aGLIFF Daily Dispatch #6: Waxie Moon and Big Gay Musicals

aGLIFF ended on a high note yesterday, complete with a rainbow in the sky over South Austin.  I only made it to two of the screenings, though. 

Waxie Moon is the eponymous documentary about boylesque performer Marc "Waxie Moon" Kenison (the middleman in the photo at right). While the explanation of burlesque is overlong, it serves to introduce female burlesque performers and put the Waxie's gender-obliterating performances into perspective. The screening was followed by a live performance of the "handcuff dance" which wowed the very enthusiastic audience, further whipped into a frenzy with the bond like song about Waxie on the closing credits. All week people have been talking about Waxie Moon, and every interview in the film talking about Waxie Moon was effusive. After meeting Marc/Waxie, I understand now; he's one of the sweetest, friendliest people I've ever met. 

Waxie Moon was receded by the short A Drag King Extravaganza, about drag kings and the drag king community.  While overlong, many of the interviews about intentional gender and how, for some, gender is fluid, not fixed, was thought-provoking. 

The final screening of the night was a pairing of gay musicals, the first being the short Boycrazy, in which boy-crazy Corey decides to look for true love, and suddenly choices aren't so easy.  The tagline is perfect, "A boy meets boy meets boy meets... musical."  The songs are funny and insightful, and the soundtrack deserves a release.

The fest's last film was the feature The Big Gay Musical, which has a very precise title indeed. In this case, an off-broadway musical about to open mirrors the lives of it's two stars. The numbers are catchy, but I have to admit my favorite song is "I Wanna Be a Slut."  It was a perfect, celebratory way to end aGLIFF. 

Attendees could pick up fee "Legalize Gay" t-shirts from American Apparel on their way to the afterparty at Casa Garcia, at the opposite end of the same plaza at Alamo South Lamar.  The party was fun, with many of the filmmakers there. I'd only intended to stay a half hour or so and I helped close down the party. 

If you want to see some of what you missed, check out the aGLIFF22 group on Flickr for pictures. 

If you attended aGLIFF this year, please help the fest by providing feedback in their online survey.  It's more detailed than the rating/survey at each screening. This survey is very valuable to the festival for funding as well as for improving their programs throughout the year. If you complete the survey, you will be eligible for prizes.