Behind the Scenes of Diary of a Madman 2
The depths of the mindfuck are potentially bottomless when the framework is built on trust and intimacy.
Fear play is BDSM that toys with fear on purpose: the rush of danger, helplessness or the unknown, inside a scene both partners have negotiated and trust each other completely. Few performers have taken it further on camera than Casey Calvert. In this first-person scene report, Casey takes you behind the scenes of Diary of a Madman 2, a five-day KINK.com feature with JP the Pope, from psychological play and full mummification to heavy impact, electric play and the scene she calls the ultimate fear play.
Extreme BDSM Foundations
By far, my most memorable experience working for KINK.com is shooting Diary of a Madman 2 with JP the Pope for KINK.com. DOM was shot over five days, and it still feels fresh to me. The film is written and directed by JP, and he also stars in it with me.
JP and I have worked together many times before shooting DOM. This intimacy we share allows us to push as hard as we do. Trust and experience are the bedrock of extreme BDSM.
CNC and Psychological BDSM on Set
Diary of a Madman 2 is a feature narrative that centers around revenge. In the film, I'm a director who has clawed my way to the top of the industry. After a super stressful week at work, I come home and lose my temper with the contractor who is working on my house. That's when things go sideways.
The film delves into many psychological elements of BDSM, including Consensual Non-Consent (CNC), Stockholm syndrome, power dynamics, and hardcore BDSM.
What Is Consensual Non-Consent (CNC)?
Consensual non-consent is a negotiated role-play where one partner agrees ahead of time to act out a scenario of being taken against their will. The consent happens before the scene: limits, safewords and hard boundaries are all agreed in advance, so the "non-consent" lives inside the fantasy. Because CNC can stir up big emotions, it works best between partners with deep trust and plenty of experience together, the same foundation Casey and JP built over years of working together.
What is Full Immersion BDSM?
We shot DOM over the course of five days. This long stretch of filming an ongoing BDSM scene definitely adds to both the physical and emotional intensity of the experience. The cumulative effect is one of fatigue and complete surrender. The whole experience leaves me raw and completely open in a really powerful and intimate way.
Waking up every day and leaning into doing something creative with my friends is an incredible experience. JP and I are already close, but doing this film brings us much closer.
Extreme Bondage Play
We have five days to play, and we explore a ton of different bondage positions during this shoot. My highlights include full body mummification with bondage wrap. I remember being completely mummified and then laid out on the dining table like a centerpiece while JP attempts to feed me scrambled eggs!
Mummification and Straitjacket Bondage
Mummification is full-body bondage that wraps your partner from shoulders to toes until they can barely wiggle. Reusable bondage tape sticks only to itself, so it's an easy way to start, while a sleepsack or a straitjacket give you the same helpless feeling with gear made to be worn for a whole scene.
Keep it safe: wrap snugly but never tight around the chest or neck, keep safety shears within reach, check hands and feet for cold or tingling, and never leave a wrapped partner alone. Full-body bondage traps heat quickly, so keep water nearby and scenes shorter than you think.
Shop BDSM Straitjackets & Sleepsacks
How to Process Pain in Impact Play
I consider myself a heavy bottom and masochist, and I have different techniques I use to process pain in heavy BDSM impact scenes. Probably the most important technique I rely on is breath work: remembering I can breathe and breathe through it.
We engage in a lot of extreme impact play while suspended by cuffs from my ankles in rope bondage, breath play in the hot tub, and one of the most intense electric BDSM scenes of my life.
A note on breath play: it's high-risk edge play. Casey's hot tub scene was filmed on a professional set and isn't a how-to. Never try breath play alone or without serious research and a safety plan.
Tips for Heavy Impact Play
Casey's go-to technique is breathwork, and it's a great place to start for anyone exploring heavier sensation. A few more habits help a heavy scene go well:
- Warm up first. Start light with a flogger or open hand and build intensity slowly so the body can process each level.
- Aim for the meaty areas. The buttocks and upper thighs take impact best. Steer clear of the kidneys, spine, joints and neck.
- Choose your sensation. Spanking paddles give a broad, thuddy sting, while crops and canes deliver a sharp, focused bite.
