Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for the newly released “Indigo Girls: It’s Only Life After All,” the rise and evolution of the singer/songwriter duo Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, also know as The Indigo Girls. In select theaters and through digital download since April 10th.
Rating: 5.0/5.0
Vera Drew (she/her) wrote, directed and stars as a transgender male-to-female eventually named Joker the Harlequin. She moves from Smallville to Gotham City to find her identity and get away from her oppressive mother (Lynn Downey), and wants to establish a comedy career. With another oddball nicknamed The Penguin (Nathan Faustyn), they open a comedy club, with a goal to get a shot on Gotham’s most popular comedy show Ucb Live, produced by Lorne Michaels (voice of Maria Bramford). With the rogues gallery of lowlife villains in Gotham, plus the overhang of The Batman, they is no...
Rating: 5.0/5.0
Vera Drew (she/her) wrote, directed and stars as a transgender male-to-female eventually named Joker the Harlequin. She moves from Smallville to Gotham City to find her identity and get away from her oppressive mother (Lynn Downey), and wants to establish a comedy career. With another oddball nicknamed The Penguin (Nathan Faustyn), they open a comedy club, with a goal to get a shot on Gotham’s most popular comedy show Ucb Live, produced by Lorne Michaels (voice of Maria Bramford). With the rogues gallery of lowlife villains in Gotham, plus the overhang of The Batman, they is no...
- 4/26/2024
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Vera Drew’s debut feature The People’s Joker evades all easy descriptions. It’s a trans coming-of-age film constructed with deep knowledge and affection for DC comics (and their many film adaptations) that also takes aim at the male-dominated comedy community and the mechanisms that determine stardom. Combining comedy, action, drama and an impressive number of different animation styles, The People’s Joker is a self-conscious, intentional cult film, crafted with genuine love for everything in the margins. And it tells a story everyone can relate to, about a kid growing up and trying to find happiness and success in a dark, troubled world. And in this world, Batman is the villain. He rules Gotham with an army of drones, while using his power and influence to control every aspect of media and culture — even comedy.
But not for long. Joker (Drew) arrives in Gotham with one purpose: to become a...
But not for long. Joker (Drew) arrives in Gotham with one purpose: to become a...
- 4/16/2024
- by Jourdain Searles
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sometimes, a Bat Signal is a searchlight that sends a signal of hope capable of piercing even Gotham City’s darkest night. Sometimes, it’s a YouTube video on a channel devoted to getting sponsorship from Hot Topic, asking any artists if they’re down to collaborate. Vera Drew opted for the latter.
Her film, “The People’s Joker,” is not only one of the most impressive and subversive stretches of fair use law ever put to film, taking the characters and mythology of the Batman universe (as well as Lorne Michaels) to tell a trans coming-of-age story that DC Comics would never touch on its own. It is also an impressive, successful example of how crowdsourcing can elevate a project and bring out the radical queer politics at its heart.
Drew had initially thought about working on a project that repurposed and rearranged footage from Todd Philip’s “Joker,” but...
Her film, “The People’s Joker,” is not only one of the most impressive and subversive stretches of fair use law ever put to film, taking the characters and mythology of the Batman universe (as well as Lorne Michaels) to tell a trans coming-of-age story that DC Comics would never touch on its own. It is also an impressive, successful example of how crowdsourcing can elevate a project and bring out the radical queer politics at its heart.
Drew had initially thought about working on a project that repurposed and rearranged footage from Todd Philip’s “Joker,” but...
- 4/11/2024
- by Sarah Shachat
- Indiewire
Vera Drew’s The People’s Joker – which was pulled from TIFF in 2022 over “rights issues” — starts a theatrical debut today at the IFC Center, moving to LA’s Landmark’s Nuart next weekend and expanding thereafter with about 85 booking so far — a nice outcome for the mixed-media coming-of-age dark superhero parody that “had gone into into hibernation mode” until Outfest LA Film Festival, said Frank Jaffe, whose distribution company Altered Innocence acquired it then. It’s U.S premiere garnered a Special Mention in the North American Narrative Feature Competition.
Co-written by Drew and Bri LeRose, the film is a reimagining the origin story of iconic Batman villain The Joker, starring Drew as painfully unfunny aspiring clown and closeted trans girl grappling with her gender identity while unsuccessfully attempting to join the ranks of Gotham City’s sole comedy program, in a world where comedy has been outlawed. She...
