Well, that was certainly a busy December! Really, I can't believe how long that month was - and I thought October was long (and, well, it really was, too).
This past month, we filmed with visiting wrestlers - both newcomer and veteran alike - and we welcomed some of our local talent back from hiatus, as well as worked with our own newcomer and veteran talent.
More specifically? Ok:
We filmed with Volcano from London, filmed with Lia Labowe from Boston; we welcomed Indra back after a busy season of her own; and we filmed with local veteran VeVe and local newcomer Crazy Azy. Among others!
Volcano, VeVe, Hanz, to Kick of December
We opened December with a new competitive female wrestling match-up
between VeVe and visitor Volcano. I didn't know much about Volcano prior to the filming, though I do know we tried to film with her in the spring of this year. She had declined previously, but I think she felt more comfortable this time around, since we had filmed recently with her London colleague Venom.
Like Venom, Volcano is an MMA fighter. She is less experienced, but she did come into the match with a lot of confidence.
This match was unique in a couple of ways: Firstly, due to timing and people's schedules, we filmed in our apartment studio, which provided a 10' x 10' mat space. This setting provides an intimate ambiance and keeps the wrestlers close together, though it does severely limit takedowns and forces a tighter style of play. The ladies weren't bothered by this, though.
Secondly, we included heel hooks as an allowed submission attempt. Now, this may not seem like a big deal to most people, but as a veteran of two knee surgeries, I personally cringe at twisting knee attacks. When I was going over the rules of the match, I mentioned disallowing heel hooks. Volcano noted that the heel hook was one of her favorite submission attacks, and VeVe chimed in that she didn't mind. So, all submissions were allowed, including twisting knee attacks (but excluding finger or toe manipulation).
Of course, heel hooks were attempted...
Anyway. Everyone emerged unscathed. The match featured some great skillful and tenacious grappling. Very nice risk-taking, good working from both top and bottom, good attempting to pass the guard and advance the attack. Submissions came from both sides - likely because neither competitor was intent on stalling. Lively and athletic. A great athletic match! In the end, endurance, submission arsenal, and experience took the cake.
Hanz had intended to have a match with Volcano afterwards, but scheduling and circumstances wouldn't permit it. So, Hanz redirected his gaze and locked eyes with VeVe. So, off they went for their yearly competitive bout. I filmed that one for
Hanz's studio. I think he'll get it out when he has a moment.
Indra and All-Over Action
Indra had a lot to do this season! She filmed with us in early December, but then got stuck under a landslide of other work before emerging again to film with us to end the month.
Firstly, I took a moment to
exact some revenge on the little trash talker. December started rough for Indra when I challenged her to a competitive bondage wrestling match. I'm quite aware that many people like to see Indra tied up, so I decided to provide...
I got dominated in a bondage match by Indra two years ago, so it was time for a little good-natured vengeance. I've been filming bondage wrestling - both competitive and story-based - for quite a while now, and I've been writing about bondage wrestling and discussing it a lot as well. I talk to VeVe often about the most efficient ties for particular circumstances, and I do a lot of tying myself for Bondage Escape Challenges and for scenarios that call for people to be discovered pre-tied. So, I felt pretty good about facing Indra.
Needless to say, Indra got tied up. And tickled. And duct tape gagged. And victory posed on.
She's a cutie, and she was bratty and talking garbage until I finally had to gag her. Her fans are now clamoring for retribution...
Anyway.
Indra re-emerged later in the month to bring us a splendid display of Indra-brand mixed domination...
Indra Dons the Black: Lethal Leotards
Leotard, tights, and the power of Indra. "
Agent Indra" as an official Lethal Leotards episode was long overdue... or was it? So, yes, indeed, we filmed the LLS episode of "Agent Indra," which joins other LLS episodes from this season, including "Agent Sable" and "Agent Kara."
