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.
Cast
Pepper LaBeija
Self
Octavia St. Laurent
Self
Venus Xtravaganza
Self
Dorian Corey
Self
Willi Ninja
Self
Paris Dupree
Self
Freddie Pendavis
Self
Sol Williams Pendavis
Self
Junior LaBeija
Self
Angie Xtravaganza
Self
Carmen Xtravaganza
Self
Brooke Xtravaganza
Self
Kim Pendavis
Self
Sandy Ninja
Self
Avis Pendavis
Self
Andre Christian
Self
Stevie St. Laurent
Self
Bianca Xtravaganza
Self
Danny Xtravaganza
Self
David Xtravaganza
Self
David Ian Xtravaganza
Self
David the Father Xtravaganza
Self
Eileen Ford
Self (uncredited)
Jose Guitierez
Self (uncredited)
Shari Headley
Self (uncredited)
Crew
Jennie Livingston
Director, Producer, Still Photographer
Jonathan Oppenheim
Editor
Elizabeth Bouiss
Assistant Editor
Nancy Crumley
Assistant Editor
Melissa Hacker
Assistant Editor
Spike Lampros
Assistant Editor
Jacinta Orlando
Assistant Editor
Kate Davis
Additional Editing
Paul Gibson
Director of Photography
Elise Pettus
Production Coordinator
Madison Davis Lacy
Executive Producer
Nigel Finch
Executive Producer
Barry Swimar
Producer
Meg McLagan
Associate Producer
Claire Goodman
Associate Producer
Richard Dooley
Associate Producer
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
Myra Paci
Production Assistant
Sydney Pokorney
Production Assistant
Eric Rosenblatt
Production Assistant
Carolina Salguero
Production Assistant
Kevin Skvorak
Production Assistant
Phoebe Yantsis
Production Assistant
Michael Bon Villain
Assistant Camera
Theo Crimona
Assistant Camera
Lloyd Goldfine
Assistant Camera
Maryse Alberti
Second Assistant Camera
Sam Henriques
Additional Camera
Bill Megalos
Additional Camera
Frank Prinzi
Additional Camera
Alyson Denny
Additional Camera
Ben Speth
Additional Camera
Stacia Thompson
Sound Editor
Matt Skilton
Sound Mixer
Rick Dior
Sound Mixer
Judy Karp
Sound Recordist
Catherine Calderon
Sound Recordist
Pawel Wdowczak
Sound
Lynn Geller
Music
Dorian Corey
Still Photographer
Hector Crespo
Still Photographer
Josef Astor
Still Photographer
Carol Hillson
Associate Editor
Natalie G. Hill
Production Manager
Anne Dutlinger
Graphic Designer
Jim Rogula
Graphic Designer
Recommendations
view all
Welcome to the Dollhouse
Bolero
Parting Glances
Lancelot of the Lake
She Is Conann
O Perfume da Memória
Louis Theroux: Savile
Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds
Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry
Alarm
Poison
Killing Patient Zero
La huella de la pantera
Bilal Hassani, le rêve d'une vie
Fisheye
Two Tickets
Triumph Over Violence
Black Panthers
Cherry Pop
The Mask You Live In