say the fantasy of being tied up when the maid comes in could only be pulled off at FetishCon without consequences, most likely.
Alex: Over the years, it sounds tape is your favorite way to bind a damsel. Any other favorites?
Todd: I love recreating a clip from Harmony that I saw of a model named Sylja Kuryakin. Beautiful blonde model. She was tied topless, only in panties, in a wide spreadeagle and gagged with silver duct tape that looked almost painted on. Literally one of the hottest things I've ever seen. I've done that clip with quite a few models, including a few of the Rainbow Clip models.
I'm also always up for doing a box tie.
Tape remains my favorite gag to use, but I've used ball gags and panel gags in the past few years, too.
Alex: It's hard to give up on those old favorites for sure. My favorite has, from day 1, been a stuffed cleave gag in spite of all the other things I think are fun.
Do some models get picky with the gags? Rather, do some have gags they dislike enough to ask you not to use them?
Todd: Not often. The first time I did an all tape gag shoot, the model did ask me if I ever heard of cleave gags. After I started using ball gags in 2018, I had one model complain that she didn't like them. Then again, she didn't like being tied up at all. My ball gag thing was relatively short lived, however. I prefer tape still. In fact, that's the only way I allow myself to be gagged.
Alex: So what's a typical smooth shooting day like from start to finish?
Todd: Unless I'm traveling to NY or FetishCon, I typically only do a single shoot. Usually two-three hours, 3-6 clips done in that time. If I'm traveling, I'll have back to back shoots, so one girl is leaving as the next one is coming in. For the most part, the models show up shoot ready. They're also pretty good about changing quickly. Sometimes I cheat a little by having them wear a bikini and I might hogtie them for one clip, then change their gag and remove their top for a second clip. If it's my first time shooting with them I always try to get them into a tape tie. We also handle the paperwork usually at the very beginning of the shoot.
Alex: I would hope that the legal loopholes are much easier for a bondage shoot than other adult scenes? Like, I would imagine, or at least hope, that you don't have to pay for STD testing and the like.
Todd: Since there's no sexual contact involved, no testing is required. I don't even do groping or tickling scenes anymore!
Alex: It all sounds like, with the right people, that you're getting paid to enjoy yourselves overall! The work is the planning and getting the shots right!
How many shoots ever end with you and the model just getting to enjoy yourself with things, whether it's off camera teasing from you or, better for you, you being tied up by her? If it does happen, who would rank as your personal favorite model to have capture you?
Todd: It's definitely fun, especially if the model enjoys it, too. Some models naturally love bondage, so they're totally into it. There's a couple who only do it for the money. But the ones who are lifestylers are a total blast.
Some shoots end with a session for an hour with the model tying me up. A few times have ended with us just hanging out. I even took a model or two to dinner afterwards. As to a favorite...well, I won't say. Though I do have a few I really enjoy tying me up. And there's been a few who were the first to do something to me. Tomiko was the first one to put me in a tape tie like I do to the models. Fayth was the first one to do a wraparound tape gag on me. For a long time, she was the only one to do that.
Alex: You really do enjoy yourself. I'm refraining from mentioning some of my favorites to see in action. Tomiko... Let's just say, in my opinion, in every scene, her eyes give away that she's having a ton of fun, and I love that just as much as a model who conveys the mood of the scene.
Do you suspect or know for sure if any of the ladies (no names please) you have worked with go home and get tied by their significant other or do the tying? If it's not clear between the questions I ask and the stories I've written, it's all about having a good on both sides for me.
Todd: I know for a fact a couple of them engage in play outside of work.
And yes, I do enjoy myself. I actually think I prefer getting tied over tying if I'm being honest. And depending on who does the tying, I can stay that way for a few hours.
Alex: Being tied is better than tying, but unfortunately one pays better than the other. It's a worthy trade-off to me, though!
When you have a true rookie, how do you ease them into being tied up so as not to frighten them and make them leave with a positive impression?
Todd: Sad but true. One fun thing that sometimes happens when I have multiple shoots set up--depending on who the models are--the outgoing model might tie me up and let the incoming model in. Always worth it.
Absolutely. I might start with a very simple hands and ankles tie without a harness or anything. Or I'll use handcuffs and rope for the first clip. I check on them plenty (I do this anyway).
Alex: With such newbies, do they sometimes walk in without realizing what you're doing?
Todd: Nope. I explain in my email what I'm going to do. I also send links to my site so they can see what they're in for.
I don't use a lot of total newbies anymore. I prefer more experienced bondage models.
Alex: What, in your opinion, do certain models provide that others don't and thereby make their own unique thumbprint on a scene?
Todd: It really depends. Some like Sahrye and Rachel are really energetic with the gag talk. Much more so than others, who mostly just kinda whine while gagged. It may sound mean to say it that way, but it's kind of true, too. Sahrye in particular keeps up a great stream of gag talk for the whole clip. Others are more comical. Vivian and Fayth in particular are comedians with their clips.
Alex: Sahrye gets the biggest mouth stuffings with good reason. Rachel is a warrior and a sweetheart. I once asked her something during an Instagram Q&A, and I forget what but her answer was the sweetest!
Care to elaborate on Vivian and Fayth? What kind of energy do they bring?
Todd: Fayth will literally flip you off on camera for a laugh. Both of them will improve the funniest lines, too. There are clips where it's almost impossible for me to hold back laughter. Nyxon is another one like that. Her reactions and improvs are priceless. I tied her to a chair one time and she drummed her fingers on the arms of the chair shooting the funniest dirty look ever.
Alex: Do you do exclusively photo shoots? If so, it must be very easy to have fun since there's little acting needed. Even in films, unless there's a script calling for it, you can just enjoy yourselves, right?
There are some damsels I've thought would be a blast just to work with even I didn't get paid, and you're just confirming my thoughts.
Todd: I do 95% video nowadays. Some photos, but the money is in video clips. But it's still pretty easy to have a good time, especially when you're working with people who know what they're doing.
Alex: Have to say I love the photo of Karly in your signature. I assume it's yours. In case it wasn't apparent, I tend to like the blonde-browns.
When you would get a new model, how did you decide on a pseudonym for them?
Todd: I let them pick their bondage name.
In the next part, Todd and I will talk more about scenes themselves... especially what happens off the camera (a.k.a. when Todd gets kidnapped by the model).
