There are a couple of things I wouldn’t recommend doing if you’re white talent on a photo shoot who’s volunteered to be whipped as part of an East New Britain initiation ceremony (below).
Firstly: Don’t tweak the chief’s nipples for a laugh when he’s applying the body paint (even though everyone around you, including him, cracks up (below).
Secondly: As you kneel on the ground having survived the first lash, don’t look back at your tormentor and joke that he “hits like a girl.”
(As you might have deduced from Steve’s expression (below), he didn’t the second, third and forth time).
And thirdly: Don’t wait until your assailant has turned his back to pick something up (below) before exacting your revenge (much to the delight of the crowd).
We’re day two into our photo shoot and the weather’s still terrible but its shaping up to be a memorable assignment (certainly for Steve).