Paris is Burning

“And Paris is Burning. Both of them are like lives and cultures that I knew nothing about, and I was absolutely fascinated by both of them. And this, I was just… I mean, my mouth was open the whole time, I think, and it was so great just to learn about these cultures that were alive and kicking and that I knew nothing about.”

“Okay, here’s a really great film: Paris is Burning. It’s by Jennie Livingston. Of course, it’s a real classic, it’s just such a moving film, you can watch it a thousand times. I especially love the outtakes of this. There’s beautiful outtakes of Venus Xtravaganza, who I love so much, and Angie Xtravaganza. I mean, they’re just heartbreaking. And Venus talks about her relationship to God, and these very, very profound, meditations that are quite startling.”

“This is a spiritual pick Paris is Burning this film is the foundation of so much of the love in the community and the people the ancestors the ones that have paved the way that have beat the face and have walked the walks and categories for us all the doors all the houses that makes me very excited that I now own Paris is Burning.”

“Paris is Burning is a film by Jennie Livingston which is, I think, one of the greatest nonfiction films ever made. It’s a film that I can go back to at different points in my life, and it’s just a film about accepting and community, and it’s such a wonderful, wonderful film and it’s shot so well. I watched this for the first time when we did, like, a film Festival in my film school, when we were protesting and it was shown in one of the protest screenings.”

“Paris is Burning. I remember seeing this movie and just being like... I just didn’t know this existed. And this is what’s so powerful about movies, is that you can get pulled into worlds that you didn’t know about, and you see how cultures that start in these small ways, and then it just becomes really normal. Everybody knew what voguing was because of Willi Ninja and, like, the way that we do our makeup now is influenced by the amazing people that are represented in this film.”

“Where's the trans people? You need more trans people in the closet. Here's Paris is Burning, this will do. It's a doc that changed my life. I saw it when I was probably a teenager and it blew my world open. Wow, look at Venus, Venus Xtravaganza. I'm a ballroom girl of 20 years or so and this is still kind of like the window into our world. When I think about Octavia Saint Laurent and Venus and all of the girls in the film, I just think about how they were born a little ahead of their time.”

“Paris is Burning. The Comedian John Mullaney can do entire monologues from this movie in their entirety. He will sometimes text them to me 'cause I said,, 'it's giving businessman' or something. And then he does the entire,, Paris is Burning. A true masterpiece and a really well-made,, documentary.”

“Paris is Burning, the best documentary of all time actually. Oh my god, look at this cover. The cinematography in this is—I don't think it'll be matched today. It's a place and time that you will never be captured again. It's incredible and just like beautiful and heartbreaking and honest. Me and my father, we quote this movie a lot. This is like your Godfather. 'Touch this skin, touch this skin.'”

“Paris is Burning the deluxe edition I'm thrilled Carmen Extravaganza we love you R. I. P to all the Pioneers icons Legends and statesmen Femme Queens Butch Queens who paved the way for all of us Butch Queens to have this moment so thank you so much...”

“Paris is Burning. Oh I love that movie. So good. I've watched it a million times. I know, I want my own Criterion. I know, because I feel cozy and you need to see that.”

“A black gay guy chose Paris is Burning. Shocker. That being said, what ended up happening to the subjects, like a lot of them died in abject poverty. This movie has secrets that aren't even revealed in the movie. There is actually a dead body in this movie and they didn't even know there was a dead body in the movie... Her name is Dorian Corey. And it has one of my favorite quotes of all time... Paris is Burning is probably one of the most important films of all time.”