July 23, 2011. Marriage equality in New York. NYC same sex couples flocked to the City Clerks office at obscenely early hours, and were getting married all day!
Let’s get the important stuff out of the way. Best Dressed.
Love defeated hate. Check it.
Watch a video of the day my friend put together here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifzO3MTNOK4
Just when I thought I knew Chinatown NYC, travel writer Sarah Enelow took me to a store that gave me palpitations. 
Need bubble tea straws in bulk? Cast iron mini teapot in a light teal or lavender? Miracle Candy? New Kam Man on Canal Street in NYC has all that, plus a fine selection of loose teas, lunch boxes for sushi, gorgeous and inexpensive tableware, and picnic baskets designed to carry the aforementioned teapots and two cups!
The food selection is amazing, especially when you don’t know what a lot of it is. I bought a few cute looking thangs. The Miracle Candy did not change my life, but is really cool and chewy with surprise gummies that pop out.
Before I lost it at New Kam Man we had a sassy Malaysian lunch on the cheap at Jaya, you can read Sarah’s review on NFT here. 
She told me about her travels in Russia as a grad student, and her Fulbright in Argentina. Que Impressive! She’s very modest, so I wouldn’t stop asking her questions. I’m like ummmm you’re cool I wanna hear more! “You’ve been to red Square? What did the people wear? Were you scared? Was it expensive? How the hell did you get around with that wacky alphabet?” To shut me up Sarah bought me some sweet mini cakes from a cart. So cute! Now it’s time for a mind-blowing slideshow of super cuteness and Asian awesomeness.
Super real deal indie director Steve Balderson was ever so kind to have an email interview with me. I can’t thank him enough. A few years ago I wondered “where has all the indie gone?” and found the answer in Steve’s movies and his production ideals.
His newest movie, The Casserole Club makes its world premiere as the “Centerpiece Screening” at VisionFest ’11. Held at the Tribeca Cinema, Friday June 24th at 9:30 PM. Q&A after with cast! You can buy tickets here.
The website for The Casserole Club is super retrotastic filled with recipes for casseroles and proper drinks, fabulous photos, as well as more info about the film.
First the trailer, then we dish.
Q: I still am trying to get over your last film, STUCK! which I saw at the Boston Underground Film Festival. I happened to be in town, read about your film, and got a ticket immediately. Could you tell me about your new film, the fantastically titled The Casserole Club? I’ve of course already got my ticket for it.
A: I love that you’re still trying to “get over” STUCK! Wait until you see THE CASSEROLE CLUB. You’ll be totally wrecked for years! (Laughs) THE CASSEROLE CLUB is my take on irresponsibility, selfish people, damaged relationships, and history, all set in the perfect 1969 California suburbia.
Q: I see you are working with the delicious Jane Wiedlin, the sever so hot Pleasant Gehman, and Starina Johnson who was just awesome as main character Daisy in your last film STUCK!
A: Yes, I love working with the same people. It’s also really fun to see them playing different types of characters. Jane did double duty on this one. She was my Girl Friday, my right-hand man. She did everything from helping with the script, to art design, deal with the cast, and she even made the best damn salad bar buffet one night for the whole cast and crew! I couldn’t have done it without her.
Q: Jane is really more than just a sexy Go-Go! You have a talented cast, besides your usual ladies. There are some actors like Daniela Sea from The L Word , and actors who have been on Criminal Minds. Segue into… there is a former Backstreet Boy in your movie! I’m sorry, he has a name and it is Kevin Scott Richardson. Did you seek him out? What’s the story? Has it caused any stirs or to-do’s? Are you sick of this question?
A: (Laughing), Not sick of it at all. Kevin and (co-producer and actor) Garrett Swan knew each other, and when I was casting, Garrett suggested I look at him. He had great reviews performing in Chicago on Broadway, so I thought I’d give him a try. This would be his film debut. I’m so thankful I cast him. Kevin is brilliant in the film and he was great to work with!
Q: I remember in the Q&A for Stuck! Mink Stole mentioned how they each decorated their own prison cells. Anything similar to that kind of participation in The Casserole Club?
A: Yes! On our first day, to have the cast get to know each other, I separated the men and the women. Since this movie deals with five couples, who are also good friends, it would naturally – in real life circa 1969 – be made up of the husbands sitting in the den, or by the pool, sipping scotch and having cigars, and the wives would be in the kitchen prepping dinner, gossiping, etc. So on day one, I had the guys all go to the liquor store and buy booze, then come back and take all the labels off and replace them with period 1969 labels. Meanwhile, I had the women get together and each bake a casserole dish – which we would later use as part of the meal they would be actually eating in the scene. Another thing we did was all live together in the same house. Everyone slept there, and worked there, and it was great! Everyone got to know each other really quickly. Which actually translates on screen. The performances are much stronger I think, because of the way we made the movie.
Q: Who did the costuming, hair and makeup? I am already having heart palpitations from the movie poster!
A: I selected certain outfits that I wanted for some people, but everyone really took care of themselves and did their own wardrobe – under my supervision of course. Some people did their own make-up and then we had Make Up and Hair artists Kelsey Bodine and Linda Sammut. Doing period costume, hair and make-up was a challenge. But it came across perfectly delicious!
Q: Where was it shot? How long did it take?
A: In the Palm Springs, California area in September 2010 for 14 days.