- Check in. A quick color check (green, yellow, red) keeps you both connected without breaking the mood.
Electric BDSM
Electric play adds a sensation that's impossible to predict, which makes it a natural partner for fear play. A shock wand like the Zapper delivers sharp, startling jolts, while a violet wand crackles across the skin with a glowing spark. Keep all electrical play below the waist and away from the chest and heart, and skip it entirely if your partner has a pacemaker or heart condition. Curious how another KINK performer experiences it? Read Electroslut: Barbary Rose.
Ultimate Fear Play Unlocked
We do a lot of heavy BDSM while shooting DOM, but on day 5, JP and I do something neither one of us has done before but have always fantasized about—we bury me alive. This is the ultimate fear play.
We figure out all the safety components, dig a hole at the Kink Ranch in Vegas, wait for dusk, and do a scene I don't think either one of us will ever forget. It's incredibly emotional, the stakes are obviously very high, and both of us are so proud of the work we do when we successfully pull it off.
A note on edge play: being buried alive is extreme edge play, planned for professional filming and with safety measures in place. It's not a scene to recreate at home. You can explore the same mix of fear and surrender with far less risk, and the next section shows you how.
In KINK We Trust
While I'm nervous going into shooting DOM, I know I'm able to handle it. Being able to accomplish something like this week-long KINK experience is something I'll never forget. It's an experience that validates my belief in myself and in what I'm capable of when I've developed intimate trust with my scene partner.
I trust JP to push me to the limit but never an inch over, and knowing that trust exists before the scene starts allows me to lean into the sensations, lean further into a place of deep surrender, and have a really great time.
Browse the gear from DOM
Shop BDSM Straitjackets & Sleepsacks
How to Explore Fear Play Safely
You don't need a five-day shoot or a shovel to explore fear play. The thrill comes from anticipation and the unknown, which you can build with simple tools and a lot of communication.
- Negotiate everything. Talk through what scares your partner in a fun way and what scares them in a bad way. Name hard limits, including emotional ones.
- Use a safeword and a signal. Fear can make words hard to find, so pair a safeword with a non-verbal signal like dropping an object or tapping out.
- Start with the senses. Take away sight with a blindfold or hood, then let silence, a countdown or an unexpected touch do the work.
- Add restraint gradually. Simple bondage cuffs raise the helplessness without much risk. New to restraints? Start with our guide to leather bondage.
- Plan aftercare. Fear play can leave a big emotional footprint. Have water, a blanket and time to talk ready, and check in again the next day in case sub drop or top drop shows up.
FAQ
What is fear play in BDSM?
Fear play is a type of BDSM that uses fear as part of the turn-on. It can mean anything from a blindfolded partner not knowing what comes next to elaborate role-play, always within limits both partners negotiate ahead of time.
Is fear play safe?
It can be, with good negotiation. Agree on limits, a safeword and a non-verbal signal, start with lower-risk tools like blindfolds and restraints, check in often and plan aftercare. Extreme edge play like the burial in this article is for experienced professionals with a safety team.
What's the difference between fear play and CNC?
Fear play is about the feeling of fear itself, from suspense to danger. Consensual non-consent is a specific role-play where one partner agrees in advance to act out being taken against their will. The two often overlap, but you can enjoy either one on its own.
What gear do you need for extreme bondage?
Mummification and full-body restraint usually start with bondage tape or wrap, a sleepsack or a straitjacket. Keep safety shears within reach whenever someone is fully restrained.
How do you handle pain in heavy impact play?
Casey relies on breathwork: remembering to breathe and breathing through each strike. A slow warm-up, steady communication and agreed check-ins help too.
Ready for More?
Build your own scene with our BDSM Straitjackets & Sleepsacks, BDSM Impact Toys, Electro Sex Toys and BDSM Blindfolds & Hoods. Want more stories from KINK performers? Read The Making of "Scream Queen" with Lauren Phillips and Victoria Voxxx Meets Device Bondage. New to mind games? Learn how to create a psychological BDSM mindfuck scene, and find more restraint ideas in our bondage collection.
Madman Bondage Straitjacket by KINK
Device Bondage Blackout Goggles by KINK
BDSM Handler Gloves by KINK
