“Divine Deviance” is an upcoming multi-part documentary project by and about the global Kink/BDSM/Fetish communities and will reveal the stories of people who create their own fellowships—both sexual and supportive. Far from sensationalistic, this film/web series will honor and explore the Kink/BDSM/Fetish community’s diversity and truth.
* Who Wants to Know: Our Audience *
Although this film an
d web series will be by, about, and for the Kink/BDSM/Fetish community, “Divine Deviance” is also for anyone interested in the diversity of human sexuality and the creation of brother- and sisterhood outside of blood family. To our knowledge, this will be the first comprehensive documentary project that takes an in depth look at Kink/BDSM/Fetish globally and not just on a local level.
* How Is It Organized: Project Structure *
Rather than a typical documentary, “Divine Deviance” will be a multi-part series: Each segment will include a lively round table introduction focusing on a specific theme and featuring a diverse group of Kink/BDSM/Fetish leaders from around the globe, followed by a deeper exploration of the same theme following a particular character. Each one of these “chapters” (introduction plus individual story) will run from 20–30 minutes. The chapters can be viewed separately, but multiple components can also be combined into a variety of longer pieces. The beauty of this approach is that the filmmakers can work incrementally and the audience can view selectively—picking an assortment of chapters that will both fit their budget and suit their interests. For example, one combination of segments could focus on women and communities of color; another could emphasize the international world of Kink/BDSM/Fetish. Single chapters could be shown in classroom settings and combinations of chapters can be screened at film festivals, conferences and more. We will initially film the round table and three segments, and will then branch out from there.
* Who Is at the Helm: Working with Our Advisory Committee *
As a starting point, we are currently assembling an advisory committee with representatives from all aspects of the Kink/BDSM/Fetish community—LGB and heterosexual, transgender and cisgender, women and men, people of all colors and various nationalities. This group will help ensure that the project represents the true diversity of Kink/BDSM/Fetish. The advisory committee will work hand in hand with the film team to help inform our stories and support our outreach efforts.
* What Will We Explore: Topic Areas for the Multi-Part Series *
As mentioned, “Divine Deviance” will cover a whole range of themes relevant to the Kink/BDSM/Fetish community. We will start with a few key topics and expand from there:
• What is Kink/BDSM/Fetish in 2016?
• History of the Kink/BDSM/Fetish scene
• Gender in Kink/BDSM/Fetish
• Black, brown, yellow, red, white: Race and Kink/BDSM/Fetish
• Kink/BDSM/Fetish internationally
• Kink/BDSM/Fetish and spirituality
*Show Me the Money: Funding and Project Kickoff *
We will fundraise in collaboration with Kink/BDSM/Fetish organizations and allies around the world and make extensive use of crowd- and social media-based funding globally. Our kickoff party, sponsored by kink.com, will take place in San Francisco on September 22nd 2016 at the famous/infamous Armory. During the party, we will start our online crowdsourcing with the premiere of a teaser/trailer, live kinky performances, gogo girls & boys, an auction, and more. The event will stream live online and include a large screen scroll showing text donations in real time from people at the party in SF and from around the world. Like “Divine Deviance” itself, the financing approach will be “modular.” Our initial goal for September 2016 is to raise enough cash to produce the first chapter. Once it is completed, we can use it to raise additional funds to create new segments on further topics. Our hope is that each new addition to the project will generate more interest and allow us to generate the funding to continue telling these invaluable human stories. All contributions towards our doc series are funneled through the non-profit organization the HIV Story Project. For people who pay their taxes within the US that means, their donation is tax deductible and they will receive a tax receipt upon making their contribution. (*Tax laws vary from state to state - please check with your accountant or look into your local tax laws to make sure that this applies where you pay your taxes!)
Any profits gained from "Divine Deviance" will be put directly into financing production of the next chapters of the series. Once the full series has been completed, left over funds and any profits made moving forward will be split between the kink non-profits that have been supporting the project.
* Who is the Creative Team *
Race Bannon has been an organizer, writer, educator, speaker and activist in the LGBT, leather/kink, polyamory and HIV/STI prevention realms since 1973. He has authored two books, been published extensively, and has spoken to hundreds of audiences. He created the world's largest kink-friendly psychotherapist and medical referral service and led The DSM Project that yielded beneficial changes in the way psychotherapy views BDSM. Race also founded a groundbreaking alternative sexuality publishing company, was an internet radio sex talk show host, received national and local awards, appeared in numerous documentaries, and currently writes for the Bay Area Reporter. Lola De Milo, is a German systemic sexual therapist and relationship coach with 20+ years of kink and BDSM activities, activism and social engagement under her belt. She has been engaged in various projects from the organization of a charity Pin-Up calendar series, to appearances on different TV & radio shows to 6+ years of PR as a board member of Europe’s oldest registered association of kinksters SMart-Rhein-Ruhr e.V. and 2 years on the board of the German Society of Social-Scientific Sexuality Research e.V. Her favorite work apart from coaching is to hold talks and workshops for professionals in the social/medical/therapy sector and for police women and men to promote kink awareness. Jörg Fockele is a critically acclaimed filmmaker, executive producer and TV director/producer of shows such as Bravo’s “Queer Eye,” ABC ’s “Wife Swap,” MTV’s “Savage U” and AMC’s “Small Town Security.” In addition, Jörg has written and directed 10+ short films, 4 feature documentaries and numerous music videos and PSAs – among them “Ritual,” an award-winning short documentary about the Sun Dance Hooking ritual and the PSA and interview series “Unsung Heroes – The Leather/Kink community’s fight against AIDS.” Jörg’s most important awards and distinctions include retrospectives at the Goethe Institutes New York City, San Francisco, Chicago and Mexico City, 2 Emmys and a special prize from the International Film Festival in Berlin. Marc Smolowitz is a multi-award winning director, producer and executive producer with 25+ years of experience across all aspects of the entertainment and media business. His career focus has been on powerful social issue filmmaking across all genres. His long list of credits includes films that have screened at top-tier festivals—Sundance, Berlinale, AFI Docs, IDFA, Tokyo, Melbourne, among others—and been released worldwide. Select titles include: “The Nine” (Producer 2016), “The Watermelon Woman” (Restoration Producer 2016), “Desert Migration” (Producer 2015), “Keep the Promise: The Global Fight Against AIDS,” narrated by Margaret Cho (Co-Director/Co-Producer) and the Academy-Award nominated “The Weather Underground” (Producer 2003).
* Production Company/Fiscal Sponsor: The HIV Story Project *
Founded in 2009 by filmmakers Jörg Fockele and Marc Smolowitz, The HIV Story Project is a San Francisco-based non-profit organization focused on bridging HIV/AIDS with film, media and storytelling to fight global stigma associated with the disease. Although “Divine Deviance” is produced by The HIV Story Project, it doesn’t focus primarily on HIV/AIDS. The project was born when The HIV Story Project collaborated with the local San Francisco leather/kink community on a video project in 2015, and realized there was a much larger story to be told. Although this story will include a chapter about AIDS, it will not be limited to it. The non-profit status of the HIV Story Project will ensure tax deductibility of all contributions towards the film.
* More Information *
“Divine Deviance” will soon have a website to serve as the central access point for information. It will include timelines, interview participants, project contact information details about upcoming shoots, and specifics about funding that needs to be secured to make those shoots happen. It will also serve as the eventual location from which the film chapters can be accessed and viewed. In the mean time - and until the website goes live – all important information and updates can be found on our page at www.facebook.com/DivineDeviance and you can follow us on Twitter at
