Meat the Future- See it on Planet in Focus Festival

 MEAT THE FUTURE a film by Liz Marshall

Meat the Future - Where's the Beef?

With the recent news of the Cargill plant in Calgary having to close because of Coronavirus infected workers it shows how vulnerable our food industry is. It is predicted that by 2050 we will not have enough food to feed the world so we need to figure out a solution for people to survive in the future.

This film is very eye-opening and thought provoking. I found I had conflicted feelings of balancing the genetic creation of food and the current practice of food production. I understand that there are inhumane food production practices because of the demand for beef and chicken, but I am also afraid of some of these new techniques because it opens the door for people to market food that nobody knows what will be in it or how it will affect health. I see the plant based craze for Beyond the Meat that still has stabilization chemicals in it but avoids the beef processing system so it solves people's animal rights issues and hopefully people understand that it's not a 100% health food.

This film will leave you thinking well past viewing this documentary and will have you thinking about it everytime you head to your grocery store to do your weekly shopping.

Birth of an industry 

 

An official Planet in Focus 2020 selection

See Meat The Future at Planet in Focus on  on Wed, Oct 14, 2020 12:00pm EST

(Virtual) More details here.

TRAILER

Award-winning The Ghosts in Our Machine director Liz Marshall returns with a new eye opening documentary about the future of meat.

Meat the Future, a story of the future of feeding the planet with a new innovation of cell-based meat. 

The goal is to innovate and produce real meat without slaughtering animals and without environmental destruction.

Currently we can see the results of food production during a pandemic with Beef Producers in Calgary and in the U.S. having shut down because of staff illness.

Animal agriculture dominates nearly half of the world’s land surface, producing more greenhouse gases than all forms of transportation. The prospect of meat consumption doubling by 2050 is not only sobering, it is a wake-up call for solutions. Compared to conventionally-produced beef, cell-based beef is estimated, at scale, to reduce land use by more than 95%, climate change emissions by 74% to 87%, and nutrient pollution by 94%.

While plant-based eating is on the rise, a mass conversion to vegetarianism is unlikely. So, the planet’s future may lie with cell-based meat, also known as “clean meat” and “cultivated meat”, a scientific process of growing animal cells to harvest real poultry, beef, pork, fish and seafood. 

Meat the Future follows the genesis phase of the clean meat movement in America, behind the scenes with its pioneers – they are activists, scientists, researchers, marketers and policy experts, all focused on the goal of an ethical, sustainable and profitable food future. 

Meat the Future is seen through the experience of Mayo Clinic-trained cardiologist Dr. Uma Valeti, the co-founder and CEO of start-up company Memphis Meats. Valeti and his team are at the forefront of an industry, they have attracted worldwide interest and investment from the likes of billionaire influencers Bill Gates and Richard Branson and from food giant corporations Tyson and Cargill, and others. 

The founders have to navigate the process of the complicated regulatory processes in Washington, D.C. There, ranchers, farmers, and conventional meat lobby groups fight to protect their recognized brand of meat and beef “harvested in the traditional manner,” while representatives from the cellular agricultural community work to define a clear regulatory framework, urging America to be first to market. 

You will salivate as you watch top-ranked chefs perform their magic on the meat-of-the-future. 

Produced in association with documentary Channel, the Canada Media Fund and
the Redford Center Grants with funding provided by the New York Community Trust.
Produced with the participation of the Rogers Cable Network Fund.

Writer-Director-Producer: Liz Marshall

Executive Producers: Janice Dawe, Chris Hegedus

Associate Producer: Jessica Jennings

Editors: Caroline Christie, Roland Schlimme

Cinematographer: John Price

Music Composer: Igor Correia

The Ringmaster Documentary- Onion rings and a side of real life

THE RINGMASTER an Award Winning Documentary   will be released  by 1091 PICTURES (formerly THE ORCHARD) on DIGITAL | ON DEMAND starting OCTOBER 6^th.  

THE RINGMASTER

 A Capp Bros. Production in association 

with Asteroid and Space Metals Recovery

88 minutes | Documentary | HD | USA | English 

DIGITAL | VIDEO ON DEMAND OCTOBER 6th!

TRAILER: https://vimeo.com/323592979

 I was able to preview this documentary and could totally relate to the situation of the filmmaker who had good intentions of helping the elderly Minnesota chef and his story of how popular his onion ring recipe was but was all in and got in over his head in the production of the film which took a turn in a whole other direction.   I can also relate to the filmmaker dealing with the subject as I have had to deal with something similar in my life.  This film turns into much more than the story of a plate of Onion Rings.

