Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

Presenting Princess Shaw; Out of Iraq; Those People
Knight at the Movies
by Richard Knight, Jr., for Windy City Times
2016-06-08

This article shared 1701 times since Wed Jun 8, 2016
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email


The Princess of YouTube

There are Cinderella stories and then there's the saga of Princess Shaw—a Cinderella story that breaks the mold.

If the tale of a 37-year-old bisexual Black woman toiling as a caregiver for the elderly in New Orleans ( and barely scraping by ) with dreams of musical stardom—and achieving those dreams—seems improbable ( and it is ), it's also a little more familiar, thanks to other musical sensations who haven't quite fit the mold. Susan Boyle's zoom to stardom immediately comes to mind.

But the difference between Boyle's story and Shaw's ( whose real name is Samantha Montgomery ), as documented in Ido Haar's charming film Presenting Princess Shaw, is that with the latter we get the build-up to the "Star Is Born" moment, making it that much more compelling when it finally arrives at the midway point in the film.

By then, we are completely invested in Montgomery's story, thanks in no small part to her magnetic personality. Haar's camera follows her as she goes about life—working by day, waiting patiently for her turn at an open talent by night, uploading yet another of her original videos to YouTube, auditioning for The Voice, spending time with her on again/off again girlfriend Olivia and dealing with the economic stresses of everyday life—trying to keep the lights on, the car running, trying to earn enough to pay the rent. Always, the music just pours out of Montgomery, buoyed by her relentless optimism in the face of so many daunting challenges.

Meanwhile, in Tel Aviv, an elusive musician known to the world as Kutiman through his YouTube mash-ups is working on crafting a new piece built around one of Montgomery's songs and utilizing her a capella vocals. Just at the moment when Montgomery is at her lowest ebb, Kutiman uploads his mashup. The following day, Haar's camera captures the moment when Princess Shaw hears it and reads the positive reactions from her new fans as they are pouring in. It's a genuinely moving scene that builds as the gobsmacked Montgomery next finds herself in Israel meeting Kutiman and performing with him onstage. Kutiman himself—calm and serene, his eyes sparking when he begins to create at the computer—is a fascinating camera presence, too.

Although Haar's film pushes the boundaries of documentary, we're not quite sure why or how the filmmaker came to film Montgomery and the timeline is a bit fuzzy. But that's a small quibble with such a well-loved staple of the movies as its theme and such an endearing, warm personality as its subject.

[Editor's note: An interview with Montgomery is on page 28 of this issue.]

Forbidden gay love

The LOGO network has built its reputation on the success of RuPaul's Drag Race, which has led to a number of spinoffs that can only be described as fabulous and frivolous. I'm particularly enamored—no surprise—of its camp movie show Cocktails & Classics, in which comic actor Michael Urie ( TV's Ugly Betty ) hosts a group of friends to sit around and watch everything from Valley of the Dolls to All About Eve with him. ( Hey LOGO! I'm waiting for my guest star invitation! )

Now the network is taking a serious turn with Global Ally, a newly launched, year-long social campaign. Sharing stories of queer activists around the world, in an effort to change attitudes, is just one goal of the campaign. Out of Iraq, which LOGO will begin airing Monday, June 13, is an inspired choice to focus on the plight of our queer sisters and brothers around the world.

Co-directed by Oscar-winning documentarian Eva Orner ( Taxi to the Dark Side ) and Chris McKim and produced by LOGO staples Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, the film is a searing indictment of the horrific conditions for Our People in bloodthirsty Iraq. Although same-sex relationships have been decriminalized, queers are often subjected to multiple forms of abuse—including murder.

