I Love You, AllWays
Director: Stuart Sox
Crew:Story Editor: Marcus Shacknow. Producers: Anthony Marc Mione, Terrence Meck. Original Score: Evan Sox.
Email:allwaysfilm@gmail.com
Synopsis
Welcome to the curious world of The AllWays Lounge in New Orleans, The Big Easy's world-renowned capital of drag and burlesque. Witness the magic of the cabaret's brilliant cast of characters as they meet with triumph and disaster to keep their doors from closing forever during the Covid-19 pandemic.
About the director
Stuart Sox is an award-winning filmmaker from Mobile, AL currently based in New York City. His films have screened at film festivals across the country and have gone on to find homes on platforms like Peacock and STARZ. Stuart also works full-time as the DP and editor for OUT Magazine where he continues to create work that celebrates all of our beautiful expressions of identity.
Filmmaker's note
The AllWays Lounge was first introduced to me through my debut feature documentary To Decadence With Love, Thanks for Everything, which is where I got to know this incredible community. During the pandemic, I also spent countless afternoons and evenings at AllWays filming their acts to empty rooms, helping them reach audiences through virtual drag shows and performances. I'm incredibly grateful to have been able to use my craft to contribute, even in a small way, to supporting The AllWays community during such a trying time.
I feel a deep connection to the story of I Love You AllWays because, at its core, it's about the grief that comes with the loss of identity and self expression. I grew up extremely religious, and for much of my life, that was my identity. But when I came out of the closet and found my passion in filmmaking, that became what made me feel most truly myself. The pain of losing that part of me, the way the subjects of this film lost everything, is something I hope never to experience. As Angie Z says in the film, “My life is my art, and without my art…I don’t have anything.” Those words resonate with me more deeply than I can express.
I have immense admiration for Zalia and the performers of The AllWays Lounge for what they have endured. Their resilience and relentless optimism must be preserved, and this film is my way of ensuring their story lives on.