Co-written by Drew and Bri LeRose, the film is a reimagining the origin story of iconic Batman villain The Joker, starring Drew as painfully unfunny aspiring clown and closeted trans girl grappling with her gender identity while unsuccessfully attempting to join the ranks of Gotham City’s sole comedy program, in a world where comedy has been outlawed. She...
- 4/5/2024
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Vera Drew in The People’s JokerImage: Altered Innocence
In an entertainment landscape dominated by intellectual property franchising made at increasingly higher budgets, it can sometimes feel like fresh storytelling ideas are considered too risky to be properly told, that only those films with majority mass-market appeal ever have a shot of finding their audience.
In an entertainment landscape dominated by intellectual property franchising made at increasingly higher budgets, it can sometimes feel like fresh storytelling ideas are considered too risky to be properly told, that only those films with majority mass-market appeal ever have a shot of finding their audience.
- 4/2/2024
- by Leigh Monson
- avclub.com
It’s a genuine miracle that The People’s Joker has managed to make it to screens unscathed, especially considering the legal battles which dogged the 2023 TIFF premiere could easily have left it trapped in the vault forever. Many of the rave reactions from that festival were written solely within the context of such lingering threat, with many critics doubling-up as armchair legal experts, not analyzing the qualities of Vera Drew’s film so much as they were assessing the likelihood of whether anybody else would ever see it. Now that this unauthorized take on the DC mythos is defiantly arriving on screens––albeit with a lengthy legal scrawl preceding the action itself––it’s immediately obvious that writing about it solely within the context of whether it constitutes a serious copyright violation is something of an insult.
Drew’s film isn’t a miracle because it has managed to...
Drew’s film isn’t a miracle because it has managed to...
- 4/2/2024
- by Alistair Ryder
- The Film Stage
If you're just waking up to the saga of "The People's Joker," it starts out the way most comic book characters do — with a tragic origin story. After working as an editor for shows like "On Camera," "Comedy Bang! Bang!," and earning a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for "Who is America?," Vera Drew successfully crowdfunded her fair use feature directorial debut, in which she utilizes the iconography of arguably one the most recognizable DC Comics world — Batman and the Joker — to tell a queer, autobiographical coming-of-age Joker origin story that doubles as a massive middle finger to Lorne Michaels and the conventional, corporate comedy landscape. "The People's Joker" enjoyed a single screening at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival before it was pulled due to "rights issues."
Fortunately, Drew refused to go down without a fight, and after proving the film is protected under parody law, the Lgbtqia+-focused distribution company...
Fortunately, Drew refused to go down without a fight, and after proving the film is protected under parody law, the Lgbtqia+-focused distribution company...
- 4/1/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Kirsten Dunst, Henry Cavill, Mike Faist, Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, Dev Patel, and Bill Skarsgård
Photo: A24, Lionsgate, Amazon MGM, Universal, Lionsgate
As is its wont, March was in like a lion and out like a lamb, leaving behind a bevy of blockbuster movies in its wake. But this lamb’s...
Photo: A24, Lionsgate, Amazon MGM, Universal, Lionsgate
As is its wont, March was in like a lion and out like a lamb, leaving behind a bevy of blockbuster movies in its wake. But this lamb’s...
- 4/1/2024
- by Matt Schimkowitz
- avclub.com
Vera Drew is cementing her status as “The People’s Joker.”
The former “I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson” editor directed, co-wrote, edited, and stars in the superhero-parody film that made waves at TIFF 2022 (where IndieWire saw it) before being acquired by Los Angeles-based distributor Altered Innocence in December 2023. Now, thanks in part to social media hashtag-campaign #FreethePeoplesJoker, “The People’s Joker” is indeed free for a North-American theatrical release.
Drew portrays the title character in the queer coming-of-age origin story that reimagines “Batman” villain The Joker as a trans comedian. Joker the Harlequin (Drew) grapples with her gender identity while unsuccessfully attempting to join the ranks of Gotham City’s Ucb (United Clown Bureau) Live, the one government-sanctioned late-night sketch show that is the only platform for rising comedians since Gotham City otherwise outlawed comedy. (Get it? Ucb like Upright Citizens Brigade?)
After being rejected from Ucb Live, Joker...
The former “I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson” editor directed, co-wrote, edited, and stars in the superhero-parody film that made waves at TIFF 2022 (where IndieWire saw it) before being acquired by Los Angeles-based distributor Altered Innocence in December 2023. Now, thanks in part to social media hashtag-campaign #FreethePeoplesJoker, “The People’s Joker” is indeed free for a North-American theatrical release.
