Saskia Wilson-Brown

Ultra Fabulous, Beyond Drag: Part Deux
Curated by Austin Young & Saskia Wilson-Brown
December 2nd 2009, 7:45 PM
Downtown Independent Theatre in Los Angeles

Squeaky Blonde, by Austin Young

Curated by Austin Young and developed by Saskia Wilson-Brown, Ultra Fabulous: Beyond Drag was first screened at the LA Gay and Lesbian Center in 2007 as part of the fiercely independent Silver Lake Film Festival (so punk rock indie, indeed, that the festival died in a blaze of rancour and debt…  But that’s another story).

This new follow-up program – the part deux – presents a comprehensive look at the new developments in transsexual/transgender/tranimal culture through short films by and about the performers working in this space.

International in scope, with a healthy dose of the LA/NY/SF  scene(s), Ultra Fabulous, Beyond Drag: Part Deux goes way beyond the anticipated boas, glitter and whip-smart sass. Indeed, it aims to showcase a new genre — a genre we are (predictably) dubbing ‘Transploitation’ — born of, and predicated on the instant accessibility of internet culture, the do-it-yourself ethos of home publishing, and, yes, the narcissism inherent to self-reflection and ‘otherness’.  All this, through the best new performance video and short film work by established filmmakers, avant-garde performers and digital video sensations.

“Ultra-Fabulous: Beyond Drag is a tribute to the ‘other’ among us.”
–Buzznet, 2007

“Viewed collectively, [the films in Ultra Fabulous Beyond Drag] make a solid case for the continued relevance of an art form that is as diverse in its roster of artists as it is festive— and challenging— in its entertainment value.”
–Frontiers Magazine, 2007

An evening hosted by Jer Ber Jones, featuring the work of: Mathu Anderson & Andrew Schneider with RuPaul; Willam Belli; Jer Ber Jones; Lawrence Elbert with Jackie Beat, Selene Luna and Nadya Ginsburg; Mike Karma; Kurt Koehler with Chicos Angels; Clay Weiner; Calpernia Addams; Matthew Snead with Taylor Mac; Zackary Drucker; Austin Young; Karis; Fredrik S. Hana; Scott Boswell with Peaches Christ; Peter Pizzi with Ben McCoy; And more…

Critical Panel: ‘Gender Identity and Transploitation in Contemporary Media’
Featuring Zackary Drucker, Calpernia Addams , Buck Angel, Moderated by Jackie Beat

And finally: A Buzznet segment on the May 2007 edition, hosted by a slightly hoarse but no less fierce Clint Catalyst.

PS. You can see more videos (including one featuring a very tired me) on Buzznet, here!