You will want the onion rings and you will get invested in the life of the filmmaker and subject at the same time.

SYNOPSIS

Upon his grandfather’s death, a recovering gambling addict (ZACHARY CAPP) used his inheritance to make a documentary about well-known onion rings from his childhood and the beloved Minnesotan chef (LARRY LANG) who makes them. His project changes drastically when the fledging filmmaker becomes hellbent on improving the humble fry cook’s life, despite discovering his subject wants nothing to do with the film. The movie becomes something else entirely when the crew members secretly turn the cameras on the filmmaker, documenting his efforts and failures over a three-year journey. 

About the Filmmaker:

Zachary Capp (Executive Producer/Producer/Writer/Editor/Cast) - Zachary Capp is a writer, editor & producer from Las Vegas, Nevada. He has produced various projects including music videos, commercials, & the feature documentary "The Death of Superman Lives: What Happened?" as well as an award-winning 3D short film for DirecTV original programming. Zachary has edited the majority of the video billboards for the major hotels on the Las Vegas strip. He has a degree in Television & Radio Production from Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY. 

A portion of all proceeds from the film will benefit Alzheimer's research that plays an integral role in Larry Lang's life. 

SOCIAL MEDIA 

FACEBOOK: facebook.com/theringmasterfilm

INSTAGRAM: @theringmasterfilm 

TWITTER:  @RingmasterFilm

ROTTEN TOMATOES PAGE:

The Ringmaster (2019) - Rotten Tomatoes

TRAILER: https://vimeo.com/323592979

FESTIVAL ACCOLADES 

Best Documentary at Festival of Cinema NYC

Audience Award Best Documentary at Silver State Film Festival in Las Vegas

Best Screenwriting Award at DOC LA

Best Documentary North Europe Intl Film Festival in London 

Chef Flynn -1 week engagement at Hot Docs Cinema Jan 25

CHEF FLYNN
Directed by Cameron Yates

One-Week Engagement
Begins January 25, 2019
Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema in Toronto
 

 

Chef Flynn McGarry was 10-years-old when he showed interest in taking over the kitchen duties from his divorced mother Meg who had no interest in cooking.  Around 13 he opened a supper club in the living room of his mother's California home, using his classmates as line cooks and serving a seasonal foraged tasting menu to wide-eyed Los Angelenos.

As the years pass, Flynn grows both as a chef, and a teenager, eventually outgrowing his family kitchen, and his mother's camera and in a search for increased knowledge and to be taken seriously he ventured out to stage at many world class restaurants which included a trip to Scandinavia.  Flynn all the while honing his style on Pop Up restaurant events.

Flynn's mother Meg with a background in film was documenting Flynn's life from the time he was born and amassed 18 years of personal archival footage as well as intimate vérité, this feature documentary portrait is not only the study of a rising star thrown into the media spotlight at an early age, but also a reflection on motherhood and what it means to give up one's own identity in furtherance of a child's passion.

Director Cameron Yates (The Canal Street Madam) captures lightning-in-a-bottle to reveal Flynn’s singular drive and passion as he navigates the often-cutthroat world of fine dining.

Chef Flynn had its Canadian premiere at Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, and screened at Sundance, Berlinale, SXSW in 2018.

I had a chance to speak with the Director Cameron Yates and Flynn's mother Meg this week.

Cameron Yates

1.     How and when did you get involved in the documentary?

"I read articles in the New Yorker and found info online in 2012. and found the Dining with Flynn videos on Youtube and was totally fascinated and wanted to find out more about Meg so I contacted her through a connection from the films producer"  

2.     Since Meg had a film background did she have a specific vision for the project and did you have a pre conceived vision of where you wanted to take it? 

"Meg handed over hard the hard drives and ever asked to see anything".  "She was crying after screening".

Cameron met with Meg, Flynn and his sister Paris for dinner in New York,  Flynn ordered for everyone.  

It took a year of chatting with Meg before he came on board to direct. He felt that Meg was ready to hand over the reigns by then,  Meg asked Cameron to shoot the last dinner at their LA home.

They filmed for about 5 years.  Cameron felt that the film was more of a mother and son relationship than just a Teen Prodigy story.

Chef Flynn now has his own restaurant in New York which is named after is mother.  It's called Gem, which is Meg spelled backwards.

