“Lady Like”, interview with director Luke Willis and producer Cookie Walukas

March 29, 2024

Luke Willis and Cookie Walukas, director and producer, on "Lady Like", an inspirational rag-to-riches story on the power of drag

"Lady Like", interview with director Luke Willis and producer Cookie Walukas Sarah Bradbury

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During BFI Flare festival in London, Fred Film Radio spoke with the director and producer of documentary feature, “Lady Like“, Luke Willis and Cookie Walukas.

Willis shared the background as to how the collaboration between Lady Camden aka Rex Wheeler came to be, having met in the dance community in San Francisco. While talking about London-born Wheeler’s past, Luke Willis realised there was a complex story behind his love of dance and being a drag queen and one that ought to be told on screen.

The filmmakers shared both the challenges and highlights of capturing the success of Lady Camden’s rags to riches story through Ru Paul’s Drag Race as well as supreme moments of vulnerability.

They spoke about how they hope her journey throws a spotlight on the experiences of those in the queer community, the power of drag as an artform and a universal story of inspiration to be creative and be yourself.

Finally, we discussed their excitement of holding the World Premiere at the UK’s LGBTQIA+ film festival, a kind of homecoming for Lady Camden, and their optimism for the future despite setbacks in societal progress and inclusion.

Plot

Lady Like follows the story of London-born, San Francisco-based drag queen Lady Camden, aka Rex Wheeler, as she is catapulted into the spotlight on RuPaul’s Drag Race season 14. In this rags to riches origin story, Lady Camden struggles to manage the demands of her freshly minted international fame, while Rex is forced to come to terms with the troubling childhood he left behind in Camden which drove him to so desperately seek joy, fantasy and escape through the performing arts.

Written by: Sarah Bradbury

Guest

Cookie Walukas Luke Willis

Film

Lady Like

Festival

BFI Flare Festival

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