Paris Is Burning
Having a ball… Wish you were here
78 mins
Where does voguing come from, and what, exactly, is throwing shade? This landmark documentary provides a vibrant snapshot of the 1980s through the eyes of New York City's African American and Latinx Harlem drag-ball scene. Made over seven years, PARIS IS BURNING offers an intimate portrait of rival fashion "houses," from fierce contests for trophies to house mothers offering sustenance in a world rampant with homophobia, transphobia, racism, AIDS, and poverty. Featuring legendary voguers, drag queens, and trans women — including Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija, Dorian Corey, and Venus Xtravaganza.
Kim Pendavis
Self
Sandy Ninja
Self
Andre Christian
Self
Eileen Ford
Self (uncredited)
Jose Guitierez
Self (uncredited)
Barry Swimar
Producer
Natalie G. Hill
Production Manager
Lynn Geller
Music
Paul Gibson
Director of Photography
Sam Henriques
Additional Camera
Stacia Thompson
Sound Editor
Nigel Finch
Executive Producer
Claire Goodman
Associate Producer
Madison Davis Lacy
Executive Producer
Meg McLagan
Associate Producer
Anne Dutlinger
Graphic Designer
Jim Rogula
Graphic Designer
Catherine Calderon
Sound Recordist
Rick Dior
Sound Mixer
Judy Karp
Sound Recordist
Matt Skilton
Sound Mixer
Pawel Wdowczak
Sound
Bill Megalos
Additional Camera
Frank Prinzi
Additional Camera
Alyson Denny
Additional Camera
Ben Speth
Additional Camera
Kate Davis
Additional Editing
Carol Hillson
Associate Editor
Elise Pettus
Production Coordinator
Richard Dooley
Associate Producer
Elizabeth Bouiss
Assistant Editor
Nancy Crumley
Assistant Editor
Melissa Hacker
Assistant Editor
Spike Lampros
Assistant Editor
Jacinta Orlando
Assistant Editor
Michael Bon Villain
Assistant Camera
Theo Crimona
Assistant Camera
Lloyd Goldfine
Assistant Camera
Rosalinda Alvira
Production Assistant
Nicole Barnum
Production Assistant
Harry Birckmeyer
Production Assistant
Sara Blecher
Production Assistant
Jane Bresnick
Production Assistant
Penny Dow
Production Assistant
Jan Heissinger
Production Assistant
David Irrera
Production Assistant
Karen Kandrak
Production Assistant
Bengt Mattson
Production Assistant
Tracy Morgan
Production Assistant
Sydney Pokorney
Production Assistant
Eric Rosenblatt
Production Assistant
Carolina Salguero
Production Assistant
Kevin Skvorak
Production Assistant
Phoebe Yantsis
Production Assistant
Hector Crespo
Still Photographer
Josef Astor
Still Photographer