Indra originally appeared with Adrian in the proto-LLS video called "Stockholm Syndrome Collection, Vol 1" in September 2012. When we filmed a leotard and tights video with Orlandoe in December 2012, Orlandoe's use of the word "Syndicate" led to the immediate re-naming and re-issuing of the series as the "Lethal Leotards Syndicate," officially kicking off with "Agent Orlandoe."
So, in a slightly refocused personal sequel for Indra, and a first for Agent Indra in the LLS series, we put Indra and Thrash together for some undercover, under-her-spell, under-her-foot fun.
I'd like to write more about the differences between our LLS agents in another blog entry, but I will say that they've all had rather different styles and ways of operating. The distinctions have been quite fun for me to observe, as the videographer. Indra, of course, really brings the brassy factor!
After the official film, Indra and Thrash put together this nice little video greeting:
Crazy Azy takes on VeVe Lane
Still relatively a newcomer, local wrestler
Crazy Azy stepped up in mid-December to face-off against local reigning champ VeVe Lane. Azy was originally scheduled to wrestle Orlandoe - something we also tried to setup in autumn - but scheduling trouble foiled those plans once again. But VeVe was available immediately, so Azy ate her Wheaties and stepped up for a challenge.
And, you know, I think she did a great job!
Azy came in with a lot of energy and nothing to lose. She threw herself into the bout and wasn't afraid to ruffle any feathers with her submission attempts. She tossed in some surprising attacks, forcing VeVe to call on escapes and counters, and she wasn't afraid to take risks and just go for it. But she wasn't used to fighting for such a prolonged period, and exhaustion started to kick in. The champion, however, had the edge in grappling skill and is experienced in powering through lengthy matches.
My hat goes off to challenger Azy, who put up a tenacious fight against a difficult and experienced opponent! I look forward to working further with Azy for more matches and filming to come. Keep you eyes out for her in 2014!
Whew, ok, one more segment yet to go...
Filming with Lia Labowe
Also in December, I had the pleasure of meeting and filming several videos with industry veteran Lia Labowe from New England.
Several fans and customers wrote to me to give me a heads-up that Lia was coming to town for a one-day visit. And I went to check the wb270 travel listings, and there is was, indeed, a listing confirming Lia for a very short stay. So, we moved quickly to see what could be done!
Lia was very receptive to my initial contact message, but the only time she had available was a 2-hour window starting at 8 am on the day of her departure. No problem! I got my crew assembled, grabbed the travel mats and video gear, and we all headed over for an early morning filming at Lia's hotel room in midtown.
Since our time was limited (Lia needed to catch a bus afterwards), we unfortunately didn't have very much time for chatting, but I left VeVe and Lia to get acquainted while the boys and I rearranged the room for the shoot.
We had a total of 4 videos on the agenda, but we strongly suspected we'd only be able to get 3 done. And, as it turned out, we did only get 3 after all. We first filmed a special request mixed video with Lia and Hanz, which we later called
Lia's Submission Clinic. We then filmed a second special request mixed video with Lia and Adrian. And to top things off, we filmed a bondage wrestling match with VeVe and Lia in pantyhose. Including set-up and tear-down, we did manage to get it all in in about 2 hours.
Lia was great to work with. She has her own trash talk and domination style, which she owns with confidence. She's very professional, pleasant, and ready to work. I would definitely work with her again if she comes back for another visit to the Big Apple. People have called for her to do female competitive matches, and I would certainly have her for more bondage wrestling of various types, plus a variety of other video genres!
Whew, ok, sorry to cut things quickly at the end there, but this entry has gotten long! When I first wrote up the post's title, I did have an inkling that all those names would lead to a lengthy entry, but I wasn't quite prepared for the reality of it. There were even other filmings going on, too, such a Double Victory Pose sequel with Amazon Annie, VeVe, and Thrash, plus a competitive mixed wrestling trial for Crazy Azy. But I'm only thinking of these now, and I can't fit them in cleanly.
Anyway, thanks for reading! And thanks for keeping up with this little blog. More to come for 2014!
