BeBe Speaks to Our Youth

May 28, 2009

On Wednesday, May 27, BeBe was invited to speak to Our Youth, an organization designed to help GLBTQ youth and their straight allies in Jersey City, NJ.  Approximately 75 high school age kids were there to meet BeBe (and to enjoy a delicious family-style dinner provided by Rob & his grandma!).   Most of the youth were big fans of RuPaul’s Drag Race, and BeBe led an informal Q&A where she responded to questions about her experiences both on the show and in her real life.  She emphasized how important it was for her to find the strength to turn external negativity into positive energy, cultivating self-acceptance and self-love while growing up “different” in Cameroon.

Jennie Livingston & Paris Is Burning at 92Y Tribeca

May 9, 2009

It’s not every day you get to meet one of your heroes and see her film projected off a celluloid print!

The new-ish 92Y Tribeca hosted a screening of Paris Is Burning on Friday, May 8. The hit documentary about drag balls in 1980s New York City made a massive impact on independent filmmaking, popular culture (Vogue-ing, anyone?), and of course, drag queens everywhere.  With almost 20 years passed since its 1990 release, the film now serves as a heartbreaking record and memorial of both a bygone era and some incredible individuals who did not make it to the other side of the AIDS crisis.

I attended the film with my editor, Ali, as well as a few of the awesome interns that have been supporting us this spring:  Jewel, Matt & Stephen.  Stephen had never seen the film, and Jewel hadn’t seen it since its theatrical release in 1991.  BeBe’s world of drag and female impersonation, which has been based primarily in Minneapolis thus far, is vastly different from the one that Paris Is Burning covers.  The communities and forums for drag performance have evolved significantly since then.  But the passion, creativity and individuality of each performer on the Paris scene rings timeless and true.

Jennie Livingston, the director of the film, did a Q&A after the screening.  She talked about some of the challenges she faced while making the film (it took her 7 years to finish, as they had to continuously interrupt their shooting schedule to raise more money to pay for the 16mm film & transfers), and shared anecdotes about the close relationships she had with a couple of the subjects – especially Dorian Corey and Willy Ninja.

I was thrilled to meet Ms. Livingston after the screening as well.  She generously offered some invaluable words of advice and encouragement to our little team.

“If you shoot an arrow and it goes real high, hooray for you.” -Dorian Corey