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Adam Shankman spoke to PEOPLE about directing the film. «"Stop this train!"» , which hits theaters on June 12, just in time for Pride Month.
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The openly gay director and choreographer has helmed numerous projects, but the RuPaul-starring disaster comedy is, he says, "the first film to deal so openly with LGBT issues.".
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But a closer look at Shankman's previous work reveals his rebellious spirit: "I always trick straight audiences into laughing at my incredibly weird humor.".
Adam Shankman has danced with Janet Jackson, choreographed with Whitney Houston, produced the Academy Awards, and directed such eccentric musicals as «Hairspray» 2007. But what this openly gay director has somehow never managed to do is helm a project entirely comprised of LGBTQ+ actors and characters.
Everything changes with the film "Stop This Train!"« (in theaters June 12), starring RuPaul and featuring alumni of her hit show «Drag Race» , including Ginger Minj, Jujubee, and Brooke Lynn Hytes. This disaster comedy, Shankman told PEOPLE in this issue, is characterized by "slapstick, physical comedy, ridiculous, silly humor—those are the words that will be etched on my tombstone.".
This chameleon visionary has made the transition from dance and choreography to working behind the scenes on acclaimed romantic comedies such as «Wedding Planner» (2001) and the heartbreaking drama "« A Walk in Memory"» (2002), says: «There is no doubt that my work, especially now that it is presented only through my lens, is very closely connected to LGBT themes.».
He adds with a laugh: "I always manage to trick this heterosexual audience into laughing at my incredibly weird humor.".
RuPaul and Matt Rogers in the music video for "Stop That Train!" Photo courtesy of Bleeker Street and World of Wonder.
But how often did Shankman find himself the only LGBT representative in a room full of filmmakers? "Quite often," he admits.
«In the film «What do men want? »"With Taraji Henson, I had two gay characters—it was the first time I'd ever had gay characters in a film, and they were in supporting roles," Shankman recalls. "And, by the way, I had to fight to keep those characters from becoming caricatures. That was a real challenge.".
So, according to him, it's a parody film "Stop This Train!"« , directed and produced by Shankman, "is the first such openly queer film." As in «Hairspray» starring John Travolta, the actors, dressed in drag, play women, not drag queens; the "subversive nature" of Christina Friel and Connor Wright's script "was built into its very DNA.".
And just in time for Pride month, film "Stop This Train!"« follows in the footsteps of Laurel and Hardy, Mel Brooks, the Wayans brothers, and last year's reboot «The Naked Gun» , to bring their unique subversive edge to a universal language: the language of silly comedy.
(From left to right:) Jujubee, Ginger Minj, Brooke Lynn Hytes, RuPaul, Symone, Marcia Marcia Marcia, and Latrice Royale at the "Stop That Train" premiere in Los Angeles on May 18. Photo: Chad Salvador/Variety via Getty
«"I thought it was a really cool risk," Shankman says. "I'm thrilled to be able to return to the kind of humor that has had a huge influence on me. I have a way of telling stories that feels very comfortable, almost family-friendly and kid-friendly, but at the same time quite subversive.".
As Shankman says, especially in "one of the least liberal periods in our history," it's precisely the "ability to poke fun at ourselves" that is a crucial superpower in the LGBTQ+ community. "Our sense of joy and humor emerges like a lotus from murky waters.".
Jujubee and Lisa Rinna in the music video for "Stop That Train!" Photo courtesy of Bleeker Street and World of Wonder.
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The film "Stop This Train!"« will be released in cinemas on June 12.
Read the original article on People.