Paris Is Burning Page #5

---

taking two knives

and cutting each other up,

but through a dance form.

Pop, dip, spin, vogue.

Dip...

(Willi) Voguing came from shade

because it was a dance

that two people did

because they didn't like each other.

Instead of fighting,

you would dance it out on the dance floor,

and whoever did

the better moves

was throwing the best shade,

basically.

(man) No touching!

Neither one of you!

If you touch, I'm chopping you.

I'm telling you right now.

(Willi) You can take

the pantomime form of the vogue.

What generally sometimes I do

is I make my hand into a form,

like a compact or a makeup kit,

and I'm, like,

beating my face with blush,

shadows or whatever,

to the music.

Then usually, I'll turn

the compact around to face that person,

meaning like almost, like, my hand

is a mirror for them to get a look.

Then I'll start doing

their face,

because what they have

on their face right now

needs a dramatic

makeup job.

So voguing is like a safe form

of throwing shade.

(man) Paris... Dupree, work.

Paris... Dupree, work. Ooh!

All right, Miss Bishop.

Go knock off, Miss Paris.

Come on, baby, take your time.

Bring it to the judges.

Judges, give it to the form

and the style.

Work. Let's hear it

for her, goddammit!

(Willi) The name is taken

from the magazine "Vogue,"

because some of

the movements of the dance

are also the same

as the poses inside the magazine.

The name is a statement

in itself.

I mean, you really wouldn't go to

a ball to do the "Mademoiselle."

No way!

(indistinct chatter)

Show them how to do that!

Ouch!

Like breakdancing,

the dance takes from

the hieroglyphics

of ancient Egypt.

It also takes from

some forms of gymnastics.

They both strive

for perfect lines in the body,

awkward positions.

But it goes one step further.

It's starting to make

a name for itself,

but I want it to be

known worldwide

and I want to be on top of it

when it hits.

I want to take voguing,

not to just Paris is Burning,

but I want to take it

to the real Paris

and make the real Paris burn.

That's what I want to do.

And not just there,

but to other countries as well.

My house name is Ninja,

and I would really like to take

my whole house and go to Japan

and really let loose and do it

and have them accept it there.

I want to be a big star...

uh, known, generally,

every corner of the world.

You know, maybe as

a choreographer,

a famous dancer,

a singer... or all of them.

What the balls has

to do with that,

as far as the dance field,

is maybe perfect my craft

a little better.

To learn new things,

new ideas

and bring 'em

to the real world.

It's been really unbelievable,

my life.

If I was to die today

or tomorrow,

I could not say I have

not had an exciting life.

I have had a fabulous...

And I'm not rich, mind you.

Just imagine

if I had the dollars!

Ooh, it would be too much

for the world.

If I had the riches

and I had the fame, trust me,

all of you-all in here

would be rich for points.

'Cause I'm very generous,

you know.

I can't... I wouldn't enjoy

having a whole lot of money,

like being a millionaire

and hoarding it, you know?

I'd share it with

all my loved ones, you know.

I'd want them to have it, too.

We'd all have to go.

I'd want to charter a plane

and we'd all fly to Paris.

O-p-u-l-e-n-c-e.

Opulence!

You own everything!

Everything is yours!

( "Marcia Trionfale" from

"Aida" by Giuseppe Verdi)

This is white America.

Any other nationality

that is not of the white set

knows this and accepts this

till the day they die.

That is everybody's dream

and ambition as a minority -

to live and look as well

as a white person

is pictured

as being in America.

Every media you have -

from TV to magazines

to movies to films.

I mean, the biggest thing

that minority watches is what?

"Dynasty" and the Colbys.

Or "All My Children."

The soap operas.

Everybody have

a million-dollar bracket.

When they showing you

a commercial from Honey Graham

to Crest or Lestoil

or Pine-Sol,

everybody's in their own home.

The little kids

for Fisher-Price Toys -

they're not

in no concrete playground.

They're riding around the lawn.

The pool is in the back.

This is white America.

And when it come to the

minorities, especially black,

we as a people,

for the past 400 years,

is the greatest example

of behavior modification

in the history of civilization.

We have had everything

taken away from us,

and yet we have all

learned how to survive.

That is why,

in the ballroom circuit,

it is so obvious

that if you have captured

the great white way of living -

or looking...

or dressing or speaking -

you is a marvel.

I think if I could just be

on TV or film or anything,

I'd do that

instead of the money.

Of course, I do want the money

because I want the luxury that goes with it.

But... I want to be wealthy.

If not wealthy - content,

comfortable, you know?

I want to be somebody.

I mean, I am somebody.

I just want to be

a rich somebody.

(man) We're gonna tell you,

you see her in a supermarket,

and you're gonna say,

"That's a fag."

(Octavia) Women don't go

out of their way because they are women.

I went out of my way

because I wasn't

and I felt that I wanted

to be the best I could be.

The Virginia Slims girl is here.

This was not a game

for me, or fun.

This is something

that I want to live.

She's here, in person.

Hopefully, God willing,

by 1988,

I fully hope to become

a full-fledged woman of the United States.

You look at all these models

on the wall.

Every one of them are gorgeous.

Every one of them are beautiful.

But every one of them

have their own look.

This is my idol, Paulina.

Someday, I hope to be

up there with her.

If that could be me,

I think I would be

the happiest person in the world.

Just knowing that I am...

that I can compare to Paulina,

to stand next to her

and to take pictures with her.

And I look at her here and I'd say

she's seductive and she's alluring.

I look at her there

and I say she's sexy and provocative.

I look at her here

and I think that she's childish

and little-girl type,

you know.

And I look at her here

and it's the same.

And I look at her here

and I think of wicked beauty, you know?

That's how I see her.

I admire her.

You know, the red-hot fire

of hair and... the whole bit.

If you're not really trying

hard enough, then I become hard.

Do not believe just because

I'm a guy, that I cannot do it.

In order to be a teacher to show girls

how to do it, I have to know how to do it.

I've taught for various shows,

like for F.I.T. I've taught models.

Girls that are from various

agencies that come to me by word of mouth.

New York City women

are a little bit harder than most women.

Basically, I'm trying to bring

their femininity back

and bring some grace and poise.

You know, whether they

become models or not, it's nice to know,

because it's more attractive

to men.

The walk that she's doing

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes