Vintage RuPaul flicks: Not for the lactose-intolerant
Thursday, October 18th, 2007
RUPAUL WAS KINDA CUTE, RIGHT? (I’m just sayin’ though.)
Warning: If you’re lactose-intolerant, don’t watch these at home. RuPaul’s vintage, no-budget shorts are that cheesy.
A drag queen playing the role of a supermodel/secret agent sent to avenge the kidnapping of the president’s son? We’re talking classic stuff here.
For those who’d prefer to indulge in RuPaul in the privacy of their own homes rather than going to tonight’s Out on Film closing-night screening of Starrbooty ($25 for screening and afterparty featuring RuPaul and director Mike Ruiz. 7:30 p.m. at Landmark Midtown Art Cinema. 678-495-1424), you can check out a double feature of his earliest attempts at acting/movie-making by clicking here. The Fun Movie Channel is now showing the original Starbooty and Trilogy of Terror, both shot in Atlanta in the ’80s by director/collaborator John Witherspoon.
Pop a Lactaid and press play. It’s stupid fun. While you’re at it, check out James Kelly’s story and the revealing podcast interview he conducted with RuPaul in this week’s CL. Turns out the two of them go way back. Upon arriving in Atlanta over 20 years ago, James Kelly’s first living room set was a gift from RuPaul. The future queen of drag had just been evicted, so he helped the furnitureless James and a few of his friends salvage what they could of his curbside treasure.
It was a carefree time for RuPaul and for Atlanta’s quirky arts/music scene. Both are older now, but some things still haven’t changed. As RuPaul says, the new Starrbooty has a bigger budget and a better script, but it’s still “irreverent” as hell. As for Atlanta, well, gentrification is a mutha.
Check out more stills from the original Starbooty.
