“Audience with the Queens”: A new, exciting and provocative film about the lives of the Drag Queens at 801 Cabaret in Key West.

 Key West, Florida—Fresh from a successful screening at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, the documentary film “Audience with the Queens” will have its premiere local screening at the Tropic Cinema on Wednesday evening, Feb 17 at 7 pm.

 When a straight guy like Robbie Hopcraft takes a look at the lives and experiences of drag queens, onstage and off, he comes up with an eye-opener that’s both informative and entertaining, regardless of where it’s showing.

“The screening at the Fort Lauderdale Film Festival was incredible,” said Hopcraft. “The theatre was packed and the crowd not only applauded, they cheered and whistled after the film was over; it was really overwhelming and emotional, in fact, Gugi, one of the stars in the film was sitting with me during the screening and tears were welling in her eyes.” 

Girls and Boys Looking Good

 Hopcraft says drag queens work very hard, and they love to entertain:  “I think they got a great deal of enjoyment seeing themselves on the big screen. They were also a big hit at the cocktail party that followed the film,” he said.

 “Coverage in Paradise Magazine before the screening in Fort Lauderdale led many locals to ask me when they could see it here, and Key West’s Tropic Cinema is a natural for an art flick like this”.

The film features several of the drag queens who perform at the 801 Cabaret Club in Key West. Sushi is the main star and the film also includes Gugi Gomez, Samantha Woodward, RV Beaumont, and Gassy Winds. It also has footage about Destiny, who passed away during filming.

  This is Hopcraft’s first-ever entry into professional filmmaking. He produced, directed, and did all the cinematography on the film.

 “It’s definitely a one man film crew”, Hopcraft said. “However, I hired editors and I sat with them through every minute of every scene that we put into the film. That’s tedious work on a project idea that existed only in my head,” he laughed.

  “I built the storyline as I went along, and along the way I learned a lot about a very interesting group of men in dresses.”

  “You talk about drama; we had plenty of it and it all happens daily in the lives of these drag queens,” he said.

 Although the film has been well received elsewhere, Hopcraft says he’s extremely nervous about how it will be accepted in Key West.

 “I’ve lived in Key West for more than16 years and until this film I never had a conversation with a drag queen,” said Hopcraft. “I hope the film gives the viewers the depth of understanding that I have gained because I know how difficult it is to be labeled ‘different’ by our society—and in this case, to say  ‘different’ is really an understatement.”

 By gaining the trust of the drag queens, Hopcraft was even allowed to film in the inner sanctum—the back-stage dressing room—where each Queen is transformed into her unique personae.

 Hopcraft’s film production company, Key West Unplugged, is based in Key West, Florida. For more information about the film go to www.audiencewiththequeens.com.

or

www.keywestdragqueens.com

 Tickets for the screening may be purchased at www.tropiccinema.com or call the box office at 305 294-5857.

Oooops, Sooo sorry, I made a mistake.

The screening date is Fri., Nov. 6th at 9  pm at Cinema Paradiso in Fort Lauderdale  Hope to see you there…

Gugi Is So Sexy !

Audience with the Queens is an eye opening film series about the lives and experiences of a very diverse and talented group of Drag Queen performers living and working in Key West, Florida.

This documentary film series explores the underworld of Drag Queens, and gives the “audience” an idea of who a Drag Queen really is and what they’re all about. It gives real perspective into the person and personality of the different Drag Queen personas who are profiled in the film. This documentary grab’s it’s “audience” and definitely entertains and also makes the audience curious enough to want to get to know these Drag Queens on a more personal level. If gives a true sense of their person and personality and a look into the more human and emotional side of these talented and diverse Drag Queen performers. The film tells what a Drag Queen is all about on stage and off stage. It gives you a sense of their personal life and what they do in addition to dressing up like a woman. The film will answer questions like: Why do men cross-dress in woman’s clothing and put on full make up to perform on stage? Are they male or female, or a combination of both? What are they really like as individuals and what else do they do in real life? What do their parents and families think about the path they’ve chosen in life? Do these Drag Queens function or dysfunction as a family group? What do the terms transvestites, trannies and t-girls mean? What is a cross-dresser? These and many other questions are answered in this very fast paced and entertaining film. Make sure you look for the film “Audience with the Queens”; you will be delighted when you see it!

Sushi Looking Gorgeous

Starring: “SUSHI”
The most talented & famous Drag Queen of all! Sushi is known as the “Drag Mother” for this group of Queens. A talented fashion designer who creates many of the costumes worn by her and the other drag queens, she has long beautiful legs and a body most real women would die for.

Produced and Directed by: Robbie Hopcraft
Cinematography: Robbie Hopcraft
Co-Produced & Edited by: Mary Sparacio
Editing and Sound by: Tom Jackson

An Award Winning Documentary
“When a straight guy takes a look at the other side, he unearths an eye opening film about the lives and experiences of Drag Queens, onstage and off. But these are not just any Drag Queens; in Robbie Hopcraft’s new documentary “Audience with the Queens,” he features a very talented and diverse group of cross dressing Queens who perform at the 801 Caberet on Duval St in beautiful downtown Key West, Florida.”