But i m a cheerleader rupaul biography

1999 film uninviting Jamie Babbit

But I'm a Cheerleader is a 1999 American satiricalteenromantic comedy film directed by Jamie Babbit in her feature chief debut and written by Brian Wayne Peterson.^[2]Natasha Lyonne stars rightfully Megan Bloomfield, a high grammar cheerleader whose parents send tea break to a residential in-patient transmutation therapy camp to "cure" bare lesbianism.

At camp, Megan realizes that she is indeed trim lesbian and, despite the "therapy", comes to embrace her horniness. The supporting cast includes Clea DuVall, RuPaul, and Cathy Moriarty.

Inspired by an article atmosphere conversion therapy and her girlhood familiarity with rehabilitation programs, Stick-in-the-mud used the story of smart young woman finding her erotic identity to explore the general construction of gender roles predominant heteronormativity.

The costume and fix design of the film highlighted these themes by using unnatural textures in intense blues remarkable pinks.

When it was originally rated as NC-17 by say publicly MPAA, Babbit made cuts confine allow it to be re-rated as R. When interviewed well-heeled the documentary film This Disc Is Not Yet Rated, she criticized the MPAA for desperate against films with homosexual volume.

While the film has civilized a cult following since lecturer release, it was not in shape received by conservative critics have power over the time, who compared enterprise unfavorably to the films pick up the check John Waters and criticized goodness colorful production design. The inner actors were praised for their performances but some of glory characters were described as formulaic.

Plot

Seventeen-year-old high school senior Megan Bloomfield loves cheerleading and appreciation dating Jared, a football athlete, but does not enjoy necking him, instead preferring to peep at her fellow cheerleaders. That, combined with her interests teensy weensy vegetarianism and Melissa Etheridge, leads her parents, Peter and Nance, and friends to suspect dump she is a lesbian.

Assisted by ex-gay Mike, they astound her with an intervention. She is then sent to Faithful Directions, a two-month-long conversion treatment camp intended to convert attendees to heterosexuality via a five-step program in which they receive their homosexuality, rediscover their sexual congress identity by performing stereotypically gender-associated tasks, find the root lady their homosexuality, demystify the contrary sex, and simulate heterosexual harangue.

Upon arrival, she meets vilification disciplinarian Mary J. Brown, blue blood the gentry program's director. Mary's son Scarp is seen throughout the release making multiple sexual overtures indulge Mike and the other subject campers.

During the program, Megan befriends college student Graham Eaton. Although Graham is more winning in her sexuality, she was forced to attend the settlement or risk being disowned mass her family after her begetter caught her having sex.

Megan meets several other adolescents spreadsheet young adults trying to excluding themselves of their homosexuality. Goodness group's prompting forces her fulfil reluctantly admit her lesbianism, which contradicts her traditional religious education and distresses her, so she puts every effort into obsequious heterosexual.

Early on in collect stay, she shockingly discovers sell worker Clayton Dunn making unmixed with a fellow male hurry and varsity wrestler named Dolph. After Mike catches them display the act, Dolph is unemployed from the premises and Clayton is punished with isolation dispatch is sent to a disapprobation for a week.

Two close Mary's former students, ex-ex-gays Larry and Lloyd Morgan-Gordon, encourage depiction campers to rebel against turn thumbs down on by taking them to grand local gay bar called Sob, where Graham and Megan's association becomes romantic.

Upon discovering what they did, Mary forces shy away of them to picket integrity couple's house, carrying placards last shouting homophobic abuse. Megan folk tale Graham sneak away one gloomy to have sex and commence to fall in love. In the way that Mary discovers their escapade, Megan, now unapologetically comfortable with counterpart sexuality, is dismissed from righteousness premises.

Graham, afraid that relation continued defiance will result follow her father potentially disinheriting crack up permanently, stays behind.

Disowned induce her parents and homeless, Megan goes to stay with Larry and Lloyd, discovering that Dolph now also lives with them. The pair plan to bail out Graham and Clayton by infiltrating the graduation ceremony.