Cameron tells me that Flynn is very hands on in his restaurant with him shopping at the local farmer's market, picking the flowers, music and the hiring and firing of staff on top of his masterful cooking ability he wants to be taken seriously as a restaurant owner and fine dining Chef and ditch the Teen Prodigy moniker.

He has built a community of friends in New York that include his sister Paris and her friends who are nearby and the family that is his kitchen staff.

Flynn's mother now lives in a Studio in LA where she still makes short films while working full time as an assistant.  I spoke to her about her incredible influence in Flynn's life.

Meg McGarry

1.  Did you have thoughts of what you thought Flynn would be when he grew up? 

"We  found footage of cooking shows of Flynn playing with his sister and her calling him Chef Flynn.  He Dressed up like Emeril when he was 2 for Halloween.  

I just wanted a kind and healthy baby.  If your child shows and interest in something you should embrace it.  Played baseball, guitar and did different things in an exhaustive way.  He has natural ability. Around 10 he was interested in taking over kitchen.  At 11 wanted to learn on Internet and with cookbooks.  He created his own dishes at 12.  He apprenticed where I hung out.  By 13 he had extraordinary kitchen skills".

2.  How did he convince you to do the pop up in your home?  

"It was oganically formed by cooking for family, friends and birthdays. When it grew we asked for donations for the food.  My father cooked huge Chinese food meals on Friday nights.  Our home had a restaurant area.  At the beginning we held the pop ups twice a month.  I had pro friends to help cook and serve.  He gained a bit of fame at the start because of his age.  When you are young you have a lot of energy.. people achieve a lot in their youth.  The first article in the New Yorker was because of  journalist who came to dinner at the house and wanted to write about it and the New Yorker picked it up.  We met Chef Daniel at a book signing and Flynn showed him photos on his phone of the food he cooked and he realized he can cook from a very complicated cookbook.  He was able to go and work the line in his New York restaurant and they soon realized  his hard work and talent."

3.  Does he have other ideas of what he wants to do?  

"He shied away from things that take away from restaurant, he works 5 days a week.   After 1 year it's still fresh. Sometimes has a day off and does parties or goes to movies, concerts and other things.

He lives close to the restaurant and his sister lives near him.

I live in LA and visit every 4 months" 

Meg still writes and made a short film about a  year ago.   She feels it's time to step back and let Flynn fly on his own and develop his wings.

I have now watched the film twice.  One before Hot Docs and again before this interview and I picked up new subtle images and words after watching it the second time.

It's very interesting when you combine a passion, a supportive family, and an interesting life story how things can amplify quickly in the media and change dynamics of one's life.

Go see this film.  A lot of the footage is raw footage filmed over the early years but then moves to Flynn's breakout as a professional Chef.

Larger than Life; The Kevin Aucoin Story

Linda Matarasso and Kevin Aucoin

Larger than Life: The Kevin Aucoin Story

Directed by: Tiffany Bartok

Synopsis: Legendary makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin arrived in New York City from the small town of Lafayette, Louisiana after spending his childhood expressing himself through drawing, painting, and makeup application. In search of relief from the confusion and isolation stemming from his sexual identity and constant bullying, Kevyn found an acceptance in the fashion world that was instant and explosive. Due to his groundbreaking contouring techniques, his infectious personality and mission to make everyone feel beautiful, he quickly shot to fame doing makeup for every supermodel and celebrity throughout the 80’s and 90’s. At the height of his fame in 2002, Kevyn died mysteriously. LARGER THAN LIFE explores every corner of Kevyn’s rich, beautiful and complicated life through the story of his untimely passing and the inspiring legacy he left behind.

Last night I went to see the documentary Larger than Life: The Kevin Aucoin Story at the Inside Out Film Festival showing at the Tiff Bell Lightbox in Toronto.  I only found out about the film from watching a morning show segment with the director and immediately wanted to go see the film.  Luckily a friend of mine actually had tickets he couldn't use so I was able to see the film and I was so happy that I didn't miss it because Kevin Aucoin was my makeup Idol when I was learning makeup in the 80's and doing makeup as a freelancer for the next 30 years.  He was a huge influence on me but I could never be as talented as he was and there are very few makeup artist to ever come close to his talent.  His death left a huge hole in the Makeup Industry.  The transformations of male to female and female to male were beyond drag makeup and were more mind bending and pure art form tromp l'oile. 

I was also able to meet Kevin at a small book signing for his book Making Faces.  I can't remember exactly when that was but all I can remember is that it was a very brief chat and I was on the way to New York and I remember telling him that I just squeezed in going to see him before going to the airport.  I believe it was only a couple of years before his untimely death.

After watching the documentary I found out a whole other side that wasn't well known and that affected his health and how he coped with it.  Cher was instrumental in discovering his rare disease of extreme growth that cause him daily pain that turned into an addiction to prescription pills and so many talented people have unfortunately passed the same way.  

The documentary was a beautiful portrait of a mix of family home movies, stories from friends, family and some of the celebrities he formed bonds with.

It's very sad that he passed away so soon, who knows what ground breaking trends and innovations he would have created or in the fight against homophobia and discrimination.

note:  note the hand on my shoulder, there is a lot of talk of his hands in the film and you will find out why if you see it.

The film will be available of Itunes I believe in July 2018.  I recommend seeing it if you want to see a bit of makeup history and if you have an interest in a man who was a defender of gay rights.

Th

WASTED! The Story of Food Waste at Planet in Focus

WASTED! THE STORY OF FOOD WASTE

Anna Chai/Nari Kye, USA, 2017, 85 min

Slick, solution­-oriented, and featuring Anthony Bourdain at his sardonic best, 

WASTED! The Story of Food Waste is that rare social issue documentary that’s every bit as entertaining as it is informative.

Do you remember when Documentaries where things you were forced to watch in High School,  well this isn't one of those.  It's eye opening and educational but it's also whitty and interesting.  It puts food waste into perspective and you will feel a twinge of guilt the next time you throw food into the garbage and forget about it.  This documentary is one that SHOULD be shown in schools to young children so that they learn where there food comes from and where it goes if they don't eat it.

I highly recommend everyone watch this film.  It has so many well known people in the food industry discussing different aspects of the food supply chain and how everyone can do their part to make a difference.  

You can see it at the Planet in Focus Film festival in Toronto  in October 2017.

PLANET IN FOCUS Screening Times: Saturday 21 October, 6:45pm ­at Innis Town Hall

Screens with THE POACHER (Nicholas Jones) 

Film - Ramen Heads at Hot Docs

RAMEN HEADS

In Japan Ramen is like a Sandwich in the West.  It can be breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Japanese people are very dedicated to their favourite Ramen restaurants.  I have even seen this trend in Toronto.  There is a fairly new Ramen restaurant on Dundas near University and just before lunch people start to line up outside.  I don't get it because there are other Ramen shops nearby, but they must like that one better than the others in the area.  I prefer the broth of Pho to Ramen broth as it has more depth in the flavours but people love to slurp up those noodles and suck back that broth.

This documentary is the story of a man in Japan who has become the King of Ramen Heads and has developed a system to serve his customers. His name is Osamu Tomita. He is an obsessive perfectionist and will not allow his apprentices to take over.  If he can't be in his shop it doesn't open.  He searches the highest quality ingredients and makes his noodles by hand every day and they are longer than everyone else's and has a specific stretch that keeps them from breaking.  

Ramen Heads looks at the Ramen culture in Japan and Chef Tomita's mentors and influences and some of the other styles of Ramen in other restaurants in Japan.  

He won the "Best Ramen in Tokyo" for 4 years in a row and people come from all over to try his Ramen.  His shop celebrates it's 10th Anniversary and this is a behind the scenes look at their practices and success and why they have over 200 people who line up everyday for his noodles and broth.  

He only eats Ramen and will work all day without a break and on his days off he goes to eat at other Ramen shops.

Is it dedication or obsession?  Watch the film and you decide.

See it at HOT DOCS 

Screenings:

Thursday, May 4 5:45 PM, SCOTIABANK THEATRE

Friday, May 5 10:15 AM, TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
Saturday, May 6 10:45 AM, TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX

Trailer  

Saturday, May 6 10:45 AM, TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX

Film - New Chefs on the Block - Hot Docs

NEW CHEFS ON THE BLOCK

Have you ever wanted to own your own Restaurant?  Do you think it's easy?  

People have told me for years that I should open a Restaurant but they seem to think it's really easy to just open the doors of a space and start selling food.  

Not so much.  Nearly 30 per cent of new restaurants fail within the first year.  

It's a very high risk investment where most of the capital comes from borrowing from banks, credit cards and friends and family. 
If you aren't financially independent or have lot's of support from friends and family, you will find the process very challenging.  It takes a village to open a great restaurant.  If you want to know why your meal costs so much then you should see this film as it takes you through the behind the scenes process of building a restaurant from the ground up.

