Hurricane Update from Us in NYC

Hi Everyone,

We here at the Doom Maidens studio have weather the storm all right!  Our videography studio is located inland in Brooklyn, so the electronics department didn't suffer any flooding.  Our Brooklyn space never even lost power at any point.

The ladies are all fine and well, and I think most of our guys are as well; though we have yet to hear from Hanz, I'm sure he's all right.

There was massive flooding in Manhattan, and our subways were all shutdown yesterday.  They are still shutdown today, and 7 tunnels have been flooded.  I expect our Manhattan studio is closed today, but Brooklyn is of course still open.

There was a massive fire in the borough of Queens last night, but as far as I can tell, no one from our team was affected.

Right now, there is some rain off and on, and some mild-to-moderate winds.  Things are generally calm, and the city is attempting recovery.  The sky is cloudy but bright now at 9 am Eastern time.

Halloween is tomorrow, and Manhattan had hopes of having its usual huge parade and an enormous after-party at Webster Hall in the East Village.  Here's hoping that will be able to go on.

In the meanwhile, it seems like VeVe may come by the studio to make some video clips today.  Maybe other ladies as well....?  Let's find out.

Recent Bondage Wrestling this Season

Well, hello again!  October is finally now upon us, and here I am pushing to make a new blog entry.

It has been a busy season (when hasn't it?), and there is such a variety of things going on, that it is overwhelming to even begin writing about them.  Why?  Because A) I will inevitably leave something out, which I don't want, and B) I will probably end up writing way too much.

But since I am in a hot and stuffy room right now, maybe that will force me to keep it as short as possible.  But then again, I do always try to keep it as short as possible.

Well, here goes.  To keep things simple, I will just address the bondage wrestling work.

More Bondage Wrestling with VeVe

Like, everyone's doing it.  At least this season!  The most recent victim was your humble narrator.  Just this past Monday evening (3 days ago), I made my return to the small Big Screen in a custom request video which is titled both "Bondage Grudge Match" and "Hogtie Abuse."  Both titles are accurate sum-ups.

Hanz manned the camera for me on this one, and he did a great job.  I was able to add a bit more mass to my body since my last video in July - VeVe's Mixed Wrestling Challenge - where I seemed to be headed back to leanness (not quite June 2011's "Interrogation Torture" or "Indra vs Diablo: Bondage Wrestling," where I was 10 lbs lighter).  So, I was pleased with that.

Anyway, enough talk of beef and back to the bondage wrestling.

This video started with some good, competitive bondage wrestling.  Both VeVe and I have come quite a ways in terms of understanding rope use in wrestling, since our first bondage wrestling video together in Nov 2010.  For example, folding the rope in half and using loops is certainly much better than attempting to tie knots during the initial phases of a battle.

It actually took me quite a while during Monday's match before it occurred to me to start working for knots. Loops, snares, and lassos are really just so much better.  Knots are more of a finishing touch type thing.

Look Ma, no hands!

But as fate would have it, I didn't end up tying any lasting knots that evening anyway.  No, instead they were tied upon me instead.

By special request, VeVe threw me into a hogtie, taking a very specific route about it - she had to work to make the ties in a specially requested order.  Starting with a particularly painful double hammer lock tie with my arms behind my back.  She got only one arm behind my back first, and I fought single-armed for quite a while.  As a matter of fact, I continued to fight for the entire time.  Single arm, no arms, bound legs, you name it!  I will admit, I did have to quit once the ball gag went on.  I hate those.

It was a long video, and my shoulders got put to the test in that hammer lock tie.  Ouch.  Because once I was fully hogtied, there was still a lot more to go.  Teasing, taunting, ha ha ha.  I got to stomach the whole nine yards of VeVe's delighted meanness as a result of getting caught.  Gah!

Orlandoe Gets Her Share of Hogties

A week or so previous to the above mentioned bondage match, VeVe faced off against her ol' rival Orlandoe in an Escape & Attack challenge.  I talked a little bit about this in my Bondage Wrestling Blog earlier this morning, so I won't do too much rehashing.

Basically this - after VeVe first attempted the Escape & Attack challenge with Jason, we decided to keep working in that specific sub-genre of the Bondage Wrestling super-genre.  Plus, there just needed to be an F v F version of this!  Orlandoe was an absolutely excellent candidate, for several reasons: wrestling and rope skill, plus pre-existing affront to VeVe!

At the risk of being redundant, I will say that VeVe proved to be the savvier escape artist.  And Orlandoe, well, she ended up tied into a rather unhappy ball.  The title of that video?  It all became clear with the match result: VeVe's Vengeance!  Bondage Wrestling.

