Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Ma Vie En Rose plays at Outfest Wednesdays November 19 at The Egyptian in Hollywood. Absolut cocktail reception at 6:30, film at 7:30. Also: clips from Queens at Heart, the 1965 documentary about pre-Stonewall trans life, currently being restored as part of the Outfest Legacy Project.
From the Film Journal International review of Ma Vie En Rose:
For all its highly piquant subject matter, My Life in Pink (Ma Vie en Rose) is, above all, the story of a family. Director Alain Berliner and screenwriter Chris vender Stappen have created one of the most authentic, touching households ever put on film. It’s a far, welcome cry from the motley, phony convention of stars-as-blood-relations that American audiences have become accustomed to (Parenthood, Home for the Holidays). The family’s interrelations are both funny and perfectly apt. Little Ludo has a different, intimate bond with, say, his one teenage sister than his more conventional brothers. He’s naturally close to his mother and, especially, his grandmother, a real sympatico free spirit (charmingly played by Helene Vincent). If unsure about what he is, he nevertheless knows exactly what he wants and has no problem coming up with ‘scientific’ theories about his misplaced X chromosome to explain it all. He has an active fantasy life, as well, obviously, exemplified by his dream world featuring Pam and Ben, a Gallic version of Barbie and Ken dolls, who have their own resplendently tacky musical TV show. These scenes are a triumph of Veronique Melery’s and Eve Romboz’s production design and FX, saturated with psychedelic colors and doll’s-house miniatures, an enchanting, infinitesimal Oz.
Full article:
http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000698474
---
 Andrea James Facebook group
 Andrea James YouTube channel
 Andrea James on MySpace>
Posted by Andrea James on 11/19 at 11:49 AM
Events and Appearances •
Stuff to check out •
(0) Comments •
Permalink
Tara Mars has a nice writeup of Ma Vie En Rose, screening tonight with preview clips of Queens at Heart.
Wednesday, November 19, 6:30pm ABSOLUT pre-reception 7:30pm screening - Rigler Theatre @ The Egyptian
http://www.outfest.org/ofwed.html
I saw this film when it came out in the theaters back in 1997; I fell in love with the little boy who plays the protaganist in the film. Really great movie…
Dir. Alain Berliner, 1997, France/Belgium/UK, 88 min.Ludo is a six-year-old who was assigned as a boy at birth, but who does not identify as a boy. As a hopeful and sensitive child, Ludo truly believes that a miraculous transformation into a girl will happen someday soon. Ludo’s family begins to realize with horror that this desire to be a girl isn’t just a child’s role-playing fantasy. The situation turns into a real-life drama of intense reactions from family, neighbors, friends, and teachers, culminating in an uplifting and hopeful ending.
Plus: a sneak peek at clips of the pre-Stonewall trans documentary QUEENS AT HEART, the Outfest Legacy Project’s newest restoration project
Hosted by filmmaker/actress Andrea James who reminds you November 20 is Transgender Day of Remembrance (http://www.transgenderdor.org/)
http://musicfilmartculturelosangeles.blogspot.com/2008/11/ma-vie-en-rose.html
---
Andrea James Facebook group
Andrea James YouTube channel
Andrea James on MySpace
Posted by Andrea James on 11/19 at 11:37 AM
Events and Appearances •
Stuff to check out •
(0) Comments •
Permalink
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Because things started looking like this after a while at Miss Kitty’s…
I ended up crashing at The London. You could see the smoke from the fires the next morning, and it got much worse.
---
Andrea James Facebook group
Andrea James YouTube channel
Andrea James on MySpace
Posted by Andrea James on 11/16 at 12:37 PM
Events and Appearances •
Stuff to check out •
(0) Comments •
Permalink
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Some friends were in town, so we hung out at the rooftop pool at The London…
Then went over to Miss Kitty’s to see Calpernia’s Vict-whore-ian spectacle…
More soon.
---
Andrea James Facebook group
Andrea James YouTube channel
Andrea James on MySpace
Posted by Andrea James on 11/15 at 12:32 PM
Events and Appearances •
Stuff to check out •
(0) Comments •
Permalink
Friday, November 14, 2008
The Owlism exhibit opening was last night at the World of Wonder storefront gallery in Hollywood.
Never have more kitschy owl figurines and drawings been amassed in one place. It is a sight to behold.
My Flickr set:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andreajames/sets/72157609076148303/
worldofwonder.net/gallery/
worldofwonder.net/archives/2008/Nov/07/o_is_for_obama_owl...
---
Andrea James Facebook group
Andrea James YouTube channel
Andrea James on MySpace
Posted by Andrea James on 11/14 at 11:54 AM
Events and Appearances •
Stuff to check out •
(0) Comments •
Permalink
Thursday, November 13, 2008
The Ma Vie En Rose screening for Outfest Wednesdays on 19 November at The Egyptian in Hollywood is shaping up to be a lovely event! I’ll be posting additional information as we get closer to the event.
