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| The pope of trash … John Waters. Photograph: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images |
Baltimore native, John Waters isn’t the typical director. Most of his films were filmed in Baltimore on a low budget with shocking subjects and real-life criminals as characters. Waters said, “To me, bad taste is what entertainment is all about. But one must remember that there is such a thing as good bad taste and bad bad taste.”
Waters earlier films were screened in church halls. As word spread about Waters underground films, his films became popular. Some of his cult films include: Pink Flamingos, Hairspray, and Cry Baby. Both Hairspray and Crybaby were turned into Broadway musicals.
The Buddy Deane Show and American Bandstand inspired Waters to create The Corny Collins Show in Hairspray. Hairspray takes place in his hometown Baltimore. Hairspray was the first mainstream film Waters made with a rating of PG.
The last film Waters directed was in 2004, but he has stayed in the public eye. He’s been on the jury for Cannes Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival and has even had art pieces featured in museums internationally. His art pieces include photography and installations. His last exhibition was displayed in New York in 2009. The video below showcases some of Water’s fine art works.
Waters is also a part of FAC history. For our Extremely Grand Opening in 2007, Waters attended as a special guest, screening his film Cecil B. Demented and speaking about his works and the contemporary arts.
The FAC’s Theatre Company’s is looking forward to presenting the Broadway musical adaptation of Water’s Hairspray May 10–June 3, 2012. Don’t miss this big, fat, musical comedy!