Oh goodness, I am seriously running out of time here.  Quick summary, then:

Previous bondage work in September included a very artistic-looking "Ballet Shoe Bondage" video with Indra and VeVe playing rival ballerinas.  And in a related, but not specifically bondage wrestling vein, we had the kick off of our new Stockholm Syndrome series of mixed wrestling domination videos.  So far, VeVe, Indra, and Athena have appeared in this video set, along with Adrian and Thrash.

We also filmed competitive matches with Clobberetta and newcomer Sircee.  And to make a nice, ancient Grecian theme (somewhat!), we filmed a competitive match between Athena and Sircee.

More to come!  Back to the grind!

Post about Download File Types. WMV vs MP4

I may write more about this in the future.  But for now, let me repost something I recently sent up to our yahoogroup regarding file types for downloadable video, which has prompted me to make this post.

After researching and trying and erroring, I am still not sure if I should abandon WMV and produce only MP4.  I'm right now delivering in both formats simultaneously, based on what I think people prefer.  I would like to reveal that MOST people we deal with are opting for WMVs, with a much smaller minority selecting MP4s.  The MP4 people are out there, I can see, but, again, they are a much smaller percentage of users.

I will also reveal that I can get a slightly higher bit rate into an MP4 than I can into a WMV of the same file size.  Basically, if I aim to make a file 200 MB in size, I can squeeze a tad higher bit rate into the MP4 version without going over the 200 mark, as I have discovered.  It could be a difference of, say, 3 mbps vs 3.45 mbps, just as a random example that I am making up off the top of my head.

But the playback is nearly identical.  If I scrutinize, I might be able to pick out playback differences.  And I would be interested in doing that at some point when I have time.  And I'd like to report back about it.

I do know that a small minority of Mac users should choose MP4 over WMV (as we produce them post-HD-upgrade) because of issues with the sound encoding.  But most users, especially tech savvy users, on either a Mac or PC, using the VideoLAN player, report no preference between the two file types.

Ok, now to the writing that inspired the above writing:

From my yahoogroup post:
_________________________________
This is the less exciting tech end, but just a reminder....

I am about to close the poll in our Doom Maidens yahoogroup regarding the file type people prefer for downloadable videos.  So far, there haven't been too many votes one way or another, but WMVs are leading the pack.

Remember to vote in that poll, since it closes this week:

(link went here)

And I will say, people do seem to prefer WMVs when given the choice in our MixedWrestlingNYC clips4sale store.  Some of you may have noticed that recent videos are being released in both WMV and MP4.  Our dear friend Hanz Vanderkill is kind enough to point out that MP4s are playable on mobile devices, just a side note.  But WMVs (Windows Media Video) are apparently the preferred choice of Windows / PC users.  But Mac users have enjoyed them as well, courtesy of the VideoLAN player.

Anyway, new videos in the DoomMaidens.com store are also coming as both WMVs and MP4.  Customers will get both files, with the option to download either/or, as they prefer.  If a video has a MP4 version as well as the default WMV version, it will be noted on the product page.

Ok, enough from me for now.  Go vote before it closes.

________________________________________

July Competitive Wrestling, Female MMA Visitors, and Workout Contests

Wow, now that was a busy month!

July 2012 was VERY full of filming.  A wide variety of filmings.  Belly punching, workout sessions, competitive matches.  Many competitive mixed matches.  And I even got in on one of them.

I'm going to try to make this entry short, since I am in the process of selecting screen stills for the product page of our up-coming release of "VeVe Lane vs Mahea" (that's here).  I've got PhotoShop open and waiting for me, with images crying for yet more attention.  But VeVe just mentioned to me that she was going to try and write a blog of her own, so that reminded me to poke my head in here.

I think I've got the cover photo selected for that one, so that means the hardest part of image selection aspect for a particular video.  What one frame of the video can capture the essence of the entire piece... ?  Since we've had a few varied essences this year, I've also been making some 4-way covers.  However, of course, a single-image cover photo is larger and shows more detail.

Below, see single-image cover vs 4-way image cover:

See what I mean?

Anyway, that Tommi vs Hanz was from July as well.  The Dancewear Judo Domination with VeVe and me was from June.

To kick-off July, I travelled to the SheMuscle gym with VeVe and Orlandoe in order to film various contests between the two.  We filmed a 3-part fitness contest, as a follow-up to the Ab Workout Contest we filmed by special request in June.  Those July contest events were, in this order: Pull-ups, Biceps Curls, and Sissy Squats.  I placed those contests into our MixedWrestlingNYC clips4sale store.

All except the sissy squats, that is.  Why?  Because the ladies ended up being able to do so many sissy squats in so many rounds, that the video of that particular event alone ended up being over 20 minutes long.... of just sissy squats, both bodyweight style and with dumbbells.  So, that contest got pushed to the back of the queue, but I will try to get at it for anyone who really, REALLY just likes sissy squats.

