Bianca is the queen of mean and maybe even acting?
Hurricane Bianca has been one of the most talked about indie films recently. Bianca Del Rio, most known for winning season 6 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, takes the leading role in this film and really shows why she is the queen of mean. The story revolves around Richard (Bianca out of drag), a teacher who travels all the way to Texas to teach only to be fired for being gay. To get his/her revenge on the school but also to help teach the students, Richard creates a drag persona. This persona is non other than the infamous Bianca Del Rio. Combining a warm heart and a sharp tongue, Bianca/Richard try to get revenge on the people who attacked her and to help teach the students a thing or two about chemistry. This movie has a lot of great laughs and true sparks of genius.
Check out our exclusive interviews with the stars below:
Matt Kugelman:
Q: So you are both the director and the writer of this film. What was it like doing those two jobs and working with such amazing talent?
A: I still can’t believe that it happened; it’s still mind blowing. It was in the works for a long time and the response it has been getting and the cast that we got was literally a dream come true.
Q: Were there any inspirations for this plot? It seems like a spinoff of Bad Teacher with Cameron Diaz and other movies like that?
A: That was one of them, but Bianca was the inspiration behind the whole thing. We did a bunch of smaller commercials together and people would watch and make comments and asked ‘is she your muse?’ like it was a bad thing. But actually I think she kind of is. But then this happened and also drag race which is how she blew up, but tonight it is all just coming together.
Q: You have so many amazing people on this movie including some incredible drag queens. How was it like working with them?
A: It was hilarious. When I found out that Rachel Dratch said yes to us I was so excited. I literally walked into traffic. But watching Rachel and Bianca on set was like watching an episode of SNL because they would just break down crying from laughing so hard.
Q: And what was your favorite moments from filming?
A: It was actually the scene where Bianca and Rachel first met. Rachel kept floating a line and at some point she just broke down crying—he was Roy at the time—but she made him stand behind a poster because she couldn’t look him in the face. It was like the first episode of Debbie Downer where she couldn’t get through. It was hilarious.
Q: And the plot of the film revolves around Bianca getting fired from her job because he is gay. Is that some sort of commentary you were trying to make?
A: Yeah, obviously we wanted to do something fun and funny but obviously there is the unbelievable fact that not a lot of people know because we live in New York—well I grew up in Chicago, so those aren’t the states where this is still legal but in 29 states you still can get fired for being gay for no other reason. I was like, ‘oh let’s make this about something political.’
Q: So what are you hoping audience members are going to get from this movie when they come out from seeing it?
A: I hope they laugh but I hope they are angry that this is still nonfiction. This part of it can actually still happen and a lot of people on Facebook have been saying that this happened to me.
Bianca Del Rio:
Q: What was it like being the star of this movie?
A: Well I have a lot of scenes but I think the stars are the people who came in and actually did the scenes with me. Rachel Dratch is quite amazing in the movie and brilliantly funny. I am grateful just for the opportunity so it has been fun. But by far I am not the star—there is a lot of star power in it. There’s RuPaul, Alan Cumming, Margaret Cho, Willam, Shangela, and Alyssa Edwards who I have to compete with. So, I am in good company.
Q: And how was it like working with everybody?
A: They were great. It was very hot. We were in Texas but surprisingly everybody was on their best behavior. Good times.
Q: What were some of your favorite scenes to film?
A: I think too many to name but anything with Rachel was a treat. We had a really great time.
Q: And Matt told me that the inspiration for this movie was you and how you were his muse. Can you talk a little about how you feel about that?
A: It was his idea but he had me in mind from the very beginning which was great. And I didn’t know if it was going to happen but I was grateful that it all worked out. You never know, it could always be that Patti LuPone Glenn Close situation where you were the initial person but then they cast someone else. But I was grateful to start with it and end with it.
Q: The plot of the movie is that you are fired for being gay and so can you talk about this being a serious topic being made funny?
A: I don’t think a lot of people realize but it is a serious topic that needs to be talked about. Right now everyone is thinking about gay marriage, and yes I do believe everyone should be married and everyone should be with who they want to be with, but shockingly people are fired just for their sexual orientation. From their job. You need a job. You can’t live without a job. And so it’s a topic that I am hoping to bring some awareness to and to realize that Texas being one of the states where we filmed. Texas was great to us while we were filming but it was shocking to us that this is a state that allows this to happen. So yes, remember that when you’re voting.
Q: Are you watching All Stars this season?
A: I only watched the first episode, I haven’t caught up yet because I have been traveling.
Q: So you know many of the queens, so what are your impressions of the show?
A: I wish them all well. It’s great that they get a second chance to do it. The show gave me amazing opportunities and I think these girls are really, really talented and it’s wonderful that they get to come back and show their stuff. So I am rooting for all of them.
Q: And a good amount of the cast is from RuPaul’s Drag Race. Did filming bring you back to those times? Did it feel like a big reunion?
A: Yes and no. Matt was in charge of casting. I didn’t do anything so it was all up to to them. So, I am grateful with who we chose because they were great to work with but anytime we can catch up, whether it is on a movie set or an airport, we have a good time.
Q: And are you planning on doing more movies? What’s next?
A: Yeah, there’s a lot going on. I will be starting my tour September 28th all over the U.S. and Europe and information is on thebiancadelrio.com. Also, I have a secret project that will announced really soon. That’s coming out too. But, currently we are doing the premieres for this in New York, and tomorrow we are doing San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and then my tour starts.
Rachel Dratch
Q: What was it like being in this film for you?
A: It was super fun. I was a fan of RuPaul’s Drag Race and all that, and actually when I read the script—sometimes when you get indie scripts—this one I read and I immediately thought it was funny. So, since this was funny I said sure and I got to play the villain which was kind of fun because I don’t get to do that very often.
Q: And what was it like working with Bianca?
A: Super fun. He had me laughing a lot. We had a lot of crack up moments on camera where we had to try and keep a straight face so that was fun.
Q: Was this experience different from other works you have done especially working with so many colorful people?
A: Yeah, I am used to working with sketch performers but Roy is such a good improviser that he would come up with so many funny things. So working with Roy was like working with just another improviser in a great way. So, it is always fun working with different comedians like not knowing them to just being on camera with them.
Q: Any favorite moments from the film that you want to share?
A: There was one where we couldn’t stop laughing. I don’t know how it will be like in the film but there was one moment—I don’t know how it is going to be in the film I have to check it out.
Q: Anything else coming up that you would like to share?
A: Well I am doing the voice on this show on ABC called Imaginary Mary where I play someone’s imaginary friend. But I am just CGI in that one.