Drew portrays the title character in the queer coming-of-age origin story that reimagines “Batman” villain The Joker as a trans comedian. Joker the Harlequin (Drew) grapples with her gender identity while unsuccessfully attempting to join the ranks of Gotham City’s Ucb (United Clown Bureau) Live, the one government-sanctioned late-night sketch show that is the only platform for rising comedians since Gotham City otherwise outlawed comedy. (Get it? Ucb like Upright Citizens Brigade?)
After being rejected from Ucb Live, Joker...
- 3/5/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
"Now you must journey inside yourself..." It's here! Finally! Altered Innocence has revealed the official trailer for a controversial, revolutionary, one-of-a-kind film called The People's Joker. This premiered at the 2022 Toronto Film Festival a few years ago and after earning tons of buzz at the fest, Warner Bros and DC tried to shut it down and stop anyone from watching it (due to copyright claims). But they beat the system! Now it's finally getting a proper theatrical release this April. An aspiring clown grappling with her gender identity combats a fascistic caped crusader. The People's Joker is a trans twist on DC's characters, starring Vera Drew as a new clown of mayhem called Joker the Harlequin. Vats of feminizing chemicals, sexy cartoon interludes, scarecrow psychiatrists, CGI Lorne Michaels, and psychedelic gender dysphoria all play supporting roles. Made by Vera Drew and using her own life experiences as a basis for the film,...
- 3/5/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Famously pulled from the Toronto International Film Festival, Vera Drew’s one-of-a-kind satire The People’s Joker is finally getting set to be officially unleashed this year.
Altered Innocence will release The People’s Joker in select theaters on April 5, 2024, with THR reporting today that the film will be playing at Alamo Drafthouse locations nationwide.
You can find full theatrical listings over on the Altered Innocence website.
The team previews, “This revolutionary DIY parody film and hilarious reimagining of the classic autobiographical coming-of-age story follows an unconfident, closeted trans girl as she moves to Gotham City to make it big as a comedian by joining the cast of Ucb Live – a government-sanctioned late night sketch show in a world where comedy has been outlawed.
“As mainstream success eludes our heroine, leading her to unite with a ragtag team of rejects, misfits, and a certain love interest named Mister J, “Joker the...
Altered Innocence will release The People’s Joker in select theaters on April 5, 2024, with THR reporting today that the film will be playing at Alamo Drafthouse locations nationwide.
You can find full theatrical listings over on the Altered Innocence website.
The team previews, “This revolutionary DIY parody film and hilarious reimagining of the classic autobiographical coming-of-age story follows an unconfident, closeted trans girl as she moves to Gotham City to make it big as a comedian by joining the cast of Ucb Live – a government-sanctioned late night sketch show in a world where comedy has been outlawed.
“As mainstream success eludes our heroine, leading her to unite with a ragtag team of rejects, misfits, and a certain love interest named Mister J, “Joker the...
- 3/5/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Typically, saying you're more excited about something other than the new Lady Gaga project is fair grounds for having your queer card taken away, but an exception can be made in the case of "The People's Joker." Indeed, as intrigued as I am to watch Gaga's Harley Quinn sing and dance her way through a toxic romance with Joaquin Phoenix's Clown Prince of Crime in Todd Phillips' "Joker: Folie à Deux" (a sentence I couldn't have imagined writing after watching Phillips' original Scorsesean DC drama for the first time back in 2019), it's Vera Drew's trans-coming-of-age DC Comics superhero parody that has my current attention.
Drew, similar to her fellow trans comedienne Harper Steele (the subject of Will Ferrell's acclaimed upcoming Netflix documentary "Will & Harper"), has quietly worked on some of the more memorable and daring comedic offerings of the past decade. In addition to editing Scott Aukerman...
Drew, similar to her fellow trans comedienne Harper Steele (the subject of Will Ferrell's acclaimed upcoming Netflix documentary "Will & Harper"), has quietly worked on some of the more memorable and daring comedic offerings of the past decade. In addition to editing Scott Aukerman...
- 3/5/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
After seeing her DC-inspired debut feature The People’s Joker pulled from TIFF 2022 over what the fest described as “right’s issues,” Vera Drew has secured a North American release for the film via L.A.-based indie distributor Altered Innocence.
A mixed-media dark comedy drawing inspiration from Drew’s personal life, the film is set to open at IFC Center in New York City on April 5th, 2024, with additional markets and engagements to be announced at a later date.
Co-written by Drew and Bri LeRose, the film reimagining the origin story of iconic Batman villain The Joker sees Drew’s painfully unfunny aspiring clown grapple with her gender identity while unsuccessfully attempting to join the ranks of Gotham City’s sole comedy program, in a world where comedy has been outlawed. Uniting with a ragtag team of rejects and misfits, Joker the Harlequin forms an illegal anti-comedy troupe that...