I hope to see you there at 6:30! Just $10 for cocktails, a Golden Globe winning film, and clips from Queens at Heart, Outfest’s latest film restoration via the Legacy Project. Just $7 for members! This is a film that is really lovely on the big screen, with bright, bold fantasy sequences.
This is excerpted from a 1997 interview with Director Alain Berliner, written by my friend Lydia Marcus.
"My Life in Pink” (French title “Ma Vie En Rose") shows a part of the transgendered continuum never shown before is any of those formats by showing a transgendered child - a seven year old boy who’s already convinced that he is a girl. In the film, Ludovic (George) lives in an average upper middle class neighborhood with his parents, two older brothers and sister. At first his parents laugh off his cross-dressing as innocent dress-up, but soon Ludovic makes it clear that he feels he is a girl and has no desire to have any male identity. The film has heavy drama as Ludovic’s neighbors, school, and even his family grapple with what to think and do about the little boy who thinks he’s a girl, and the film also has a kitchy and campy side through fantasy sequences direct from the child’s mind where everything is Barbiesque pink and a doll named Pam comes to life.
Director Alain Berliner had never made a film before “My Life In Pink.” He had written a string of movies for French television when a friend introduced him to another writer, Chris van der Stappen about possibly working together on a script. Sitting in his suite at the Bel Age Hotel in West Hollywood, the director from Belgium describes his confusing first meeting with van der Stappen. “The first time I saw her I had a very strange impression - I was sure (my friend) spoke about a girl - and the first time I saw Chris, it seems to me that (she) was a boy.” Like the Ludovic in the film, Berliner says van der Stappen, “...really thinks that she (is) born in the wrong body.” Though technically still a woman, van der Sappen lives as and passes as a man and is in a relationship with another woman and they have two children. van der Stappen had already written the first draft of “My Life in Pink” before she met Berliner, and together they co-wrote the final draft. Berliner says any doubts he ever had about the accuracy of whether or not a 7 year old boy could feel as though he was truly a girl were quickly dispelled by van der Stappen and stories of her own childhood. He explains, “It was really helpful for some point in the movie, by example, about the strong conviction of Ludovic of what he is. Sometimes I said, ‘Are you sure that a little kid like that can really be so sure?’ And she said, ‘Yes, I’m sure from the very, very, very beginning of my life.’ So discussing with her and working with her was really helpful to create something very current about the main character.”
Despite being eleven years old, Berliner was able to cast Georges Du Fresne as seven year old Ludovic. Even seeing Du Fresne in person now, he’s probably still sleight enough physically to carry off a much younger role. Berliner says he wasn’t looking for a feminine boy, but one that could “Look like an angel.” Wearing makeup and dresses and telling his best friend that he wants to marry him when they grow up, little Du Fresne certainly is sweetly angelic in the film.
With Berliner interpreting his French, Du Fresne revealed that he based a lot of his female qualities on his own twin sister Camille. If Du Fresne ever had an anxiety about how his friends would react to his role in the film, Berliner says it quickly faded when he realized, “what a great part Ludovic is for an actor.” Also, Berliner says in Du Fresne’s making the movie, “It’s a strange thing but, gives him kind of respectability in the eyes of the other because now they’re impressed, ‘Wow you made a movie, you’ve been to Cannes, you’re on TV, people ask you things.’ So there a few of them were still jealous of it so they said, ‘He he he, you’re just a little faggot.’ But he don’t care. And the fact is, George isn’t like Ludovic, I mean he’s a boy who thinks he’s a boy and he don’t have any girlfriend or something like that for the moment, but I think that probably will happen (laughs) because he’s arriving at that age.”
So far “My Life In Pink” has done well critically and commercially, it just was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film and Berliner was awarded the Golden Camera Award at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. And in France, it was a cross-over hit, playing in both art houses and mainstream theaters.
Berliner hopes his film promotes tolerance and understanding of people who fall outside the norm when it comes to gender identity. Du Fresne echoes that too by saying that he hopes that people will understand a little bit more because of the movie. Berliner says there can be several readings of what will happen to Ludovic or people like him when they grow up. “If you’re an adult and you’re gay, a lot of people (see the film) and they told me, ‘It’s my story,’ yes, but it can also be the story of an adult who’s straight now but who wanted to explore the other side of (their) personality - the feminine side or the masculine side. And it means that it can be kind of phases, during six months, three months, two years, but one day it passed and it’s done and suddenly the guy or the girl says, ‘I’m a boy,’ or ‘I’m a girl,’ and everything’s okay. The meaning of the movie from my point of view really depends on what you are when you’re an adult, but when you’re a child it’s very difficult because nothing is already set, you see it’s still open.” Girls have been able to dress and act like boys for ages because it’s societally acceptable to be a “tomboy.” Because of “My Life In Pink” and the trials and tribulations of a sweet little “boy” named Ludovic, perhaps a lot more parents will see like Berliner that their son’s futures are “still open,” and let their little boys follow their hearts, even if that means picking up dolls instead of a trucks and donning dresses instead of pants.
