Voguing at Anthology Film Archives

Live dance act opens screening of 'How Do I Look'

The NYC Gay Pride 2008 week screening of the documentary How Do I Look opened with a unique dance performance by the House of Ninja. The screening was held at the Anthology Film Archives, as part of its NewFilmmakers NY Screening Series.

The live mixed-media performance featured voguing and a special video tribute to the late Willi Ninja, choreographer, style coach, and founder of the House of Ninja.

The House of Ninja is a legendary house, which is part of the Harlem Ballroom community. The underground subculture of the house system promotes the use of dance, performance, fashion, and style to promote self achievement and accomplishment. Many pop culture trends found their beginnings at Harlem Balls. The documentary How Do I Look is about these balls.

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'How Do I Look' selected for NewFilmmakers NY Screening Series

Screening will coincide with NYC’s Gay Pride 2008

The award-winning documentary How Do I Look will be screened at the NewFilmmakers NY Screening Series at the Anthology Film Archives in New York on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 -- in the middle of New York City’s Gay Pride 2008. The evening is dedicated to gay and lesbian films.

How Do I Look, by the award-winning director Wolfgang Busch, continues to break new ground. The success of How Do I Look at gay and straight film festivals around the world is being recognized by the selection by the NewFilmmakers NY Film Festival. In making its selection, NewFilmmakers NY is also acknowledging the director and openly gay artistic and social activist Wolfgang Busch as one of the best new directors in the United States.

About the screening

On Wednesday, June 25, 2008, How Do I Look will be screened at 10:45 pm at the Anthology Film Archives, 32 Second Avenue (at 2nd Street), New York, NY 10003. Schedule hotline: (212) 505-5181. Prior to the screening, Busch has organized a special 6 minute live performance by the House of Ninja, a famous group of dancers and one of the notable families within the Harlem Ball community. The dance troupe will honor Willi Ninja, the group’s former leader and a legend and icon in the New York City Night Life and the Harlem Ball communities, who passed away in 2006 from complications due to AIDS. How Do I Look (2006, 80 Minutes, Video) will be preceded by Julie Casper Roth’s Tokens (2007, 18 Minutes, Video).

Tickets cost $5.

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Upcoming Screening of "How Do I Look" - The 15th Annual African Diaspora Film Festival - Saturday, Dec. 1 at 8 pm

HOW DO I LOOK

US, 2006, 80min, doc., English, Wolfgang Busch, dir.

"A documentary 10 years in the making about the over 35 year old Harlem "Ball" community, How Do I Look picks up from where Paris Is Burning left off, the new school of Vogue champions play fast and loose with their fierce identity. The rollcall of participants in this extraordinary testimony to difference reads like a Who's Who of fabulousness. Kevin Aviance, Jose Xtravaganza, Mystery Royale, China Blue, the legendary Willi Ninja, who died in 2006. My favourite line - 'Truth cannot change no matter how much they cut it off' - is delivered as part of the gritty/ glamorous testimonies of trans people of colour, including Tracy Africa, the Irvin Penn-discovered 70s supermodel, until she was found out. At which point the doors closed. Voguing is arguably one of the most powerful expressions of Black and Latino identity. Personal. Powerful. Inspirational." ~ Topher Campbell
Screening Scheduled for: Sat., Dec. 1, 2007 @ 8:00pm at Riverside Theatre, 91 Claremont Ave. (at West 120th Street) in New York City. For tickets, please call (212) 870-6784. Shown with Girls Night Out. Q&A after the screening.

For more information, please visit the official website for the 15th Annual African Diaspora Film Festival.

Select Index of Film Festival Screenings of "How Do I Look"

Wolfgang Busch and “How Do I Look” in film festivals

The 21st London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival

Filmmaker Wolfgang Busch screened his first documentary release, How Do I Look, at the The 21st London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival in 2007. Here is an excerpt from the film festival’s article:

* “Picking up from where Paris Is Burning left off, the new school of Vogue champions play fast and loose with their fierce identity. The rollcall of participants in this extraordinary testimony to difference reads like a who's who of fabulousness: Kevin Aviance, Jose Xtravaganza, Mystery Royale, China Blue, the legendary Willi Ninja, who died in 2006…. Voguing is arguably one of the most powerful expressions of Black and Latino identity. Personal. Powerful. Inspirational.” -- Topher Campbell -- Excerpt from the The 21st London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival’s preview of "How Do I Look."