STRIPPED: PRODUCTION
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Five years ago, I became a stripper. I had the
kind of access that is only available to those inside the trade. By profiling
four other dancers, I figured I could explore the inner workings of what stripping
does to a woman psychologically and physically. I also investigated the notion
of dancing as an addiction. I borrowed a roommate's high-8 camera and began
interviewing my new friends.
Billie danced to support herself as an actress.
She also performed a fifties burlesque act in theatrical venues. As much as
she loved defiant women who tore their clothes off in MGM musicals, she had
a love/hate relationship with topless dancing.
Vicki was teased for being homely as a child.
After a chin implant and two breast augmentations, she felt a lot better about
herself. With an MFA from NYU in dance, she described stripping as the most
lucrative form of dance.
Angela was shark-like in her approach to extracting
dollars from men. She said she didn't think sexually when she worked but use
shrewd business tactics. At 37, she increased her bookings so she would have
money for when she became too old to dance.
Susan wrote for The Village Voice and danced
to support herself and her son. She detested stripping but continued doing it.
She said she was addicted. By the end of STRIPPED, two out of
five women die because of their entrenchment in this lifestyle. Throughout the
course of my film, one can see how the journey out of dancing is way more difficult
than the journey into it.
When I was go-go dancing in New Jersey six years ago, I was supporting myself as a writer and an actress. Using the money I made from stripping, I produced shows that I performed and wrote. Little did I know that the best material I would ever encounter would be in those strip bars. Having done catering work with a bunch of out of work actors, I wasn't interested in hearing about the extra work they were doing or plays they were trying out for. I was much more interested in hearing strippers talk about their implants, boyfriends, how much money they made and why they thought old guys tipped the most.
True Confessions of a Go-Go Girl (reviews enclosed) was cultivated from those bikini dancing days and was meant to honor the women I met in the clubs. In the play, I portrayed several characters based on the women I worked with. The play ran for five years in Manhattan and I wound up performing it around the country to much critical acclaim. But I didn't feel like I was truly doing these women justice. There was too much material to include in the play. I wanted them to tell their own stories so I started making the documentary. It was at that point when I started dancing topless and got to be closer friends with the women in STRIPPED.
Borrowing a roommate's high-8 camera, I started interviewing them in their apartments. I was fortunate to get Peter Klusman, a cameraman with his own Beta package, to follow me around and shoot in the clubs, although after three years of shooting he understandably burned out on the project. Eventually, I bought a digital camera to finish shooting. This past summer my editor, Nelson Ryland, and I cut STRIPPED. Nelson cut it for way below his regular salary and David and Nicole-Torre Claire, who have an AVID in their Brooklyn basement, gave me a good rate. Rachel Desario also contributed her editing skills to the final version of STRIPPED. In addition, wonderful musical artists like The Flying Neutrinos, and Debra DeSalvo contributed to the soundtrack. Blessed all along the way, I am grateful to be able to have more people get to know these amazing women almost as well as I do.
Production Credits for STRIPPED
Written, produced, directed by Jill Morley-Editor/Producer Nelson Ryland-Co-Editor/Story Editor Rachel DeSario-Apprentice Editor Shelby Siegel-Co-Producers David Claire and Nicole Torre-Claire, Maggie Hadleigh-West
Photography Peter Klusman, Josh Horowitz, Valerie Barnes, John Rosenblatt, John Petrocelli, Rob Klug, Jill Morley-Post Production Co-ordinator Bob DeMarco-Interns Kimber Tylr, Pablo Osorio
Historical Footage from: Historic Films Hollywood Passport
Poster/Flyer Designers Indira Chatterjee, John Klos
Soundtrack Credits for STRIPPED
"Take It Off" written by Debra DeSalvo performed by Debra DeSalvo, Dan Grennes, and John Hummel courtesy of La Que Sabe Music (ASCAP) |
"In Motion" written by Debra DeSalvo performed by Debra DeSalvo, Mike Nordberg, and Billy Atwell courtesy of La Que Sabe Music (ASCAP) |
"CHNO" written by Debra DeSalvo performed by Debra DeSalvo, Mike Nordberg, and Billy Atwell courtesy of La Que Sabe Music (ASCAP) |
"Jacksonville" written by Debra DeSalvo performed by Debra DeSalvo, Mike Nordberg, and Billy Atwell courtesy of La Que Sabe Music (ASCAP) |
"Zoot Suit" written by Mark Cally performed by The Flying Neutrinos Courtesy of Artists Only! |
"I Believe In Miracles" written by Sam Lewis/George Meyer/Pete Wendling performed by The Flying Neutrinos Courtesy of Artists Only! Records |
"Delta Bound" written by Alexander Hill performed by The Flying Neutrinos Courtesy of Only Artists! Records
|
"Radio Shutdown" written by Shane 235 and Matt Brown Courtesy of Mystic Music |
| "Baby Breaks" written and performed by The Disastronauts | "The Next Time You See Me" written and performed by Michael J. Hashim |
| "Crawling" written and performed by Adrianne | "Everybody is a Whore" written and performed by The Uninvited |
"Not So Supermodel" written by John Taylor and Steve Taylor/Jam or Die Music/BMI Performed by The Uninvited |
"Jacob's Song" written and performed by Heather Hardy |
"So Good" music by J. Shapiro, P. Deacon, lyric by J. Shapiro performed by 7even All rights and permission Magic Zebra Record |
"I Believe" written and performed by Heather Hardy |
| "Ride" written and performed by Itchy Trigger Finger | "Radium Girl" written and performed by Spurn |
"Tunis" written by Sharon Middendorf and Ron Mancuso Courtesy of Ten Wings Music/ASCAP, MaryPerri music/BMI |
"Car Com" Written By: Lez Warner Courtesy of US-UK Music/ASCAP Ten Wings Music/ASCAP |
"Infinity" Written by Sharon Middendorf
Courtesy of Ten Wings Music/ASCAP
"Conspiracy" written and performed by Lure
"Devotion" written and performed by Lure
Additional music produced by Wendell Hanes