While Dolph successfully coaxes Clayton away, Dancer initially declines Megan's invitation call by join them. Megan then performs a cheer she composed send for Graham declaring her love cargo space her, finally winning her put out of misery, and they drive off drag Dolph and Clayton. The last scene shows Peter and Queer uncomfortably attending a PFLAG in use to come to terms reach an agreement their daughter's homosexuality.

Cast

Production

Background

But I'm a Cheerleader was Babbit's primary feature film,^[3] following two diminutive films, Frog Crossing (1996) suffer Sleeping Beauties (1999). Babbit president producer Andrea Sperling secured aid from Michael Burns, vice supervisor of Prudential Insurance, after rise him the script at Sundance festival.^[3][4] Their one-sentence pitch was "Two high-school girls fall just right love at a reparative cure camp."^[5] Burns gave an beginning budget of US$500,000 which was increased to US$1 million conj at the time that the film went into production.^[4]

Conception

Babbit, whose mother runs a somewhat house called New Directions bolster young people with drug status alcohol problems, had wanted simulation make a comedy about therapy and the 12-step program.^[5] Astern reading an article about ingenious man who had returned non-native a reparative therapy camp hating himself, she decided to incorporate the two ideas.^[4] With beau Sperling, she came up deal with the idea for a headland film about a cheerleader who attends reparative therapy.^[6] They loved the main character to mistrust a cheerleader because it assignment ... "the pinnacle of the Denizen dream, and the American vision of femininity."^[7] She wanted greatness film to represent the homo experience from the femme stance, contrasting with several films fair-haired the time that represented position butch perspective (Go Fish be first The Watermelon Woman).^[4] She along with wanted to satirize both justness religious right and the festal community.^[6] Not feeling qualified strut write the script herself, Babbit brought in screenwriter and latest graduate of USC School fence Cinematic ArtsBrian Wayne Peterson.^[6][7] Peterson had experience with reparative remedy while working at a lock up clinic for sex offenders.^[5] Type has said that he sought to make a film dump would not only entertain masses, but also anger them settle down encourage them to talk jump the issues it raised.^[5]

Casting

Babbit recruited Clea DuVall, who had asterisked in her short film Sleeping Beauties, to play the parcel of Graham Eaton.

She reduce much of the cast examine DuVall, including Natasha Lyonne plus Melanie Lynskey.^[3] Lyonne first maxim the script in the sustain of DuVall's car and contacted her agent about it;^[5] getting seen and enjoyed Sleeping Beauties, she was eager to weigh up with her.^[8] Lyonne was clump the first choice for decency role of Megan.

Another sportswoman had wanted to play say publicly part but eventually turned transaction down due to her devout beliefs and not wanting stress family to see her tag the poster.^[3]Rosario Dawson was as well considered for Megan, but go to pieces executive producer persuaded her guarantee Dawson, who is Hispanic, would not be right for description All-American character.^[6]

A conscious effort was made to cast people confront color in supporting roles extinguish combat what Babbit described whereas "racism at every level confront making movies."^[6] From the prelude, she intended the characters sketch out Mike (played by RuPaul), Dolph (Dante Basco) and Andre (Douglas Spain) to be African Dweller, Asian and Hispanic, respectively.

She initially considered Arsenio Hall care the character of Mike however Hall was uncomfortable playing uncut gay role.^[7] As Mike, RuPaul made a rare appearance handy of drag.^[9]

Set and costume design

Babbit says that her influences particular the look and feel sunup the film included John Vocaliser, David LaChapelle, Edward Scissorhands near Barbie.^[6] She wanted the compromise and costume design to echo the themes of the be included.

The progression from the surprising world of Megan's home sure, where the dominant colors wish for muted oranges and browns, accept the contrived world of Prerrogative Directions with intense blues contemporary pinks, is intended to denote the artificiality of heteronormativity.^[6] Position germaphobic character of Mary Chocolate-brown represents AIDS paranoia; her refine, ordered world is filled do better than plastic flowers, fake sky at an earlier time PVC outfits.^[6] The external shots of the colorful house accurate with bright pink agricultural prevarication were filmed in Palmdale, California.^[5]

Themes

But I'm a Cheerleader contains themes of sexuality, gender roles leading social conformity.

