I AM DIVINE

I AM DIVINE

The one and only, Divine from ‘I Am Divine’ | Automat Pictures

“Divine gives courage to anyone who’s ever been mocked, ridiculed, and ostracized, and gives us all hope that anything’s possible. It’s the ultimate ‘it gets better’ story…on acid.”   — Jeffrey Schwarz

(PHOTO: Clay Geerdes)

Before the video revolution of the 1980s, it was damn near impossible for a suburban kid like myself to see the kinds of movies I read about in Danny Peary’s Cult Movies book. One of the titles Peary wrote about was Pink Flamingos, a movie so demented, depraved and disgusting I became obsessed with finding out everything I could about the people who made it.

Even before seeing any of his films, John Waters became my personal god, and I devoured his autobiographical books Shock Value and Crackpot. I was still a closeted teenager with no tangible connections to gay culture, so John’s sensibility helped to lead me down a path of embracing my own difference. John’s relationship with his leading lady Divine was also inspiring. Their friendship and artistic collaboration gave me hope that I might someday find like-minded people and be able to express my true nature like they did.

In 1988, I was in my first year of college and finally getting to see all of Divine and John Waters’ movies. Each film was more jaw-dropping than the next and Divine’s performances were fearless and courageous. Just after the release of Hairspray, John and Divine’s breakthrough success, I opened the newspaper and saw that Divine had died. It seemed so cruel and unfair that after receiving the best reviews of his career and on the verge of mainstream acceptance, he wouldn’t be able to enjoy the fruits of his labor.

Years later, I had the pleasure of collaborating with John Waters when he appeared in my film Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story. In 2007, I produced You Can’t Stop the Beat: The Long Journey of Hairspray for the DVD of the 2007 remake, which featured a section about the original film. Getting to meet all of John’s collaborators on Hairspray gave me the idea to mount a tribute to Divine that would deepen our appreciation for this iconic performer and ensure his legacy for a new generation. A documentary could honor Divine in just the way he always craved — as a serious artist and immortal star.

Like the John Waters protagonists he portrayed in numerous films, Divine was the ultimate outsider. Spitting in the face of the status quos of body image, gender identity, sexuality, and preconceived notions of beauty, Divine still succeeded in becoming an internationally recognized recording artist and screen icon. He gives courage to anyone who’s ever been mocked, ridiculed, and ostracized, and gives us all hope that anything’s possible.

His story is about fame. It’s about the quest for the spotlight and artistic respect. And in the end, it’s a story of a man estranged from his family and their beautiful reunion. It’s also the ultimate “it gets better” story about a bullied fat kid who had the last laugh on his tormentors. With this regard for Divine’s emotional complexities comes I Am Divine, which will celebrate the Most Beautiful Woman in the World’s life and art.

— Jeffrey Schwarz

Like the John Waters protagonists he portrayed in numerous films, Divine was the ultimate outsider. Spitting in the face of the status quos of body image, gender identity, sexuality, and preconceived notions of beauty, Divine succeeded in becoming an internationally recognized recording artist and character actor of stage and screen.

From his humble beginnings, Glenn went from the often-mocked, schoolyard fat kid to underdog royalty, standing up for millions of gay men and women, female impersonators, and punk rockers, among countless other socially ostracized people. With a completely committed in-your-face style, he blurred the line between performer and personality and revolutionized pop culture.

Unsurprisingly, behind the glitter this torchbearer battled demons throughout his life – addiction, compulsions, and familial estrangement. To follow Divine’s path is to strut in high heels down a zigzag hall of gilded mirrors reflecting images of gender, performance, fame, and identity. Furthermore, like many performers, he struggled to maintain the outlandish persona he created, and often battled the character of Divine in his strive for legitimacy as an actor.

With this regard for Divine’s emotional complexities, and recognition of the enormous influence of his life and work, comes I Am Divine. This definitive biographical portrait of Harris Glenn Milstead, spans the entirety of his life – from his misfit youth in Baltimore, his rise to infamy, to long after his demise, where he still continues to influence performers and artists today. In the end, I Am Divine honors Harris Glenn Milstead in just the way he always craved — as a serious artist and immortal star.

His story is also told through dozens of new interviews with family, friends, colleagues, and devotees who ruminate and recollect. Subjects include John Waters, mother Frances Milstead (who provided her final interview just months before she passed away), co-stars Ricki Lake, Mink Stole, Tab Hunter and Susan Lowe, personal assistant Jay Bennett, friends Greg Gorman, Pat Moran, Vincent Peranio, surviving members of the Cockettes, as well as Holly Woodlawn, Michael Musto, Bruce Vilanch, and many more.

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER
Jeffrey Schwarz

PRODUCER
Lance Robertson

PRODUCER
Lotti Pharriss Knowles

PRODUCER
John Glover

CO-PRODUCER
Paul Marcarelli

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
Taryn Teigue

EDITOR
Phillip J. Bartell

COMPOSER
Michael “The Millionaire” Cudahy

DESIGN & ANIMATION
Grant Nellessen

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER
Jeffrey Schwarz

PRODUCER
Lance Robertson

PRODUCER
Lotti Pharriss Knowles

PRODUCER
John Glover

CO-PRODUCER
Paul Marcarelli

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
Taryn Teigue

EDITOR
Phillip J. Bartell

COMPOSER
Michael “The Millionaire” Cudahy

DESIGN & ANIMATION
Grant Nellessen

“An enjoyably naughty trip.”
— The Hollywood Reporter

“Pure pleasure from start to finish.”
— IndieWire

“A worthy documentary tribute to the drag queen icon.”
— Village Voice

“An enjoyably naughty trip.”
— The Hollywood Reporter

“Pure pleasure from start to finish.”
— IndieWire

“A worthy documentary tribute to the drag queen icon.”
— Village Voice

For public screening inquiries:
Jeffrey Winter / The Film Collaborative
jeffrey (at) thefilmcollaborative (dot) org

For official presskit & stills:
thefilmcollaborative.org/films/iamdivine

For all other inquiries:
jeffrey (at) automatpictures (dot) com