The film follows the plight of a darling gay Iraqi couple—Nayyef ( a translator ) and Btoo ( a soldier )—who are separated when Nayyef is granted asylum to the United States before Btoo. Working with a gay human-rights activist in San Francisco, where Nayyef settles, the film tracks the years—yes, years—that go by as Btoo struggles to overcome red tape and be rejoined with his love. At every step of the way his life is in danger—first of being killed at any point in Iraq and later, after resettling in Lebanon, of being sent back to face certain death—often at the hands of everyday citizens. Communicating via Skype and cellphone, the couple struggle to keep their spirits aloft as they work to resolve all the red tape in bringing Nayyef and Btoo back together.

Out of Iraq is both an infuriating and emotionally compelling experience that needs to be seen. Bravo, LOGO! www.globalally.org

WASP gay love

The plot of Those People is thus: On Manhattan's gilded Upper East Side, a young painter, Charlie, finds the man of his dreams in an older pianist who travels the globe.

If only Charlie weren't already secretly in love with his own manipulative best friend, Sebastian, whose family is embroiled in a Bernie Madoff-sized financial scandal, things mightn't be so complicated. The course of true love—especially for these twentysomething rich WASPs living it up in Manhattan—isn't bound to run smoothly. And in the wake of Sebastian's notoriety, Charlie and their tight-knit group of friends must confront the new realities of adulthood.

If writer-director Joey Kuhn's sophisticated, diverting, gorgeously filmed debut feature seems at times like a gay imitation of the films of Whit Stillman—which it does—that is meant as a huge compliment. Those People was a popular favorite at last year's Reeling Film Festival and comes to VOD and DVD from Wolfe Video on June 14.

Upcoming movie calendar

Highlights from films ( listed chronologically ) opening in Chicago, June 10 and 17 ( some descriptions come from studio press materials ).

The Conjuring 2 ( June 10 )—Those wacky ghost hunters Ed and Lorraine ( Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga ) are back for round two. This time, the deadly serious duo head to London to help a single mom with four children rid their lodgings of unwanted paranormal baddies. The first round was long on atmosphere and truly frightened; here's hoping that lightning ( of the ectoplasmic variety ) strikes twice.

Presenting Princess Shaw ( June 10 )—See details above.

Out of Iraq ( June 13 )—See details above.

Finding Dory ( June 17 )—In this long-anticipated sequel to Disney's undersea animated megahit Finding Nemo, Ellen DeGeneres returns to voice the beloved, daffy fish with the memory issues as she embarks on a journey to reunite with her mother ( voiced by Diane Keaton ) and father ( voiced by Eugene Levy ). If rumors are correct, the film will feature a lesbian couple.

De Palma ( June 17 )—Brian De Palma, the director who graphically combined sex and death on the screen; Hitchcock's most ambitious successor; and the filmmaker behind Carrie, Dressed to Kill, Body Double, The Untouchables and more, is profiled in this long-overdue documentary.

Genius ( June 17 )—This is the long-gestating screen adaptation of out writer A. Scott Berg's award winning biography detailing the "romantic friendship" between legendary editor Max Perkins ( Colin Firth ) and Southern writer Thomas Wolfe ( Jude Law ). Out screenwriter John Logan wrote the script; Nicole Kidman, Guy Pearce, Dominic West and Laura Linney co-star.


This article shared 1701 times since Wed Jun 8, 2016
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

SHOWBIZ Lady Gaga, 'P-Valley,' Wendy Williams, Luke Evans, 'Queer Eye,' 'Transition' 2024-03-15
- Lady Gaga came to the defense of Dylan Mulvaney after a post with the trans influencer/activist for International Women's Day received hateful responses, People Magazine noted. On Instagram, Gaga stated, "It's appalling to me that a ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ Jinkx Monsoon, Xavier Dolan, 'Frida,' Lena Waithe, out singer 2024-03-08
- Two-time RuPaul's Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon is headed back to the New York stage, joining off-Broadway's Little Shop of Horrors as Audrey beginning April 2, according to Playbill. The casting makes Monsoon the first drag ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ Queer actors, icons duet, Hunter Schafer, Oscars, Elizabeth Taylor 2024-03-01
- Queer actor Kal Penn is set to star in Trust Me, I'm a Doctor—a film that chronicles the final days of actress/model Anna Nicole Smith, whose overdose death in 2007 at age 39 sparked a tabloid ...