We also filmed a two-way belly punching video, some sweaty glistening videos, and a video showcasing Orlandoe's under-arms.  We also filmed some additional footage to give to SheMuscle.  It was a great, long, productive, and very sweaty shoot day.

We also had the pleasure of filming with 3 professional female MMA fighters in July.  We filmed a special request mixed match with Toned Tommi and Hanz Vanderkill (see cover image above) on the very first weekend of the month.  This was a 60-minute match of "athletic domination" style, and both match participants did a great job with the style and direction.  Though Hanz was a fine choice for this particular video, I was a little sad not to get to have him face Tommi in a fully competitive match.  I do plan on setting that up at some point, but we have to cycle through a few times on various opponents before we will line up a "rematch," even if it is in a different style.

We also filmed with the wonderful Bad Bad Bettie when she visited us in the middle of the month.  We set Bettie up with a vote-determined video.  Essentially, we asked the fans what they would like to see, created a poll, followed heatedly-debated discussions, and finally went with what the majority selected: a one-sided karate-esque strike-based video with Bettie in a karate gi (uniform) against a male opponent.  Though we were originally looking to ShortFuse Mark to be our victim, since he was originally planning to be in town that day, Mark's travel plans fell through.  So, Graveyard stepped up to fill in.

The result was a Karate Strike-fest video in which Bettie showcased her punching, kicking, elbow, and knee accuracy against Graveyard.  And it was Graveyard's job to survive the strikes, stay standing (except for round 3), and make it through the strike-fest.  The video was 3 rounds long, which each round showcasing a different aspect of striking, moving from most punishing (face hits) to hitting the biggest area (body hits).

Then came the competitive wrestling escapades to finish off the month....

Toned Tommi returned to NYC at the end of July, this time accompanied by fellow female MMA fighter Mahea.

We were set up for a long shoot day with the MMA ladies to battle against Hanz, Adrian, and VeVe.  However, a slight scheduling snafu held us up from our original shoot day, leaving VeVe, Hanz, and myself in the studio together.  Never ones to waste a fight opportunity, we set VeVe up for a Mixed Wrestling Gauntlet.  First, I took on VeVe in a 20-minute competitive match (never before seen on our site) while Hanz filmed.  Following that, Hanz took on VeVe for another 20-minute match, with only enough break for her to change her bikini.

The matches were grueling for VeVe and entertaining for her opponents.  However, we filmed them under less-than-optimal lighting conditions, which resulted in less-than-immaculate image sharpness.
The result of that?
They move to the back of the queue, sadly.  Of course, we'd love to re-shoot this mixed wrestling gauntlet under better lighting conditions (except that I sprained my knee in jiujutsu class last week!  so infuriating! so, it may have to wait a while).

The very next day, we rescheduled with Tommi and Mahea, and we all proceed to film a ton of matches.

We grabbed VeVe on her lunch hour and first filmed the competitive female match of VeVe vs Tommi.  That was two 10-minute rounds in bikini / two-piece outfit, followed by a 10-minute 3rd round in the jiujitsu gi (uniform).  We also filmed an arm wrestling match after that.

Since Adrian was unavailable for the Monday shoot, we immediately called on Blazin' Ben.  It was a very last-minute shot in the dark, but with only a few hours' notice to prepare, Ben responded affirmatively and made it over for the match.  And so, about 10 minutes following her match with VeVe, Tommi took on Blazin' Ben in a competitive mixed match of 20 minutes in length.

We took a break for a few hours and then returned later in the evening to film Mahea vs Hanz.  As far as I know, this was the first competitive mixed match on video for Mahea (pronounced "ma-HEY-a"), though, being a pro MMA fighter, she has her fair share of training experience with male training partners.

Then, two days later we reconvened to filmed the final match of the month: VeVe vs Mahea.  Again on VeVe's lunch hour!

And speaking of VeVe vs Mahea... yikes,  I need to finish that photo selection process!  Well, I did say I would try to make the entry brief.  However, the month itself was not brief, and it just wouldn't be fair to short change it, given all the action that is fresh in my mind.

Ok, back to getting that video all set to go.  And now, onward into August!

Upcoming Mixed Competitive this Sunday! And FvF Competitive.

Well, the weekend is finally upon us, and not a moment too soon!  I'm revving up the camera, because this Sunday we have two competitive mixed wrestling matches set up for our visiting pro female MMA fighters Tommi and Mahea.

We have...

Tommi vs Adrian.  Fully competitive wrestling.

Mahea vs Hanz.  Fully competitive wrestling.

