wow…check out this link  some good news on the drag queen film

Drag Queen Film Accepted

http://www.examiner.com/x-12519-Florida-Keys-Travel-Examiner~y2010m5d18-Key-West-filmmaker-to-show-film-at-DocMiami-Film-Festival-May-29

Gassy, Sushi, Samantha and Robbie (the director)

Come see an eye opening, fun and entertaining film about the lives and experiences of a very diverse group of Drag Queen performers in Key West, Florida.

This documentary film goes into the world of drag queens and brings to the audience insight into what drag queens are all about.  The film gives real perspective into the personalities behind the drag queen persona.

The drama behind their stories will draw the audience in and make them want to know these talented and creative men who men who dress up in woman’s clothing and perform.  The film makes the viewer aware of different lifestyles that make up our society and allows for a greater sense of understanding, compassion and acceptance of others who are quite different that most of us.

The premiere film screening of “Audience with the Queens” at the Tropic Cinema in Key West, Florida on wed. Feb 17^th was absolutely fantastic. The weather was very brisk for Key West, it’s usually nice and warm during the winters here, but this year has been an extreme exception. I was freezing cold while heading to the theatre on my scooter. My beret pilled down over my ears, scarf wrapped around my neck, gloves on my hands, and my girlfriend hugging me on the back, we arrived with a little frost on our noses.

The STARS make an entrance to the Theatre

The place was buzzing with excitement, lots of people were lined up to get tickets, and there were many already inside the theatre. The drag queens led by the star, Sushi, made their grand entrance with the camera rolling. The other drag queens, Samantha, Gugi, Gassy and Deja’ all looked fabulous and had big smiles on their faces as they posed and made clever remarks to each other and to all within earshot. They are so witty, and the banter that goes on amongst them is really quite the show in itself.

 The theatre manager told me the screening was SOLD OUT in advance, so all who were still in line to get tickets were very disappointed. The best part of that is the film “Audience with the Queens” is playing at the Theatre for the entire week so the ones who missed out on opening night will still be able to see the film.

 The film profiles a very diverse group of drag queens who live and perform onstage here in Key West at the 801 Cabaret Club on Duval Street. The group is led by Sushi, the drag mother to many and the beauty and brains who makes the show go for these drag queens. Sushi makes the schedule and hosts many of the shows herself and she the one who has to give them hell If they screw up, or in some cases, get drunk and don’t show up! The film gives the audience some perspective on what a drag queen is and what they’re all about. They are an interesting subculture to explore and I know I’ve certainly learned much about them and in doing so have come to enjoy them very much !

The film stars make there appearance

 The theatre GM asked me to speak for a few minutes before the screening and give my perspective on why and how I came to do this particular film. It is a good story, but that’s for another day. I spoke before the film screened and talked a little of how I came to get the idea for the documentary and how I got involved with this group of drag queens.

One of the “stars” of the film, Destiny, passed away during the making of the film. She’s still a very prominent part of the film. After her death we filmed her funeral but I haven’t yet added that footage to the film. It was a sad day but drag queens have a different perspective on how to have a funeral.  Destiny’s dad was in attendance for the premiere, and in my remarks from the stage about the film, I dedicated the screening to “Destiny and her dad”. The only way I knew her dad was there was Destiny’s niece, who I met at the funeral, came up to me before the film started and told me. After the screening I made sure I met Destiny’s Dad and we had a nice conversation about his son. It was a very touching ending to a great evening.

The film screens at the Tropic for an entire week. Starting Feb 17^th with two shows a day.  I think I’ll end here and continue this a bit later

What:  the film screening for  “Audience with the Queens”

When: starting today – Feb 19^th and continuing all next week

Where: Tropic Cinema, Key West

Tickets: Tropic Cinema, 416 Eaton St  Box office 305 295-9493

The documentary filmed right here in key west by Robbie Hopcraft, it tells the story about several of the drag queens who live and work in Key West.

what the boys wear when they be girls

 Starring the amazing Sushi, the film profiles the lives of 6 drag queens of the 801 Cabaret. It’s very entertaining and will give you reason to both laugh and cry.

 The film made its Key West premiere screening debut on Wed. Feb 17^th at the Tropic Cinema and was SOLD OUT well in advance. Many who showed up intending to buy tickets at the door were disappointed to find out they the premiere was entirely sold out!!

