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quote:

From:

hi-
my name's Michael Wilkinson - I spoke to chichi today about my project:

- I'm designing/sourcing the costumes for a low budget film called Party Monster, about the club kids of New York in the 80's and 90's. I am
trying to source interesting clubkidwear for the film, and was wondering whether you might post a message to see if anyone out there has clothes
they might lend/rent to us - the wilder the better

people can call me on 917-554-4635 or 212-594-4036 if they'd like to be
involved

thanks a million,
Michael.
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At Theo's recent fete over at Don Hill's I was approached by some sissy number who called himself Theron. Claimed to be one of the associate producers of the film in focus; he displayed a digicam's snaps from that afternoon, (the first day of shooting). Gotta say, Marylin looked stellar. Within the 20 minutes he was talking to me, he'd gotten up and run off and come back at least ten times in search of blow. Before he darted off for the last time, I told him that at least he was in the right condition for that kind of project...
I must say its a shame their sorry lives will be the focus of hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars of film, talent and energy. There seems so much more worth showing the world than troubled souls trying so desperately to have a good time. Maybe its what people need to see, I dont know. It certainly has fascination - in a 'how low can you go' kind of way.

One thing's for sure, its definately a New York story. I wonder if this film will reveal the disconnection, the desperation that ran through that scene. Ive always felt there was something divine at work that sent me to California during that period when I needed to dress up every night, take lots of drugs and go crazy with all the other 20 year olds...
Well, Jade, you could've just stayed at the Pyramid like I did and been oblivious to most of their early lunchpail-isms. Though Sister and I did let Michael throw a party once in the basement lounge, I vowed never to do it again when I saw what a bunch of clown-faced, free-drink-grubbing fools on bad drugs they were.
Speaking of clowns, does anyone remember Clowny? He was very underage and a total drug whore. He had a huge member, I remember, and lived at the Hotel 17 (where else?) with a black dreadlocked older drug dealer.
About the film: why don't they hire a REAL costumer like Kitty and stop begging for free costumes and lunchpails. But then that's very fitting, considering the theme.
Now, Christina, there's a film by itself... And how gorgeous that Miss Manson is playing her; she always chooses the right direction!
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I remember at Jackie everyone kept looking for Angel. He was one of the more well-loved drug dealers. Then the rumors started that Michael killed him. I never really believed it but just to be sure I asked Michael, "Did you kill Angel?" He looked me right in the eye and said "No, I didn't." I can't believe it.
HE LIED TO ME!
This subject is always so polarizing, and we've tried to steer clear of it ...

While all of it was going on, we were being good little students and getting our education at Ohio University in the middle of nowhere. Zazoo did go to Limelight and Club USA in '92 (or ˜93) and had a blast. The Little Professor bookstore on campus carried "Project X" but that was the extent of our knowledge of the scene in NYC.

When Chi Chi posted Michael Wilkinson's note above, we debated for over a week. When we did our research, and found out that Killer Films was the production company, we couldn't resist. Stonewall, Boys Don't Cry, I Shot Andy Warhol,Velvet Goldmine, Poison and Hedwig are among our very favorite movies, and the imagery in them is just one of the reasons.

It IS a shame that there is a movie that makes the story of a true-life murder entertaining. Angel is dead. His family will have all of it put back in their face again, but I don't think the goal of this movie is to glorify Michael Alig. In fact, I'm betting the story will illustrate how messed up he is and how dangerous hedonism can be.

I'm also betting that the whole story being put out in the world as a feature film will do him more harm than good, because now what parole board in their right minds will let him out before his entire sentence is served.

You are right about people wanting to see the lowest people can go. Most good stories are based on the rise and fall of the main character, dating back to Greek tragedies. It's why "Behind the Music" and "E True Hollywood Story" are so successful.

So, even though it may be an unpopular choice, we've contributed costumes to the movie... Michael Wilkinson and his assistant Lisa have been VERY professional and friendly. Their staff DID create the majority of the costumes in the film, but wanted to get a good range of looks. They have a very small costume budget. The entire production is being done for under $5 million. So, they are constrained, and were probably tapping in to the one community that they knew would have connections to some original, creative and authentic costumes. And for the record, they are renting our stuff, so there was really no begging going on in our case.

I guess what I wanted to express, is that there are many people connected to this movie, and they are not all like Michael Alig. I'm sure everyone involved had to think about the positive and negatives in being connected to this film. (except for Marilyn Manson who probably doesn't care.)

Satori
Oh Satori, I am glad you are contributing to the project. I just tend to see red when some one I don't even know tries to borrow things I have horded over the years and then receives "Costume Designer" credit. Maybe I am just paranoid. Not that I have a single lunchbox :-)
And I am looking forward to meeting you on your visit.
I can remember when Angel had vanished and the rumors were flying. The NYPD was desperately trying to produce a body so they would have a case (after all, that's one thing you almost always need to prosecute.) So they looked to the rivers. Every day reports would come in that a body they thought was Angel's had been pulled from the water. And then it would turn out not to be him. This went on for weeks. Who would have thought there were so many corpses floating around out there? But in retrospect, it makes sense. I mean it's not like you can dispose of a corpse easily on this 10 square mile island!
It probably went a lot like that...

We were thinking "small budget" and $5 million didn't really belong in the same sentence either. Of course we've never produced a movie so...

Hattie we are very much lookig forward to meeting you too smile

On the topic of too many bodies, we had a similar incident here. A police officer fell off of a bridge into the Ohio River, they searched for his body, and never found it. Instead they found three other bodies, all women. This disturbed a lot of people. However,the news reported that the public could relax, there was not a serial killer on the loose, because all three women had been killed in different ways. We all thought "Oh great. So there are at least 3 killers. No worries."

Satori
No Daddy, it would be something like this:
World Of Wonder: $.5 million + % of profit
Macauley: $.5 million
Everything else: $1 million
The corporate octopus involved: $3 million + % of profit of film, 100% on lunchpails & other film- related merchandise.
And you would think that after $5 million came in that WOW would begin to go into percentage and see some more money, right? Wrong. The "break-even point" on a film like this could be as much as $10 million, after the corporate entity tacks on more nebulous charges and fees for rentals and distribution. Pretty amazing accounting, huh?

As far as budgets go, I remember that I was astounded when everyone was trumpeting about what a small budget Blair Witch Project had. It was something like $35-50 thousand. Or so they said. Daddy, you could have made that film on a budget of 35-50 CENTS. Let's just say it was no Easy Rider...
I guess we are in the wrong business.
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