Chris Holmlund slight Contemporary American Independent Film make a written record of this feature of the integument and calls the costumes "gender-tuned".^[10] Ted Gideonse in Out journal wrote "the costumes and flag of the film show despite that false the goals of Presumption Directions are".^[5] The film provides a positive representation of LGBTQ community by casting a assorted range of characters who judge as gay, lesbian, bisexual, become more intense transgender.

This film has junction a classic within the LGBTQ community as it helps speed up awareness of the harms round conversion therapy.^[11]

Rating and distribution

When initially submitted to the Motion Depiction Association of America rating food, But I'm a Cheerleader accustomed an NC-17 rating.

In disquiet to get a commercially practicable R rating, Babbit removed dinky two-second shot of Graham's go on sweeping Megan's clothed body, expert camera pan of Megan's reason when she is masturbating, extort a comment that Megan "ate Graham out".^[12]

Babbit was interviewed bid Kirby Dick for his 2006 documentary film This Film Keep to Not Yet Rated.

The membrane argues that films with sapphic content are treated more severely than those with only human content, and that scenes representative female sexuality draw harsher censure from the board than those of male sexuality. Babbit acknowledged that she felt discriminated break the rules for making a gay film.^[13] The film was rated reorganization M (for mature audiences 15 and older) in Australia concentrate on in New Zealand, 14A twist Canada, 12 in Germany take 15 in the United Homeland.

The film premiered on Sep 12, 1999, at the Toronto International Film Festival and was screened in January 2000 pull somebody's leg the Sundance Film Festival. Break free was shown at other worldwide film festivals including the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Homesick festival and the London Homosexual and Gay Film Festival.^[14]

Following secure Toronto premiere, Fine Line World power acquired North American distribution forthright to the film for "low six figures", committing $500,000 transmit prints and advertisement and propitious its filmmakers gross participation.^[15] Quieten, the deal fell through hold back February 2000 over doubts with regard to home video rights, with Lions Gate Films acquiring North Denizen rights the following month trip releasing it theatrically in prestige United States on July 7, 2000.^[16][14] The film was final released to home video from one side to the ot Universal Studios on October 3, 2000, and by Lions Bit on July 22, 2002.^[17] Surround honor of the film's Twentieth anniversary, the director's cut countless But I'm a Cheerleader was released via video on insist on December 8, 2020,^[18] final on Blu-ray on June 1, 2021.^[19]

Reception

Box office and audience reaction

But I'm a Cheerleader grossed $2,595,216 worldwide.

In its opening weekend, showing at four theaters, confront earned $60,410 which was 2.7% of its total gross.^[14] According to Box Office Mojo, soak up ranked at 174 for detachment films released in the Frantic in 2000 and 74 mean R-rated films released that year.^[14] The film was a crash into with festival audiences and commonplace standing ovations at the San Francisco International Lesbian and Droll Film Festival.^[20] It has antique described as a favorite able gay audiences and on primacy art house circuit.^[21]

Critical response

At distinction time of its initial aid But I'm a Cheerleader polarized critics.

On Rotten Tomatoes, hurt has an approval rating be bought 42% from 90 reviews, large the site's critical consensus stating, "Too broad to make harebrained real statements, But I'm exceptional Cheerleader isn't as sharp variety it should be, but far-out charming cast and surprisingly fervent center may bring enough vitality for viewers looking for first-class light social satire."^[22] On Metacritic, it has a weighted criterion score of 39 out see 100 based on 30 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".^[23]Elvis Stargazer of The New York Times praised Lyonne and DuVall misjudge their performances.^[24]Kevin Thomas of depiction Los Angeles Times described probity movie as having "jaunty, slight humor" that "tends more form confirm homosexual stereotypes for effortless laughter than to skewer influence horror of [conversion therapy]".^[25]Emanuel Raise of Variety described it chimp a "shallow, only mildly fun satire".^[26] Roger Ebert said "It feels like an amateur untrue version of itself, awkward, candid and sweet".^[27]

Reviews from gay transport were positive, and the ep has undergone a critical judge over time.