The GOOD NEWS is that the film “Audience with the Queens” will screen for the whole next week. It begins tonight, Feb 19^th and will have 2 shows a day for the next week

arriving at the premiere

 Call the Tropic box office for tickets and show times at 305 295-9493 or go online to Tropiccinema.com

 Robbie Hopcraft

305 304-1609

Last night was the premiere screening of the acclaimed documentary film that profiles several of the drag queens who live and perform in Key West, Florida. The name of the film, “Audience with the Queens” is both produced and directed Robbie Hopcraft.

Gassy, Sushi, Samantha and Robbie entering the Theatre

The debut local screening at the Tropic Cinema was SOLD OUT two days before the show opened and many tourists and locals alike, who wanted tickets, stood in line to see if any who bought tickets didn’t show up to claim them. But everyone who bought tickets showed up and the film didn’t disappoint anyone. At least not that we’re aware of anyway !!

The Drag Queens who star in the film, led by Sushi, all came dressed to the nine’s. Samantha, Gugi, Gassy and Deja were all looking glamorously wonderful. RV Beaumont who also stars in the film was the only one of the group who didn’t make it to the premiere. RV has had a bout with Cancer and is still undergoing treatments and was apparently too tired to make it to the film. What a shame that happened to RV. The same thing happened when the film screened at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. RV couldn’t make it for the same reason. It makes us all sad that RV wasn’t able to make the screening again. 

Sushi's Mom Nobi looking like a star!!

Sushi’s mom Nobi came to the screening looking very chic in her new outfit. She was accompanied by Sushi’s boyfriend Jeff Kuchin who does the light and sound for the drag shows at the 801 Cabaret Club in Key West.

The film was a huge success and everyone was happily talking about how much they enjoyed it. The screening of the film will be extended for an entire week so hopefully many others will get a chance to see and enjoy it

The first time I wore women clothes was when I was six. I was hanging out with my mom on a lazy Sunday afternoon while my dad was out. She let me try on her evening gown and carry my favorite glittery purse of hers. As I pranced around on her bed, I playfully dubbed myself “the nightgown chicken.” In Cantonese, “chicken” is the slang for “prostitute.” My mom was cracking up. We both had so much fun. I remember I really enjoyed playing a character… being someone whom I’m not. She only let me do it that once; maybe she thought I enjoyed it to much.

Aaaw what a cute little drag queen

As a kid growing up, I was obsessed with female vampires and witches. I thought they were the most beautiful and scary characters, and I wanted to be beautiful and scary. I had a childhood ritual of putting myself to sleep by imagining myself as different characters. Very often I would become a vampire or a witch and make up some adventures until I fell asleep.

All during high school, I was obsessed with effeminate boys. I tried to befriend every effeminate boy in my grade. My best friend was reasonably effeminate, though he was too handsome to be picked on. Then there was this one boy that everybody picked on and gave him the nickname “Woman.” I thought he was so hot, so I really worked hard to be his friend. I was attracted to his effeminate beauty, his pale and flawless skin, his perfectly chiseled features, and his persecuted status. Much to my sad surprise, “Woman” got married and turned out to be straight.

The idea of wearing women clothes didn’t come up again until my sophomore year in college. It was the day before Halloween. I thought I had never dressed in full drag before, and it was about time. I shopped for a dress, a pair of flats and some make-up supplies. With a nightlong of anticipation, I bounced out of bed the next morning with excitement. I put on make-up, wore my dress and flats, and off I went to school. As I walked to school, no one seemed to even notice I was in drag. I could totally pass as a woman!

Shocking people was just instant gratification for me. I felt empowered being able to totally subvert people’s expectations. I had a blast going to school in drag. At night, I dressed up as a witch and went to a Halloween party. I grew my hair out, bought a bright floral print dress for the occasion, and bought my first pair of heels. The reality was I was on the top on the world without even knowing it. I was delirious. I was proud. I was out. I was queer. I was celebrating my life the way I wanted to and no one could stop me.

This is a familiar story for many young boys who are gay and want to express themselves and show their effeminate side. Some have the courage to show it and do, but many feel repressed and never feel comfortable, brave, or confident enough to do so.

Well, on a different note, let me tell you, that’s definitely NOT the case with the boys and men who perform in dresses in Key West, Florida at the 801 Cabaret Club on Duval St. There are some talented and amazingly creative performers that work the stage in the nightly drag queen shows at the Cabaret. Led by the amazing drag queen Sushi, the girls put on two shows every night to the delight of the locals and tourists alike who frequent the club. These boys are definitely “out” of the closet and love dressing as drag queens with all the makeup, high heels, big haired wigs and very lovely and creative dresses. These drag queens know how to perform and the audience loves it. 