Gay News

Dorian Film Awards: 'All of Us Strangers' takes top prizes 2024-02-27
- February 26, 2024 - Los Angeles, Ca. - For its 15th Dorian Film Awards, GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics fully embraced All of Us Strangers, writer-director Andrew Haigh's fantastical and tear-inducing tale of two ...


Gay News

SAG Awards honor Streisand, few LGBTQ+ actors 2024-02-25
- Queer entertainers made their mark—although not a major one—at the 2024 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, held Feb. 24 in Los Angeles. The event was live-streamed on Netflix for the first time. Indigenous and Two-Spirit actor ...


Gay News

WORLD Caribbean ruling, Pussy Riot, Russian raid, Canadian warning, anti-trans bar 2024-02-23
- The top court in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines dismissed a challenge to colonial-era anti-gay laws, Reuters reported. Javin Johnson and Sean Macleish—two gay men who had pushed to decriminalize ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ Kristen Stewart, Rock Hudson, Talia Keys, 'True Detective,' Marvel comic 2024-02-23
- At the Berlin Film Festival, Kristen Stewart defended her photo shoot for a Rolling Stone magazine cover that went viral and divided audiences on social-media platforms, per The Hollywood Reporter. "The existence of a female body ...


Gay News

Second Glance Productions hosts LGBTQupid Soiree 2024-02-16
- In celebration of Valentine's Day, Chicago based film and media production company Second Glance hosted The LBGTQupid Soiree. The event, which was focused on spinning attitudes on this particular day, was presented at The iO ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ Elton John, Hannah Gadsby, video game, Jennifer Lopez, queer thriller 2024-02-16
Video below - Sir Elton John has sold his Atlanta home and is now auctioning off more than 900 of his personal items that were kept in the 13,500-square-foot condo, The Daily Mail noted. The massive collection includes rare ...


Gay News

GALECA announces nominees for the Dorian Film Awards 2024-02-07
--From a press release - Feb. 5, 2024 - GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics, consisting of over 500 entertainment critics, journalists and media icons, today announced the group's democratically chosen nominees for its 15th Dorian Film Awards. All of ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ JoJo Siwa, Tom Holland, Bowen Yang, Pet Shop Boys, Mariah Carey 2024-02-02
- In the wake of Nigel Lythgoe exiting So You Think You Can Dance, queer personality JoJo Siwa is returning to the series, per Deadline. Siwa, who was a judge on season 17 of the Fox show, will replace Lythgoe, who left ...


Gay News

Leather Archives & Museum announces 2024 Fetish Film Forum 2024-01-27
--From a press release - CHICAGO, Illinois—After a wildly successful inaugural year, including a 10-film series at the Leather Archives & Museum and a 5-film series at FACETS, the Leather Archives & Museum is thrilled to announce the continuation of Fetish ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ Sundance items, Green Day, 'Wednesday,' Queerties, 'The Wiz' 2024-01-26
- At the Sundance Film Festival, Jodie Foster told Variety that the $1.4-billion success of Barbie helps confirm that Hollywood no longer views women directors as too much of a risk. She said, "With a big success ...


Gay News

WORLD Arrest in Brazil, athlete dies, Ghana attack, World Economic Forum 2024-01-26
- A 30-year-old man was arrested in Brazil on Jan. 18 for his alleged role in the stabbing murder of prominent NYC art dealer Brent Sikkema, Gay City News reported. Authorities took Cuban resident Alejandro Triana Trevez ...


Gay News

OSCARS Gladstone, Domingo receive nominations 2024-01-23
- LGBTQ+ actors Lily Gladstone and Colman Domingo were among those receiving Oscar nominations when they were announced Jan. 23. Gladstone received a Best Actress nod for her role in the Martin Scorsese-directed Killers of the Flower ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.