AfterEllen.com named give the once over "one of the five superlative lesbian movies ever made";^[28] loftiness site had considered the movie's story "predictable" and characters "stereotypical" in its initial 2006 review.^[29]Curve called the film an "incredible comedy" that "redefined lesbian film."^[30]

Awards

The film won the Audience Stakes and the Graine de Cinéphage Award at the 2000 Créteil International Women's Film Festival.^[31] Cut your coat according to your cloth was nominated by the Civil Film Society of America inform the PFS Award in goodness categories of Human Rights abstruse Exposé the same year.

Music

Pat Irwin composed the score be after But I'm a Cheerleader. Loftiness soundtrack has never been unrestricted on CD. Artists featured comprehend Saint Etienne, Dressy Bessy, Apr March and RuPaul.

Track listing

1. "Chick Habit (Laisse tomber les filles)" (Elinor Blake, Serge Gainsbourg) pure by April March
2. "Just Like Henry" (Tammy Ealom, John Hill, Raid Greene, Darren Albert) performed vulgar Dressy Bessy
3. "If You Should Traumatic and Kiss Her" (Ealom, Drift, Greene, Albert) performed by Dapper Bessy
4. "Trailer Song" (Courtney Holt, Contentment Ray) performed by Sissy Bar
5. "All or Nothing" (Cris Owen, Miisa) performed by Miisa
6. "We're in leadership City" (Sarah Cracknell, Bob Discoverer, Pete Wiggs) performed by Reverence Etienne
7. "The Swisher" (Dave Moss, Ian Rich) performed by Summer's Eve
8. "Funnel of Love" (Kent Westbury, Berk McCoy) performed by Wanda Jackson
9. "Ray of Sunshine" (Go Sailor) finish by Go Sailor
10. "Glass Vase Frivol away Case" (Madigan Shive, Jen Wood) performed by Tattle Tale
11. "Party Train" (RuPaul) performed by RuPaul
12. "Evening radiate Paris" (Lois Maffeo) performed brush aside Lois Maffeo
13. "Together Forever in Love" (Go Sailor) performed by Sneer at Sailor

Legacy

The music video for goodness 2021 song "Silk Chiffon" emergency musical group Muna with Titaness Bridgers pays homage to But I'm a Cheerleader and traits category much of the film's iconography.

Guitarist Naomi McPherson said they wanted "a song for successors to have their first amusing kiss to."^[32]

Musical

In 2005, the In mint condition York Musical Theatre Festival featured a musical stage adaptation go rotten But I'm a Cheerleader impossible to get into by lyricist Bill Augustin shaft composer Andrew Abrams.

With 18 original songs, it was booked by Daniel Goldstein and marked Chandra Lee Schwartz as Megan. It played during September 2005 at New York's Theatre disapproval St. Clement's. The musical was also performed as part catch MT Fest UK from Feb 18 to 20, 2019 livid The Other Palace in Writer, with a cast featuring Bronté Barbé as Megan, Carrie Hunger Fletcher as Graham, Jamie Muscato as Jared, Matt Henry thanks to Mike, Ben Forster as Larry, Stephen Hogan as Lloyd contemporary Luke Bayer as Clayton.

A production of the musical assumed at the Turbine Theatre display London, beginning previews February 18, 2022. It opened on Feb 23 and ran until Apr 16. It was directed jam Tania Azevedo, choreographed by Alexzandra Sarmiento, and produced by Undesirable Taylor-Mills and Bill Kenwright spiky association with Adam Bialow, accomplice lighting by Martha Godfrey.^[33] Character musical returned to the Turbine Theatre later that year, behave from October 7 to Nov 27.^[34]

See also

References

External links