All submissions will be legal, except for heel hooks.

And, if we are all on time and on schedule, we will kick off the filming with a female competitive match of VeVe vs Tommi!

But competitive mixed wrestling is our top priority for Sunday.  In a perfect world, we'd sneak in a even 3rd competitive mixed match, but who would fight in that one?  Perhaps Ben vs Mahea?  Diablo vs ?  ;)

By the way, if you don't know Mahea yet, here's her wb270 profile:   http://wb270.com/ind/mahea.htm

Stay tuned!  This'll be a blast!

Regards,
D
Doom Maidens Orders Dept
Female and Mixed Wrestling Videos
Phone: 917-671-8149

Email: orders@doommaidens.com

Web: http://www.doommaidens.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/doommaidens 

Striking Shoots and June Action

Ok, I'm back, as I promised I would be!

I'm no less swamped, mind you.  But I am pushing through to make a blog post!

Now, I know you're all think "great, let's get to the talk about wrestling!"  But I would first like to take a moment to say that this very morning I attended my first kickboxing class.  It's the same class that VeVe attends, and she brought me there to give it a shot.  I have several years of karate and capoeira under my belt from a long time ago, so that was fairly helpful to keep me afloat.  But the instructor is incredibly smart and patient, plus the class is small, so everything was very nice.  I'd be up for trying some more.

Why does this matter here in this blog?  Well, I'll tell you:

Just recently we filmed "Wrestling vs Striking: VeVe vs Orlandoe," which was a special request match style that harkens back to the very early days of UFC.  That was when practitioners of specific martial arts faced off against each other, seeing which style worked best under the given circumstances.  So, in this recent Wrestle vs Strike match-up, VeVe represented submission wrestling, and Orlandoe represented a freeform striking style.  Here's how that was laid out:

In the first round, Orlandoe was allowed to use both strikes and grappling submissions (chokes and jointlocks) to try to get VeVe to tap out.  VeVe, however, was only allowed to wrestle and use grappling submissions.  We allowed all sorts of strikes to the body - knees, kicks, elbows, punches, open-hand strikes (slaps) - but for safety's sake, we only allowed open-hand slaps to the face.  No strikes at all to the back of the head, and, of course, no headbutts.

For the second round, we made the fighting styles even more different; now, Orlandoe could only strike while VeVe continued to only attempt grappling submissions.

Sounds fun, but it is awfully difficult to get someone to submit from body strikes and face slaps alone.  However, this rules set does encourage a lot of strikes to be thrown!  In both rounds, though, VeVe eat quite a number of Orlandoe's kicks and punches.

A winner was determined after the first two rounds.  As a penalty, the loser had to allow the winner to perform her favorite move on her, unresisted.  This led to a very dramatic and powerful scene between VeVe and Orlandoe, as the move-of-choice created a good deal of very real, palpable distress for the receiver.  With the winner not letting up until she forced the loser to answer a particular question.

Sorry to be vague, but I don't want to throw a spoiler!  But, indeed, the match is very strongly punctuated by that "Punishment" scene.

What followed was a third round - a "bonus round."  The ladies swept themselves up, made change of attire, and racked up for another round.  This time, the rules were the same as in round 1, except that any striking submissions would be worth 2 points instead of 1.

Round 3 was filmed with our old, usual standard definition camera - did I mention we've been filming this month with a new HD camera?  More on that later.  Anyway, this round had more moody lighting, both ladies wore black, and the sweat level increased quite a bit, inexplicably.  Round 3 stands alone very well, which was actually the intention from the start.  It is of course related to the first 2 rounds, but the first 2 rounds existed as their own, separate contest, especially with the Punishment round being dealt out.  Anyway, hats off to VeVe and Orlandoe for powering through a long, hard, multi-faceted match!

So, I just spent a lot of time talking about just ONE of the several shoots from this month.

But how does this relate to my doing kickboxing this morning?

Well, following this Wrestling vs Striking shoot, which was our second example of the genre (the first being Wrestle vs Strike: VeVe vs Shauna Ryanne), VeVe and I were discussing a mixed match of wrestling vs striking.

The biggest question there, though, is who does the wrestling and who does the striking?  In a mixed match, the choice of who strikes whom is an important matter to consider.  Choosing one way or the other can mean a lot for the viewing audience.  Does the man get hit or does the woman get hit?

For the record, this would most like be a wrestle + strike vs wrestle only match (like VeVe's & Orlandoe's Round 1).

So with all of this striking and kicking going on recently, and these ponderings about mixed quasi-MMA match videos, I decided I was feeling good enough to dust off my kicks and punches and get to training them again.  Stay tuned.... who knows who'll be swinging at whom next!

Swamped! And Ab Workout Contest

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