A mixed-media dark comedy drawing inspiration from Drew’s personal life, the film is set to open at IFC Center in New York City on April 5th, 2024, with additional markets and engagements to be announced at a later date.
Co-written by Drew and Bri LeRose, the film reimagining the origin story of iconic Batman villain The Joker sees Drew’s painfully unfunny aspiring clown grapple with her gender identity while unsuccessfully attempting to join the ranks of Gotham City’s sole comedy program, in a world where comedy has been outlawed. Uniting with a ragtag team of rejects and misfits, Joker the Harlequin forms an illegal anti-comedy troupe that...
- 12/21/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Altered Innocence to release queer coming-of-age story in New York on April 5.
Vera Drew’s The People’s Joker, the unauthorised queer superhero parody set in the DC Universe which was pulled from TIFF 2022 Midnight section over copyright issues, has landed a US distributor.
Los Angeles-based Altered Innocence has acquired North American rights and will release on April 5 at IFC Center in New York with additional markets and engagements to be announced.
The film premiered and screened once at TIFF 2022 before it was pulled from the festival. Warner Bros has never commented publicly on the matter.
Drew stars in the...
Vera Drew’s The People’s Joker, the unauthorised queer superhero parody set in the DC Universe which was pulled from TIFF 2022 Midnight section over copyright issues, has landed a US distributor.
Los Angeles-based Altered Innocence has acquired North American rights and will release on April 5 at IFC Center in New York with additional markets and engagements to be announced.
The film premiered and screened once at TIFF 2022 before it was pulled from the festival. Warner Bros has never commented publicly on the matter.
Drew stars in the...
- 12/20/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
The People’s Joker will be laughing its way to the big screen, with indie distributor Altered Innocence picking up the feature’s North American rights.
To start, the Los Angeles-based Altered Innocence will put The People’s Joker in New York’s IFC Center April 5, with more markets to come at a later date. Its initial engagement at IFC is one week, with the possibility of extending. Though it’s a small distribution plan for now, it’s noteworthy as for a time it was unclear if the project would land a home.
Filmmaker Vera Drew directed, co-wrote, edited and stars in the DC parody feature as Joker the Harlequin, an aspiring clown coming to terms with her gender identity as a trans woman. Though it borrows from the fantastical world of DC Comics, the coming-of-age story also draws from Drew’s life.
The absurdist movie made headlines a year ago,...
To start, the Los Angeles-based Altered Innocence will put The People’s Joker in New York’s IFC Center April 5, with more markets to come at a later date. Its initial engagement at IFC is one week, with the possibility of extending. Though it’s a small distribution plan for now, it’s noteworthy as for a time it was unclear if the project would land a home.
Filmmaker Vera Drew directed, co-wrote, edited and stars in the DC parody feature as Joker the Harlequin, an aspiring clown coming to terms with her gender identity as a trans woman. Though it borrows from the fantastical world of DC Comics, the coming-of-age story also draws from Drew’s life.
The absurdist movie made headlines a year ago,...
- 12/20/2023
- by Aaron Couch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Finally, the people have spoken: “The People’s Joker” is getting a North American theatrical release.
The buzzy film, which had its world premiere at TIFF 2022 in the Midnight section before being dropped by the program, will now be available to the public two years later. The film was acquired by Los Angeles-based distributor Altered Innocence and will open April 5 at the IFC Center in New York City, with more markets to be later announced.
“The People’s Joker” is set in the Batman universe and reimagines the Joker as a trans origin story, with co-writer/director Vera Drew playing the title character. Billed as a “queer coming-of-age superhero parody film,” the feature is not licensed by DC Studios or Warner Bros. Discovery.
Drew withdrew “The People’s Joker” from 2022 TIFF due to rights issues, as announced at the time. The controversy led to the hashtag campaign #FreethePeoplesJoker, with the film debuting in the U.
The buzzy film, which had its world premiere at TIFF 2022 in the Midnight section before being dropped by the program, will now be available to the public two years later. The film was acquired by Los Angeles-based distributor Altered Innocence and will open April 5 at the IFC Center in New York City, with more markets to be later announced.
“The People’s Joker” is set in the Batman universe and reimagines the Joker as a trans origin story, with co-writer/director Vera Drew playing the title character. Billed as a “queer coming-of-age superhero parody film,” the feature is not licensed by DC Studios or Warner Bros. Discovery.