New Chefs on the Block is a feature documenting the roller-coaster ride of two young chefs in Washington, D.C., as they estimate their budgets from design to opening nights of their first restaurants.

Chefs Aaron Silverman of Rose's Luxury and Frank Linn of Frankly...Pizza! are in for a big shock as they incur increasing costs due to the number of obstacles in their way in the process of construction, permits and human resources issues that they must overcome to get to their Opening Nights. 

How important is a review from the Big Local newspaper?  It can make or break a restaurant.  Social media is also the new game changer although influenced mostly by the original big media reviews.

The Chefs featured in the film are a dedicated new breed of Chef/restauranteurs who have modelled their businesses after successful restauranteur Danny Meyer's practice of treating his staff well and building a community that stays together.  Gone are the days of the loud dictator chefs.  And the diners are better off for the changes.

Two chefs in DC struggle to open their first Restaurants.  NEW CHEFS ON THE BLOCK

Directed by Dustin Harrison-Atlas

Starring Aaron Silverman of Rose’s Luxury and Frank Linn of Frankly...Pizza! Featuring legendary chefs and restaurateurs Danny Meyer (author, “Setting the Table”), Michel Richard (2-time James Beard Award Winner), Mike Isabella (Bravo Top Chef All-Star) and Washington Post food writer Tim Carman.

Website:  www.newchefsontheblock.com

96 MINUTES | 2016 | USA | INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE | RATING: G

SCREENING AT HOT DOCS

Sat, Apr 29

TIFF Bell Lightbox 2, Toronto, ON

Sun, Apr 30

TIFF Bell Lightbox 1, Toronto, ON

Sat, May 6

Isabel Bader Theatre, Toronto, ON

Trailer

“What is good food? Food made with Love. Love, love, love, love.” -Chef Michel Richard

Eatable Film Festival - The Need for Meat

It's the second year of the Eatable Film Festival held at the Royal Cinema on College Street.  I attended one of the films in the 4 film series last week.
Each film and food and drink pairing costs $39 for a ticket.

Held over 4 nights, each night a different food film is paired with a local restaurant and drink vendor to make it a full experience.

The screening I attended was the film "Need for Meat", a film by Marjin Frank.  The restaurant providing the food was Scott Vivian's Beast, they made a meatball with fennel and sauce,  inspired by the film.  There was also a drink created for the night but I can't remember what it was.  It was a bit too medicinal for me.

The film "NEED FOR MEAT" is about a young mother who decided that she needs to give up meat to be a better example for her young daughter.  The on again off again carnivore/vegetarian decides that maybe she should have to slaughter a cow to get her to stop eating meat.

She explores what it's like to work in an eco slaughterhouse and gains respect and love of the process and she discusses her experiences with a psycho therapist to find out why she can't give up meat.

She has raised her daughter without feeding her any meat while still eating meat herself but feels hypocritical about that and struggles with what she believes is good for her child and the planet and her intense craving and love of meat.  Will she give it up or will she keep eating it and raise her daughter as a carnivore.  You will have to see the movie to find out.

Warning:  This movie is very RAW and graphic.  Adult entertainment.  It is a Dutch film but is in English.

Tony Robbins is not your Guru.

Tony Robbins is a master at motivating people into changing their lives, although I have been reading his books and listening to him speak since the 80's I have found it hard to stick but what the new documentary: Tony Robbins: I am not your Guru explains is that you need a physical shift in the way you transform into a new way of being.  I guess I haven't had that physical change but I must say that some of the things he has said over the years have stuck with me.  I find myself thinking about a lot of it after seeing the documentary which takes you into his Date with Destiny 12 hour, 6 day seminars.  You pretty much give up everything and focus on your life in those 6 days, and I guess that's where the physical transformation comes into play.  When all you do is focus all of your attention on the things you are unhappy with in your life you start to think about what you have to do to change it.  Tony helps you zero in on what the core of the problem is and what you have to do to make the change.

I saw the documentary at the 2016 Hot Docs film festival where Tony was in attendance to introduce the film.  I have to tell you that I stood in a rush line for an hour to see the 1st screening at which he did a full Q&A and unfortunately the Rush line cut off just in front of me.  So my friend and I killed time at the coffee shop next door waiting for the 2nd screening.  I knew Tony would be there and wanted to get a chance to see the screening and hear what he had to say, even though I knew the film is going to be shown on Netflix in July.  We did get in and we did get to see Tony Robbins but unfortunately he wasn't able to stay for a Q&A afterwards but the director Joe Berlinger did.  Joe was the director of the great documentary about Metallica: Some Kind of Monster.

