Brycetech,

  I have asked for multipass features and I hope we get some in C6, I end up creating duplicate files to do this .
*1: apply an all white material to all objects and domains (for the mask render when I want it)

* With regards to dropping the shader on your figure group I havent found a way to force the drop on top of the Properties tray/Shading tab.  What I would do is the following.

1.Create the Shader you want for your figure in the texture room using a Layers shader and use Basic layers for each shading domain like in my screen capture above. 
2.Make sure the Properties tray/Shading tab  shading domains are not used like in my screen capture from above.
3.Save this shader to the browser .
4.Import your new bvh animation,select your figure .
5.Delete the shading domains for your figure in the Properties tray/shading tab.  If there is only seven  of  them it shouldn't be to bad

6. Select the figure of the new animation and apply the shader from step 3.

 The figure should accept all your shading domains and you should be able to re-use the shader from step 3 over and over. 

  It may be quicker to write something to do this I don't know . Sorry I couldn't be more help and good luck with this.

Mike