Q: I understand it was shot on video, did you edit, and on what system?
A: I did the editing on Final Cut. I had a great editing consultant, Stephen Eckleberry who helped me amazingly
Q: You are a director who is truly indie. That word has lost its meaning over the years but you are one of the directors bringing it back. Could you speak a little about that? How do you “work it?”
A: I have a manifesto that is about six pages long (or maybe longer) that really explains the answer to your question. But since you can’t print the whole thing (unless you wanted to), let’s just say that I believe it’s best for me to be independent and have the freedom to make the projects I want to make, when, where, and how I want. And in the process, I’ve figured out how to make a million-dollar product for next to nothing.
My good friend Matt McManus handing out flowers. Maybe you saw him on RuPaul’s Drag Race being a jock made into a queen by the lovely Manila Luzon? His name was Fuschia and he won! Ladies he is straight!
So last week I got an email from the Erasure Information service and found out that Andy Bell was doing a PA set and SINGING in NYC. I was at work and not dressed in a way for going out, so I threw on a shitload of eyeliner and raced to The Ritz club. I ran to the back and there he was, the angel himself.
I ran the DJ booth where he was alone. Are they crazy? I danced and stared at him as he played an amazing remix of Kate Bush’s “Running up that Hill (Deal with God.)” Then I ran up to the booth, shocked that no one stopped me. I said some lame stuff elaborately thanking him and he said “I remember you.” I almost died. Thrilled, embarrassed, and shocked, I said “Well I have met you before.” We hugged. I was soo happy!!!! Yes, I have met him before but I am pretty sure he remembers me from kneeling before him and doing the sign of the cross when they played in a church turned venue in NYC few years back. I think it is the Society for Ethical culture. It was a church full of gay men, and ERASURE and I was so happy!
“I Love to Hate You” began and I became so overwhelmed I ran through the pew and dropped to my knees and did the sign on the cross. Right in front of Andy! They should have had better security. I was not thrown out like I was at the Irving Plaza show for taking pictures.
I was lucky to see the screening of the amazingly entertaining must see Pop Star on Ice when I was working for The Film Panel Notetaker, covering Newfest 2009 .
Anyway Johnny is beautiful, talented, and full of spunk. Paris Childers is also a skater, has great skin, and is a fuckin pissa. They are currently starring in Be Good Johnny Weir, Mondays at 10:30PM on the Sundance Channel.
Paris and I discussed Nina Flowers, stereotypes in gay film, MAC makeup, Liza Minnelli, and a few things about Pop Star on Ice.
Moi: The lines that you had were so good.
Childers: I’m known for one-liners. They just come around every now and the
Moi: Why is it such a big deal if a figure skater is gay? I don’t get it!
Childers: There are closeted people in figure skating. I think it’s seen as such a feminine sport you have to prove you’re not gay because everyone perceives femininity for being gay.
Moi: Did you enjoy experience?
Childers: I did. It was great. We got up early this morning and went to MAC to get our makeup done. It was weird seeing it on the big screen. I’ve seen it at home. Did you guys like the film?
Moi: Oh my god I loved it.
A few other people got to Paris, and I thanked him and swiftly moved to Johnny before anyone else got to him. Graciously he spoke to me, and I am still charmed.
Moi: What did it feel like to have the cameras around you all the time?
Weir: The only time I ever get uncomfortable is when I have a pimple. That’s the only time I feel uncomfortable, I have no problem being myself. The great thing about the movie is that nothing was scripted, except obviously putting us in the bubble bath.
Moi: Yes but the conversation going on in the bubble bath I assume would occur on other occasions?
Weir: I am crack house crazy.
Moi: Yeah me too. I really related to the part where you and Paris were dressing up and taking pictures of yourselves. I was all, “That’s what me and my friend do!”
Weir: Fantastic.
Moi: So um, are you still filming?
Weir: Yes we’re still filming it. They’re going to film me leading up into the Olympics. We’re getting ready to go to Canada to shoot the choreography for my new programs. They’re troopers. They spend a lot of time in the ice rink filming things that nobody else wants to see.
Moi: Do you participate in the production?
Weir: If I remember something or I see something in a playback that’s beautiful and I want it in there, I’ll tell them I want that in there – and they’ll do it because they have too. (Laughs) In general they are very talented.
Moi: Fabulous.
His current look. You know I LOVE teal and hot pink!!!!!
Lost viewing gathering. My friend made the most awesome fish biscuit cookies and they were really good too! They are not made with fish, FYI.
They weren’t even upstaged by my Dharma Initiative generic Xanax bottle! Perhaps because the bottle is e
mpty.
Building 19 is a New England store that is special to my heart. Tammy Faye would have loved it. I have been conducting field research for about 8 years. I have just returned from my latest dig. My photo essay and field notes will soon be posted on homepages in the “pages” section, near “What Kills Me.”
This is an ongoing study.
So once I emailed Tammy Faye and she wrote back, the next day! Tammy Faye Messner was an amazing human being and is not a pop culture joke. Don’t bash her. I love her. May she rest in peace. I am not religious, FYI. I also got a voice mail from her once because of an amazing friend but I can’t even talk about that right now. I am still all worked up from this unearthing. There will be more Tammy posts. I am going to try and heed her advice. Scroll on down for the emails.
> From: Tammyfayetalk@aol.com
I KNOW WHAT KILLS ME 