A new award winning documentary film called , “Audience with the Queens” and produced and directed by Robbie Hopcraft has recently been released that tells the story of 6 drag queens who live, work and perform in Key West, Florida. The film delves into the lives and psyches of these men who perform on stage and who are very active in the community. You can read about the film by going to the film’s website:

www.keywestdragqueens.com

or

www.audiencewiththequeens.com

Last night I filmed more new footage of the Drag Queens performing on stage at the Cabaret Club on Duval St in Key West. Sushi and the girls, Samantha, Gassy, Kylie, and Déjà have been rehearsing tirelessly a new song called “one love” that Ray Burris and Bill Coate, the guys from NYC have asked them to do. Last night was the first time the drag queens have performed it live in the Friday night show. Sushi introduced the new song to the audience and mentioned that I was filming it for the preview film trailer that we are creating for NY and we would appreciate loud applause at the end of the performance… and loud it was, along with lots of cheering.

photo from the Fort Lauderdale Intl. Film Festival

The new film footage will also be added to the film “Audience with the Queens” for the upcoming Feb17th screening premiere at the Tropic Cinema in Key West. This will be the first opportunity that “locals” will have a chance to see the film that been shot on location in Key West by Robbie Hopcraft. It should be a fun and exciting evening for all who get to attend.

The Drag Queens who live and perform in Key West are incredibly talented and interesting characters; there is no doubt about it!! They put on a great show and there humor and witticisms keep you involved in the show.

Sushi made some interesting comments to the audience last night. She said that we are all born naked and everything else is drag, meaning that we’re all wearing a costume.  And that Drag Queens in every culture teach us not to take life so seriously.  I believe that drag is a sacred practice.  Drag Queens and Kings are like aphrodisiacs.  They encourage the rest of us (if we’re open to them) to feel libidinous, empowered, and playful. 

Speaking of Aphrodisiacs, I’m making homemade aphrodisiac infused honey, for spreading on a buttery croissant or….

Aphrodisiacs have a ‘serious’ side, in the fact that most of them are also strengthening to the heart, reproductive, and/or nervous systems, many if not all are anti-depressive, and in general they make people feel happy, even giddy, which is very creatively freeing.  They aren’t “just” about sex.

Talking of sex as a life force, Aphrodisiac plants are living poems to life force.  They support the idea that life is pleasurable.  What a simple, and yet somehow still radical thought.

By Peter Howell  Movies Columnist

All through the Sundance Film Festival, an image from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid has been flashing through my mind.

It’s that moment right at the end where Paul Newman’s Butch and Robert Redford’s Sundance are surrounded by a platoon of Bolivian soldiers, yet decide they’re going make a run for it anyway. As hundreds of guns fire in their direction, the camera freezes on their final act of defiance.

Redford summoned up similar boldness in his opening press conference last week. He spoke of how Sundance had “flatlined” recently and had to get back to its roots as an outlaw alternative to Hollywood. The theme for this 26th edition of the festival was all “renew” and “rebel,” but it certainly made you wonder: What has Sundance been doing for the past 25 years, if not rebelling against the establishment? 

Photo from the Fort Lauderdale Intl. Film Festival

Join us, Sushi, Gugi, RV, Gassy and Samantha and our group on incredibly entertaining Drag Queens at the Tropic Cinema in Key West, Florida on Wed. Feb. 17th for the priemiere screening of Audience with the Queens, the award winning documentary film about the lives of Drag Queens produced and directed by Robbie Hopcraft right here in Key West.  Come see the film, you’ll love us!!

Here’s the article  i wrote about my experience in filming the drag queens. It’s been an amazing adventure and i hope to get the show picked up by a major distributor or made into a killer reality TV docu-series.. we shall see.

I look for any good advice or help out there in the entertainment world. hit me up and tell me what you think..

http://ezinearticles.com/?Audience-With-the-Queens&id=2674176

the drag queen film is called Audience with the Queens and i do hope you get to see it soon. Coming to theatres everywhere !!

Go To:  www.keywestdragqueens.com

or www.audiencewiththequeens.com

Robbie Hopcraft

I’ve finished editing the latest version the the Drag Queen film and put it in the mail to be screened at the Fort Lauderdale Intl. Film Festival. 

It has many new and different sequences that have been added to the film that include Destiny, Sushi, Gugi, RV, Samantha and Gassy Winds.

I’m very excited for this month’s opening of the film festival and for the Nov. 6th film screening.  I hope many of you will come and join us for the film screening. I do hope to see you there.  

Robbie