Drew withdrew “The People’s Joker” from 2022 TIFF due to rights issues, as announced at the time. The controversy led to the hashtag campaign #FreethePeoplesJoker, with the film debuting in the U.
- 12/20/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
In the DC Extended Universe, it’s not the villains who have identity issues, but the heroes. Bruce Wayne watched his parents get murdered, adopted a teenage sidekick and now spends his nights cosplaying as the creature everyone associates with vampires. Kal-El also saw his parents die and goes through life trying to pass as the earthling Clark Kent, wearing spandex under his work clothes, just in case. These are not the traits of well-adjusted normies, and as such, there’s enormous subversive appeal in seeing trans artist Vera Drew turn such iconic characters inside-out in the illicitly made marvel that is “The People’s Joker.”
Coming from a place of deep fan love and equally profound institutional mistrust, Drew’s anarchic feature-length parody impishly treads the line of fair use, so much so that the helmer pulled the film from the Toronto Film Festival after its raucous Midnight Madness premiere,...
Coming from a place of deep fan love and equally profound institutional mistrust, Drew’s anarchic feature-length parody impishly treads the line of fair use, so much so that the helmer pulled the film from the Toronto Film Festival after its raucous Midnight Madness premiere,...
- 9/16/2022
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
The People’s Joker, Vera Drew’s debut feature about a trans woman working in a comedy set in the Batman universe, has been pulled from the Toronto International Film Festival for further screenings after its world premiere.
“The filmmaker has withdrawn this film due to rights issues. We apologize for any inconvenience. Current ticket holders will receive an email from TIFF customer relations with information on their purchase,” TIFF said on its website for The People’s Joker on Wednesday ahead of another screening at Scotiabank Theatre tonight that is now not going ahead.
Festival organizers confirmed the withdrawal of the queer coming-of-age tale from its additional play at TIFF. The filmmakers behind the movie, including the production banner Haunted Gay Ride Productions, offered no direct comment when The Hollywood Reporter reached out.
Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns Batman and other DC Entertainment characters,...
The People’s Joker, Vera Drew’s debut feature about a trans woman working in a comedy set in the Batman universe, has been pulled from the Toronto International Film Festival for further screenings after its world premiere.
“The filmmaker has withdrawn this film due to rights issues. We apologize for any inconvenience. Current ticket holders will receive an email from TIFF customer relations with information on their purchase,” TIFF said on its website for The People’s Joker on Wednesday ahead of another screening at Scotiabank Theatre tonight that is now not going ahead.
Festival organizers confirmed the withdrawal of the queer coming-of-age tale from its additional play at TIFF. The filmmakers behind the movie, including the production banner Haunted Gay Ride Productions, offered no direct comment when The Hollywood Reporter reached out.
Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns Batman and other DC Entertainment characters,...
- 9/14/2022
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Don’t forget to pack your wallet.
Hollywood is hitting the Toronto International Film Festival this week hoping to land the next buzzy breakout. After two years of virtual or reduced capacity gatherings as a Covid-era concession, the film business is back in force, and that means deals, deals and more deals.
Here’s a look at some of the hottest movies on offer — the kinds of splashy projects that could result in the next massive sale.
Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
Director: Aitch Alberto
Cast: Max Pelayo, Reese Gonzales, Eugenio Derbez, Eva Longoria, Veronica Falcón, Kevin Alejandro
Sales agent: UTA
Buzz factor: This touching story of two teenage boys in 1987 El Paso whose friendship both deepens and is challenged in surprising ways will leave audiences reaching for the tissues. It also marks the feature debut of Alberto, an exciting new filmmaking talent, who deftly adapts Benjamin Alire Sáenz...
Hollywood is hitting the Toronto International Film Festival this week hoping to land the next buzzy breakout. After two years of virtual or reduced capacity gatherings as a Covid-era concession, the film business is back in force, and that means deals, deals and more deals.
Here’s a look at some of the hottest movies on offer — the kinds of splashy projects that could result in the next massive sale.
Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
Director: Aitch Alberto
Cast: Max Pelayo, Reese Gonzales, Eugenio Derbez, Eva Longoria, Veronica Falcón, Kevin Alejandro
Sales agent: UTA
Buzz factor: This touching story of two teenage boys in 1987 El Paso whose friendship both deepens and is challenged in surprising ways will leave audiences reaching for the tissues. It also marks the feature debut of Alberto, an exciting new filmmaking talent, who deftly adapts Benjamin Alire Sáenz...
- 9/9/2022
- by Rebecca Rubin, Brent Lang and Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
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