Ma Vie En Rose event on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=46554105852
Queens at Heart page on Outfest:
http://www.outfest.org/legacy/queens_at_heart.html
---
Andrea James Facebook group
Andrea James YouTube channel
Andrea James on MySpace
Posted by Andrea James on 11/13 at 05:46 PM
Events and Appearances •
Stuff to check out •
(0) Comments •
Permalink
Above: Calpernia decides how spicy to get her pizza.
OK, I was at a power lesbian event the other night (info here), and I ran into Jane, who does a lot of work for Outfest. She told me to stop by her new restaurant, Lucifers Pizza. Very tasty!
Lucifers Pizza
1958 Hillhurst Ave
Los Feliz (LA) 90027
323-906-8603
http://www.luciferspizza.com
Look for the evil red tree out front on Hillhurst, just north of Franklin.
I posted some piccies on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andreajames/3027039135/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andreajames/3027041825/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andreajames/3027874058/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andreajames/3027041097/
---
Andrea James Facebook group
Andrea James YouTube channel
Andrea James on MySpace
Posted by Andrea James on 11/13 at 01:06 PM
Stuff to check out •
(0) Comments •
Permalink
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
As you may recall, my sick and wrong friend Willam had a short film up for an award at the Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Fest.
You heard my clarion call for votes and responded! I am delighted to announce that it won!
In case you missed it:
http://www.willambelli.com/tranny-mcguyver.htm
Congrats to Willam and all involved!
Be sure to follow Willam’s blog for extra-crispy commentary on whatever’s goin’ on.
http://itaintwilliam.blogspot.com/
---
Andrea James Facebook group
Andrea James YouTube channel
Andrea James on MySpace
Posted by Andrea James on 11/12 at 01:06 PM
Stuff to check out •
(0) Comments •
Permalink
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Part of my series on LA taken from cars.
---
Andrea James Facebook group
Andrea James YouTube channel
Andrea James on MySpace
Posted by Andrea James on 11/11 at 01:57 PM
Photography •
(1) Comments •
Permalink
Monday, November 10, 2008
My trip to the midwest got me way behind on posting here, so I am going to cheat and post a bunch of things today, then backdate them to hide evidence of my laziness.
---
Andrea James Facebook group
Andrea James YouTube channel
Andrea James on MySpace
Posted by Andrea James on 11/10 at 01:15 PM
Random thoughts •
(0) Comments •
Permalink
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Above: Samantha’s inspiring speech about pushing for more LGBT-themed media, especially with a family focus. Her lovely wife and daughters were all in attendance.
Congratulations to my friend Samantha Sprecher for 2008 Ten Amazing Gay Women in Showbiz from Power UP!
More info:
http://www.gaywired.com/article.cfm?id=20843§ion=67
---
Andrea James Facebook group
Andrea James YouTube channel
Andrea James on MySpace
Posted by Andrea James on 11/09 at 01:49 PM
Events and Appearances •
(0) Comments •
Permalink
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Last summer my friend Edward Gunawan asked me to play a part in his directorial debut. His film “Laundromat“ has been making the rounds on the festival circuit, and he has picked up some nice awards along the way. Now it’s available for free viewing at Logo online. Watch and rate it now!
http://www.logoonline.com/shows/events/short_films/details.jhtml?cid=1598107
Executive Producer/Director of Photography David Maurice Gil also just DP’d our upcoming short “Transproofed.” He shoots really nice looking stuff, so watch for that in 2009.
---
Andrea James Facebook group
Andrea James YouTube channel
Andrea James on MySpace
Posted by Andrea James on 11/05 at 09:24 AM
Stuff to check out •
(0) Comments •
Permalink
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Be sure to vote for Hope!
Shepard Fairey’s iconic poster of Obama has inspired countless homages, like the one above from 21st Century Filth.
See them all here:
Shepard Fairey Obama poster spoofs
Vote vote vote!
---
Andrea James Facebook group
Andrea James YouTube channel
Andrea James on MySpace
Posted by Andrea James on 11/04 at 11:42 AM
Humor •
Stuff to check out •
(0) Comments •
Permalink
Monday, November 03, 2008
Don’t let people book you on 6am flights to LA. You end up in LA just in time for rush hour. At least I got a couple of interesting skyline shots as I sat in traffic.
---
Andrea James Facebook group
Andrea James YouTube channel
Andrea James on MySpace
Posted by Andrea James on 11/03 at 10:37 AM
Photography •
Random thoughts •
(0) Comments •
Permalink
Sunday, November 02, 2008
No backstory, really. Just thought this looked pretty cool!
---
Andrea James Facebook group
Andrea James YouTube channel
Andrea James on MySpace
Posted by Andrea James on 11/02 at 01:37 PM
Photography •
(0) Comments •
Permalink
|
Share This Entry on Facebook