waters

Issue #44

Last Update March 2, 2006

Technology John Waters by David Katz John Waters was the keynote speaker at the 2004 Digital Video Expo held this month in New York. His speech, like his films, was off-beat, revealing, a little risqué, and very, very funny. He is man of immense charm, and even style (that pencil mustache could not be carried off by someone lacking in style). A producer and director who has not used digital video in his opus may be an odd choice for keynoter, but it was a wise one.

From his beginnings as a Baltimore underground film maker whose pictures were self distributed and shown after midnight at whatever theaters he could convince to do so to his current status as an off-beat mainstream,. Mr. Waters has been a controversial artist whose movies are often in bad taste (a charge he agrees with) and a cult hero among moviegoers. His films feature a repertory company of actors, starring (until his death), a transvestite named Divine, whom Waters has known from childhood, and a Baltimore locale. His films include the early Female Trouble and Desperate Living, Hairspray (which launched Ricki Lake and is now a Broadway musical), Pink Flamingos (starring Tab Hunter), Cry Baby (starring Johnny Depp, whom Waters would like to work with again) and Serial Mom (starring Kathleen Turner and Sam Waterston).

Commenting on digital technology in movie making, Waters says that it is liberating: now every pervert can make his own celluloid monstrosities. The technology does make it possible to reach kids bored with the present; you can make everything cool again through technology. He advocates giving the kids cameras and letting them film everything. Some of the digital techniques used to make a film look like a handheld amateur effort, such as false 8mm pixilation, he views as nothing more than failed style. In general, he feels that better the digital effects, the less involving the movie is. He suggests using technology to make color movies black and white.

Commenting on recent movies and events, Waters referred to the Passion of the Christ as S&M for the whole family, pointed out that lesbians have more children than Catholics, and is intrigued by the idea of an all-Lesbian volunteer army. During the Republican convention he proposes taking actions that will outrage delegates and confirm their prejudices, like buying crab meat with food vouchers. The next time you vote, he advocates, dress provocatively; while waiting in line, cruise. Asked about Reality TV, he replied, “I live in Baltimore – that is reality TV.”

John Waters was pleased with the musical made from Hairspray. A musical based on Cry Baby is now in the works.