RuPaul injects style, sass into Hallowqueen Ball

Starrbooty is more than a ‘sexy, sassy and salacious’ undercover street walker.

She is the 20-year-old brainchild of legendary diva and performer RuPaul.

Armed with a video camera and an imagination, RuPaul’s ultimate goal in creating Starrbooty was to spoof the blacksploitation films of the 1970s like Cleopatra Jones, Foxy Brown and the television show Get Christie Love.

Once he completed the film and rather low-budget editing process Starrbooty was born.

Fast forward 20 years to the present and you just might catch a revamped version of the eccentric character on the big screen.

“Twenty years ago I edited it with two VCR’s, it was very gorilla and very underground which was part of the charm,” the singer/actor said in a phone interview. “But the new movie is completely slick and we retained a lot of that gorilla-feeling and the underground rawness of the old films.”

RuPaul agrees making a new and improved Starrbooty was a refreshing experience and the ability to do something so out-of-the-box in regards to the movie industry. The movie is set to hit DVD on Oct.30.

“There isn’t that kind of thing happening,” he said. “And we’re moving into a social experiment here or documentation but somehow in our culture throughout the ’60s and ’70s our culture and young people were really interested in pushing the boundaries socially-and seeing how far it could go. The (Andy) Warhol experience, even art and music were all a part of that. This movie is a reflection of that way of thinking and that’s why it’s refreshing to see that happening.”

Although the movie has screened to sold-out theaters during gay and lesbian festivals, Ru wants all types of audiences to embrace its message.

“When you look underneath the hood my movie is all about self-righteous people and (we’re) poking fun of that,” he said. “Starrbooty goes out to right the wrongs of society and I love poking fun at our politically correct culture.”

RuPaul is currently promoting the film throughout certain markets, including a special performance tomorrow during the third annual Heaven and Hell Hallowqueen Ball in McAllen.

Organizers expect hundreds of party goers for a night filled with music, live performances and ghoulish surprises for the event.

Spinning on the one’s and two’s will be DJ’s Superman, Steve, Bosco, Kick Teenage Wolf and Artest. Female impersonators on the bill include local personalities Valerie Paris, Kathryn York, Chanel Dumont and Asa Brooks.

Those 18 years and older are welcome with proper I.D.

It has been more than a decade since RuPaul visited the Rio Grande Valley, he says, but still vividly recalls that experience.

“There was a dust storm and the sun was setting and everything was orange,” he said. “I think of it as a (Martin) Scorcese film. I wasn’t even there for 24 hours and I wasn’t even sure it even happened. But I always cherish it because it was so odd.”

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Miriam Ramirez covers features and entertainment for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4468.

Third Annual

Heaven and Hell Hallowqueen Ball

WHEN: 9 p.m. to 3 a.m., Saturday

WHERE: Wild West Event Center (formerly Club Fuego), 11205 N. 23rd St., McAllen

COST: $20, $40 VIP, first 50 guests no cover

FOR MORE INFO: Visit www.globalgroove

online.com or call (956) 761-5953