Swan Song

Join the Woodstock Film Festival at Greenville Drive-In Outdoor Cinema on July 8th for a special screening of Todd Stephens’ new drama SWAN SONG courtesy of Magnolia Pictures and part of our Summer Drive-In Screening Series. Starring camp legend Udo Kier supported by Jennifer Coolidge, Michael Urie and Linda Evans, this festival darling is a refreshingly funny take on approaching the pitfalls of old age and the perfect summer flick. 

Tickets are $15 per person, one car per order. Doors open 7:30pm, film starts at 9pm.

Come early and enjoy socially distanced dinner and cocktails outdoors from the expansive menu of food and beverages available for purchase from the Greenville Drive-In and Pippy’s Food Truck. Click here for our COVID guidelines.

ABOUT THE FILM:

Retired hairdresser Pat Pitsenbarger (Udo Kier) has given up on life from the confines of his small-town Sandusky, Ohio nursing home. But when Pat gets word that a former client’s dying wish was for Pat to style her final hairdo, he sets out on an epic journey across Sandusky to confront the ghosts of his past–and collect the beauty supplies necessary for the job. SWAN SONG is a comical and bittersweet journey about rediscovering oneself, and looking gorgeous while doing so.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKER:

Todd Stephens wrote, produced and directed ANOTHER GAY MOVIE and GYPSY 83 and also wrote and produced EDGE OF SEVENTEEN. All four of his previous features won numerous festival awards and were released theatrically all over the world. Todd is currently a Professor of Film at The School of Visual Arts in NYC.

Ticketing Link:

https://wff.eventive.org/schedule/6094069fc76a04003765fb42

SYNOPSIS

Retired hairdresser Pat Pitsenbarger (Udo Kier) has given up on life from the confines of his small-town Sandusky, Ohio nursing home. But when Pat gets word that a former client’s dying wish was for Pat to style her final hairdo, he sets out on an epic journey across Sandusky to confront the ghosts of his past–and collect the beauty supplies necessary for the job. SWAN SONG is a comical and bittersweet journey about rediscovering oneself, and looking gorgeous while doing so.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

Back in 1984, I walked into my small-town gay bar for the first time — The Universal Fruit and Nut Company. There he was, glittering on the dancefloor. Wearing a teal feather boa, fedora and matching pantsuit, “Mister Pat” Pitsenbarger was busting old school moves straight out of Bob Fosse. I was seventeen, and Pat was a revelation.

Years later, when I set out to write my autobiographical “Edge Of Seventeen”, I immediately thought of Mister Pat. I went back home to hunt him down, only to discover Pat had just suffered an aneurism and was temporarily unable to speak. But his lover David told me stories…about how Pat was once the most fabulous hairdresser in Sandusky, Ohio…about his legendary drag performances…about how he used to shop at Kroger’s dressed as Carol Burnett – in 1967! This was a man who always had the courage to be himself, long before that was safe.

The truth is, Mister Pat inspired me to write “Edge Of Seventeen”. I wrote a significant “Pat” character as my protagonist’s mentor, but midway through the shoot, the part got cut. I always knew my muse would return someday in my writing, and when he finally did many years later, I looked for Pat again only to learn he just passed away. Sadly, Pat’s legendary hand-beaded rhinestone gowns are all lost to time. Only a shoebox remains – filled with some tarnished jewelry and a half-smoked pack of Mores.

“Swan Song” is a love letter to the rapidly disappearing “gay culture” of America. As it has become more acceptable to be queer, what used to be a thriving community is rapidly melting back into society. Thanks to assimilation and technology, small-town gay bars like The Universal Fruit and Nut Company are becoming extinct. “Swan Song” is dedicated to all the forgotten flaming florists and hairdressers who
built the gay community and blazed the trail for the rights many of us cling to today. But, above all, for me this film is about learning that it’s never too late to live again.

Q&A WITH DIRECTOR TODD STEPHENS

Can you talk about how your past works have led you to “Swan Song?”
“Swan Song” is a return to the more serious side of my Gemini self. After the wacky world of “Another Gay Movies”, I wanted to go back to my roots and finish what I think of as my “Ohio Trilogy” (started by “Edge of Seventeen”, then “Gypsy 83”). Honestly though, it took me years to find the courage to reveal the more personal/autobiographical side of myself again. But after many false starts and several amazing therapists, I finally got up the nerve to reopen my heart. In many ways, the character of Pat is me, telling myself it’s not too late to do what I love.

Was this film written with Udo Kier in mind?
I should make Udo happy and say yes, but I actually had Gene Wilder in my head when I wrote the first draft. But after spending more than a year searching for the perfect Pat, it became clear that the only human being on this planet who could fully do him justice was Udo Kier. Watching Udo’s performance on set every day was like witnessing a master class in acting.

What was Udo’s first reaction to the screenplay?
Udo called me right away, and said he loved it. I jumped on the first plane to Palm Springs to meet him,
and the rest is history. Udo was very gracious with helping to get the film off the ground – I later
returned to Palm Springs to shoot a Kickstarter video in his fabulous living room. One of the biggest
bonuses of making “Swan Song” has been making a new best friend in Udo. He’s family now.

Can you talk about your attraction to small-town in America?
Sandusky, Ohio is where I was born and raised, and will always be a huge part of who I am. I’ve had a love/hate relationship with my hometown over the years – it’s like I couldn’t wait to leave and now I can’t wait to return. Times have changed since we filmed “Edge of Seventeen” there in 1997 and felt like we needed to keep the film’s gay storyline in the closet. In fact, when Producer Eric Eisenbrey and I arrived back in town to start preproduction for “Swan Song”, Sandusky was celebrating it’s 3rd Annual Gay Pride Festival. My queer inner child almost couldn’t process it! After years of being down and out, Sandusky’s reawakening helped inspire Pat’s rebirth in the film.

If you could choose anyone living or dead, who would you choose to do your hair for your funeral?
The late, great Mister Pat, of course! But, assuming he’s all booked up after the film comes out, my second choice would be the late Sydney Guilaroff, whose genius Hollywood creations inspired our final look for Linda Evans. Who am I kidding, though? In reality — I told my husband Tim he as to personally style my hair in the casket because he’s the only one who really knows how I do it haha.

What’s your drag name and what song do you perform?
Lazy Susan. And probably something by Stevie Nicks. But only if I feel like it.