Reviews of Whipsmart
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

From the Spectator by Abby Ehmann
Issue 1262, 4 December 2002

My first thought when I heard about Whipsmart was, ‘Does the world really need another S/M how-to video?’ But that was before I met Mistress Morgana, the elegant, effervescent woman who serves as both narrator and teacher in this informative instructional video. Morgana was recently awarded the title Best Sex Worker by the San Francisco Bay Guardian, so this whipsmart babe really knows her stuff. And the fact that the video is produced by Good Vibrations, the Kmart of kink, only adds to the flick’s credibility.
      
Of course, all the credentials in the world don’t necessarily conspire to make a quality product. So let’s address that initial question: Does the world need another S/M how-to video? Perhaps not. From the way BDSM seems to have pervaded the mainstream, there’s no shortage of kittens with whips. The thought of your neighbors tying each other up for kicks doesn’t even sound racy anymore. And if you were to spot a pair of handcuffs in a coworker’s drawer, you probably wouldn’t think twice. That, of course, is because you’re a Spectator reader and a worldly perv already, right?
      
But what if you were still a member of the uninitiated vanilla masses? Suppose you’d only vaguely entertained the idea of putting your partner over your knee for a little recreational spanking? You might feel more comfortable venturing into the dark side armed with a little insider information. And maybe a few words of encouragement to help you broach the subject with your equally uninitiated partner. If that sounds like it could be you, Whipsmart is the perfect place to start.
      
Mistress Morgana was approached by Ms. Kennedy and Ms. Plotkin after the two attended one of Morgana’s classes at Good Vibrations. The three agreed that while there were plenty of instructional videos available to the S/M community, there was a lack of material for those who were just starting out.
     
 “People who were attending my classes or visiting me in my dungeon were a little scared off by what they perceived as the ‘leather community,’” Mistress Morgana admits. “These are people who don’t own chaps and aren’t interested in suspending their partner from the ceiling from meat hooks.”
      
Consequently, Morgana and the Good Vibrations ladies thought they would be a perfect team to bring the basics to these curious explorers. “Whipsmart," Morgana proudly states, "is an effort to break down kink in accessible terms and show folks how to do it safely and with a sense of love.”
I couldn’t agree more!
      
The video opens with Mistress Morgana’s authoritatively reassuring voice accompanied by soothing, mood-enhancing music. The homey environment is warmly candlelit to further set the tone. This is an entry-level instructional tape, and Morgana is both attractive and accessible, the schoolmistress of your dreams. Which is cause for her to chuckle, “My presentation style is somewhere between Mr. Rogers and Martha Stewart.” Minus the cardigan sweater and stock scandal, of course! She enunciates perfectly as she defines words to newbies such as ‘S/M’ and ‘role play.’
      
“I was most excited about the inclusion of BDSM terms,” she says, referring to the extensive glossary of terminology.
     
Following this basic vocabulary lesson, Morgana explains negotiation and why it’s necessary, stressing the BDSM words to live by, “safe, sane and consensual.”
     
 “I think this video is a particularly useful tool for the nervous boyfriend or girlfriend,” she says, “who is looking for a way to tell their partner about their fantasies but scared of being inarticulate or judged.” This is dealt with very effectively in the video, first by Morgana’s humorous explanations and then by a dramatization, enacted by a “curious couple.” I enjoyed watching them dance around the issue a bit, exactly the way people might in reality. Throughout the video, precise wording is emphasized, contrasting ways to more effectively elicit the desired response from one’s partner.
     
 Once she’s covered communication skills, Morgana gives detailed instructions on the basics: spanking, beginner bondage, handcuffs, nipple clamps, et cetera. Sensory exploration is emphasized over actual pain here, which also helps it feel safer for beginners. But as a seasoned scene voyeur, if not a full-on participant, I can say that even I learned a few things. The uses of feathers, ice cubes, and hot wax are all explained and demonstrated in a sensual manner.
      
After the introductory scene with a hetero couple, we are treated to a lesbian couple, who demonstrate interaction between slightly more experienced players. The two make amusing use of a butcher-block table and are impressively inventive with kitchen utensils. This scene is pretty hot, and as their play progresses, the participants take it into the bedroom, where things get even hotter. While this is nowhere near a jerk-off video, the vignettes are sexy and will certainly serve to inspire viewers.
      
Mistress Morgana’s warm personality shines brightly in this video, and she makes BDSM sound as innocuous as baking a cake. Her conspiratorial tone and the well-written script will put even the queasiest viewers at ease. I highly recommend Whipsmart for anyone with a curiosity for kink!

--------------------------------------------------------------------

From Soapbox Girls by Olivia St. John
The Sexuality Issue, July 2002

Whipsmart is exactly what it purports to be — which is kind of novel for the world of porn. How many of us have been sucked in by an upscale box design (upscale for porn, anyway), only to find that the movie has little to do with — well, anything really? Whipsmart doesn’t pretend to be anything it isn’t. It is a basic guide to S/M for couples; it isn’t particularly raunchy or kinky (by my standards, anyway), but it’s very informative.

Mistress Morgana, who appears in or narrates most of the video, offers clear instruction on the terminology, tools, and techniques of this kind of sex play. She offers tips on how to tie ropes, how to talk to your partner about S/M fantasies, how to spank another person correctly, how to negotiate a scene, how to choose the proper nipple clamps, safe words — you name it, and she can probably talk about or demonstrate it. Although Mistress Morgana has hair that makes me want to send her to my stylist with a sign that reads “will dominate for new do,” she is clearly good at her job (or is it a calling?). She takes great care to highlight the role of consent in BDSM, and to point out that physical, emotional and sexual safety need to be of paramount concern in all sexual play, whether it come in the form of safe words, condoms, or keeping safety shears and fire extinguishers handy.

The video is part lecture, part demo and part “play-in-action.” The Mistress’ little demo helpers, while not the best actors in the world, are both cuties who don’t look like porn stereotypes. Even in the “actual couples” scenes, the participants look like real people and have real bodies. The makers of the film have included scenes of couples that acknowledge diversity. Of the two couples portrayed in the scenes, one was a straight couple of colour and the other a lesbian couple. In my opinion, the latter couple, presented as a more advanced couple in S/M, had the most exciting scene of the entire film.

My recommendation: For people who are beginning S/M, or someone who is trying to introduce her partner to S/M gently, this film pretty much establishes all you need to know to get started in a way that won’t scare the bejeezus out of you or her. After this movie, your partner might be more likely to ask after that box of toys that you keep under or next to the bed, just in case. If you already have a relationship that goes beyond the basics, or are looking for a film more conducive to getting you immediately in the mood, then I recommend something a little riskier. This is a film that is mostly instructional, so rather than just feeling like a naughty schoolgirl, I thought I might have to take an exam at the end of it (which took a bit of the fun out of it for me). On the other hand, I learned not only how to tie some fairly easy and safe knots, but also a few things that I would have felt stupid asking anyone about.