Joe explained that he met Tony socially years ago and didn't believe in the seminars but Tony invited him to attend one and even though he was skeptical it changed his mind and his life.  He decided he wanted to make a documentary about it and see if it was real and was persistent in asking Tony to let him do it and after a long time Tony finally agreed.  He didn't want the cameras to get in the way of the attendees experience.  Joe took a fly on the wall approach to filming and even though he did some interviews it is mostly just viewing people going through their experiences at the seminar and sharing their stories.

Because I was well aware of what Tony Robbins does after even seeing him live at a Millionaire Mind weekend seminar at the Metro Convention Centre years ago, note: don't go see him on a full stomach,  I wasn't able to stay until the end of his seminar but I got a good 40 minutes experience of it.  It's a non stop full impact high energy and very interactive presentation.  Prepare to be all in if you attend one of these seminars.  The one I attended was a weekend with many different speakers and although I was turned off by many of them because I found that most of them were just pushing books or future expensive seminars,  there were a few of the speakers that were very interesting and made a lot of sense.  I am sure Tony tried to sell some books and seminars but I left before he got to the sell part.  That was the only thing that turned me off was that most of these things get you hyped up and sucked in to spend more money, kind of like some psychics.  I am not saying Tony does this but it's because of this kind of practice that Tony has a lot of skeptics.  I do think he is the real deal and understands and can get to the root of someone's problems like a qualified psychologist.  I suppose you really need to experience it or read the books to see if things click for you.

I would suggest that you see the documentary and decide for yourself if you believe in it or not.
I do think that Tony is genuine and real and you have to be to do this for 30 plus years with countless corporations and celebrities.  Celebrities who were in attendance at the seminar shown in the documentary were Julian and Derek Hough and Maria Menounos.

He has a reputation as huge as he is and I suppose the title of the film speaks to the fact that you have to do the work and he just gives you the tools to do it.

I would recommend seeing the documentary if you don't know much about him and see if any of it relates to your own life.  Watch with an open mind and you will get something from it.

Madonna's former dancers Strike a Pose

STRIKE A POSE - Documentary - 2016

(photo by Linda Posnick)

Strike a Pose;top row: Salim Gauwloos, Oliver Crumes III, Carlton Wilborn, Kevin Stea 

bottom row: Luis Camacho, Jose Gutierez

In a continuation on my reviews of films that were screened at Hot Docs 2016 in Toronto this festival May 2016,  on the last weekend of the festival I attended the screening of Strike at Pose at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema.  I heard I missed the screening that had all the men from the film at the screening but the screening I attended was just as popular and full.  I had to sit in the stiff neck section at the front of the theatre even.

The documentary was directed by Ester Gould and  Reijer Zwaan.

The subjects of the film were Madonna's former dancers from her Blonde Ambition tour and were seen in her controversial documentary TRUTH OR DARE.

The directors take a look at what has happened to these acclaimed dancers since the Blonde Ambition tour ended.

The film is a combination of laughs, sadness, irony, tragedy and triumph with all of these characters and I mean characters with big personalities and insane life stories.

Sadly Madonna doesn't appear in the film but is seen through clips from the Blonde Ambition tour and the Truth or Dare movie.  After the tour was over they all went their separate ways even though during the tour they became like a family with Madonna being the Matriarch.

The Truth or Dare documentary was Madonna's plan to push buttons and boundaries and the world and question everything that is thought of as the norm.  But there are always consequences to these actions and Madonna's challenge to her dancers to kiss turned into a legal battle following the outing of the dancers on film.  It's one thing for you to choose to come out in a public forum but another to be pushed out by a dare.

Strike a Pose tells each dancers story from the tour until current day.  I would say that all of the dancers have had various major life struggles since riding high on the tour.  Nothing lasts forever as they say.

The dancers hadn't kept in touch even though they loved each other but it took these documentary filmmakers to bring them together many years and many lives later.

This film will make you laugh and make you think and make you feel for these individuals that never attained the superstardom that Madonna did.

Although I am not big on giving films star ratings... I would give this one a SuperStar!!

Go see it if you get the chance..  It's a fun look at where we have come from.

for more info on the film go to their website:  http://ctm.nl/