We may be getting round 2 of The Adventures Of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert.
In a wide ranging career tribute and conversation Thursday night in front of a packed crowd at the 2000 seat Arlington Theatre ahead of their receiving the Santa Barbara International Film Festival‘s Cinema Vanguard Award, Best Supporting Actor Oscar nominee Guy Pearce, on stage with his The Brutalist co-star and Best Actor Oscar nominee Adrien Brody, made some news.
Moderating the evening, I saved a choice clip of one of Pearce’s memorable early performances as salty drag queen Felicia in 1994’s Australian hit comedy, The Adventures Of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert to run towards the end of the two hour tribute, and then asked him what memories it brought back. To my surprise Pearce revealed he is in talks with original writer/director Stephan Elliott and co-stars Hugo Weaving and Terence Stamp about a possible sequel, saying it was ironic we were revisiting it as part of this tribute. “It was such an amazing experience. It depends. We’re putting together a script, what the idea might be, and if we all feel that it’s worthwhile, and then we’ll do it,” he said. “I think Hugo and I and Terence are certainly into it, and Steph and Hugo and I are having lots of chats about what we might do. So we’re excited about it, but we won’t do it unless it feels right. We don’t want to ruin the original one.”
I suggested it was a timely and important idea since some politicians and organized groups are on the attack on drag queens and the transgender community. It seems the time is right to revisit this acclaimed comedy about two drag performers and a transgender woman travelling across the desert to deliver their unique cabaret act. I pointed out that first and foremost this was a humane story with heart and soul.
“Absolutely. And that’s one of the reasons why the film worked so well. I mean, it certainly came at a pivotal moment. It was a very popular film, as you know… and I mean, we made the film in ’93, it came out in ’94 and coming off the back of the AIDS epidemic the homophobia was was just off the charts through that period. And people were starting to speak up. People were starting to feel braver about about stepping forward and acknowledging and speaking up about who they are. Priscilla really enabled a voice for a lot of people, which is one of the things that we’ve been told this past 30 years. So it really was a fantastic experience, but it’s been a very meaningful film for all of us to be part of. And, you know, I think the idea of actually sort of following up on it, as I say, is sort of a great idea, as long as we do something that’s valid and valuable and worthwhile. I hope it happens,” he said adding, “Hopefully they can make me some stilettos, because last time, we didn’t have the budget, and I just had to wear what they had, which were about three sizes too small, and running down a road with those blokes chasing me and high heels, was not a lot of fun.”
Coming out Australia it might be a nice antidote to the anti-trans and drag queen rhetoric so prevalent among certain quarters this past election and in the early days of the new administration where using the excuse of eliminating drag shows that have been done at D.C.’s prestigious Kennedy Center, President Donald Trump has fired much of the board and installed himself as the new Chairman, sending ominous signs to the trans and drag communities and artists everywhere. Other Board members like Shonda Rhimes resigned in protest.
Pearce and Brody were in Santa Barbara for a joint tribute in which I took them down memory lane through their much praised careers with clips from everything from Brody’s Oscar winning The Pianist and Peter Jackson’s King Kong to Pearce’s L.A. Confidential and Memento. I pointed out, as I did in a pre-nominations episode of my Deadline video series , The Actor’s Side that it was astounding to me that journeyman actor Pearce had never received a single Oscar nomination in his 40 year career. Now he has. “Well thank you for helping to change that, ” he laughed.
(L-R) Honoree Guy Pearce, honoree Adrien Brody, and SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling pose with the Cinema Vanguard Award during the 40th Santa Barbara International Film Festival (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for Santa Barbara International Film Festival)
Both also had much to say about the power and relevance of The Brutalist which has been nominated for 10 Academy Awards including the pair for Brody and Pearce. Even though the film is set in the period of the 40’s and 50’s and is about a celebrated Hungarian architect coming to America for a new life and new opportunities after repression in his own country, Brody is proud that the Brady Corbet film has relevance for what is happening now. “When you make a film, you want it to speak about what’s going on today. The beauty of film is that it’s a subversive experience,” he said. “It’s about bridging the divide and I feel such a privilege to be part of this movie. I love that this artistic work can evoke an understanding of hardships that others face. The world feels very complex right now and to do work that speaks to that – it’s a beautiful thing.”
Before making the Cinema Vanguard Award presentation, SBIFF’s Executive Director Roger Durling shocked the moderator (me) and announced that after 23 years of doing these tributes at SBIFF and also in honor of my wife Madelyn who annually host the popular Women’s Panel (it takes place Saturday), the festival is renaming this particular award going forward as “The Hammond Cinema Vanguard Award”. Wow. I didn’t saw that one coming. What an honor. Thank you Roger and SBIFF. See you next year.
Watch the video below of Guy Pearce talking about The Adventures Of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert:
