Fierce as F@#K!

Last May in Austin, Texas, USA more than two hundred drag artists, including some of our very own homegrown kings and queens, converged on the southern state for three full days of gender-bending celebration and performance. Without question, the first festival of it’s kind on such scale. Film maker/editor Zoe Davis threw all caution to the wind and jumped on a plane with Team GB to document this event. This week Jason Reid found out all about Fierce! The Movie from Zoe… 

 


How did the documentary come about? 

After a spell of ill-health in 2013/14, I met a queen called called Shyanne O’Shea. She told me she’d been invited to Texas, USA to perform at the world’s first international drag festival. I went home that night and bought a ticket to Texas. Then I took to Twitter to find out who else wanted to join us for the ride. And the rest, as they say, is history and now we have a feature film to finish.

Nothing quite like a burst of spontaneity! So fast forward several months and you’re in Texas. What were your first impressions of the festival? 

On day one of filming, I walked out of my hotel room to find the festival president and organiser, Jamie Steward Bancroft, in floods of tears in the reception area. He had organised the entire festival from his bedroom on his laptop, and I don’t think he expected over two hundred queens and kings to show up to the party. He was totally overwhelmed. Text messages went flying and before you knew it, Jamie had an army of kings and queens helping him print flyers, pick up t-shirts and wristbands, designing make-shift dressing room.

Can you describe what the atmosphere was like?  

It was SO positive, over all three days. And that feeling was contagious. Of course we were all on “drag time”…

I love that term. I’m always on ‘drag time’ myself. 

Well I quickly learned what it meant: that time doesn’t exist in the world of drag, and you should prepare for anything to happen. It felt fabulously organic. Some would say chaotic, but I prefer organic.

With regards to the actual making of the film, what are the biggest obstacles and challenges? 

Every spare penny I make working as a film editor I pour into making FIERCE! better. But I’m lucky to have a very understanding partner, Carolina, who graciously puts up with me asking questions like, “baby, is it okay to sell the kitchen table to fund another day’s filming?”

What motivates this drive and passion? 

I just think drag deserves more than the tacky, poor quality video or reality TV representations we’re so used to seeing. And I knew that to achieve the right production value, I’d need to hire an experienced team. The community deserves so much more than tack, don’t you think?

I’m with you all the way on that one. It’s an art form, and it should be respected as such. Unfortunately, there’s too much of a temptation to cut corners these days. Tell us about the film itself.

It started off being all about the drag festival, filming British kings and queens, Martha D’Arthur, LoUis CYfer, Shyanne O’Shea, Cathy Cream and Miss Dis on their journey. However, it ended up being about gender identity and equality. That’s why I love documentary – it’s so unpredictable.

And you’re currently looking for supporters to reach the Kickstarter target… 

Yes, it’s going to take the community of supporters to make it happen, because I’m just one person. The supporters are out there, somewhere over the big gay rainbow. I just need to find them.

How would you fully convince those who are in two minds about donating? 

By getting behind a film like this, I hope backers feel that they are contributing to the ongoing fight for LGBT equality, but I also hope they get the sense that they are joining a creative endeavour that will recognise the spirit and art of our fabulous LGBTQIA and drag community. It should be shared with the world. If the film can achieve this, I will feel it’s been a journey worthwhile. Everyone who pledges £40 or over will be recognised in the credits of the film. We’ve only got a few days left to make it happen, but hopefully miracles do happen.

 

• To donate to Fierce! The Movie Kickstarter campaign, visit: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/calibratefilms/fierce-the-movie-0

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