But I'm a Cheerleader - Jamie Babbit (Director) & Brian Wayne Peterson (Screenplay)

Watcher's Annotation: Megan's parents send her to a rehab camp for gay teens.

Plot Summary: Megan is your typical All-American, blonde, popular high school girl. She's on the cheerleading team and dates the star football player. Yet, she doesn't enjoy kissing her boyfriend all that much, pays quite a bit of attention to her teammates in the locker room, only has pictures of women up in her locker, and is a vegetarian. Megan's parents decide it's time to stage an intervention, seeking help from Mary Brown at True Directions. True Directions is a rehab facility where teens are sent to be "cured" of their homosexuality. Each of the teens has to go through the five-step program, at the end of which they are given a certificate declaring them heterosexual. The first step is admitting your problem. While Megan doesn't really think she's a lesbian, she plays along. Teens at True Directions are put into male and female groups, performing gender oriented tasks, finding the root of their homosexuality, demystifying the opposite sex, and last simulating heterosexual intercourse. While at the camp Megan begins making friends with the other teens. She finds a friend in Graham, who fully believes she is a lesbian herself, but whose parents are threatening to cut her off if she is. One night the teens sneak out with the help of two ex-ex-gays and former students at True Directions. The group goes to a local gay bar where Megan and Graham kiss for the first time. Megan struggles with her new found identity and the teachings at True Directions. 

Critical Evaluation: But I'm a Cheerleader is a funny, sharp, witty, lovely satirical comedy. It feels just as relevant today as it did in 1999 when it was released. In many ways it's even more relevant with gay rights issues in nearly every newspaper in the country. One visually striking element in the movie is Babbit's use of color and costume. When first introduced to Megan she is presented within a small town with a 1950s feel. There are lots of browns and oranges. The costumes are quaint, natural, and have a retro feel to them. They scream of the All-American, Leave it to Beaver stereotype. When she comes to True Directions things are very different. The sets have a Edward Scissorhands feel. There are bright bold colors and clean lines. The teens wear bright pinks and blues. The furniture is modern with lots of plastic, fake flowers, and pink flamingos. Everything is divided by gender, giving striking opposition to the set. The pink outfits placed on some of the more "butch" girls are absurd looking and vice-versa with the boys. Even during the graduation ceremony at the end, the outfits are made of PVC. They enhance the filmmaker's stance of how false places like True Directions are in the real world. Babbit also made some wonderful casting decisions in Cheerleader.  One of the best roles is done by RuPaul, who plays Mike the boys counselor at True Directions. In his role he is out of drag, playing an ex-gay. Those who know who RuPaul is will delight watching him struggle to be straight and not try to pay attention to the hard bodied son of Mary, Rock. The movie is a great social commentary piece which speaks about gender roles, homophobia, religion, and stereotypes. The script is witty and faced paced as well, leaving the audience laughing out loud through most of the film. Yet, with all its humor Cheerleader carries with it a powerful message against intolerance and hate.   

Director/Screenplay: Jamie Babbit (born November 16, 1970) is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. She directed the films But I'm a Cheerleader, The Quiet and Itty Bitty Titty Committee. She has also directed episodes of television programs including Gilmore Girls, Malcolm in the Middle, Nip/Tuck and The L Word. She is involved with film production company POWER UP. Babbit was born in Shaker Heights, Ohio. She grew up in Cleveland with her father, a lawyer and law school professor, and her mother who ran a treatment program for teenagers with drug and alcohol problems, before her death in 2006. The program was called New Directions, and it provided inspiration for the fictional "reparative therapy" (conversion therapy) camp "True Directions" in But I'm a Cheerleader. Babbit began acting at the Cleveland Play House at the age of seven, later moving into stage management and lighting. She studied West African Studies at Barnard College (graduating in 1993) and began taking film classes at New York University during her summer vacations.Babbit lives in Los Angeles and has two children with producer Andrea Sperling. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamie_Babbit

Brian Wayne Peterson is a screenwriter and television producer. He wrote the script for 1999 film But I'm a Cheerleader and has worked on many episodes of Smallville as writer and producer since 2002. His consistent writing partner on Smallville is Kelly Souders. Shortly after Peterson graduated from USC School of Cinematic Arts, Jamie Babbit, the director for But I'm a Cheerleader, asked Peterson to write a script for her film after reading a story he had written about a gay cowboy. Peterson used his own personal experiences to help him write the story, which is about a group of teenagers who attend conversion therapy camp. He is gay himself, and had had some experience of conversion therapy while working at a prison clinic for sex offenders. In 1999, Variety named him one of "10 Screenwriters to Watch". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Wayne_Peterson

Genre: Comedy

Curriculum Ties: CA Health Standards Grades 9-12

• 1.10.G Recognize that there are individual differences in growth and development, physical appearance, gender roles, and sexual orientation.
• 2.3.G Assess the discrepancies between actual and perceived social norms related to sexual activity among teenagers
• 2.5.G Evaluate how culture, media, and other people influence perceptions about body image, gender roles, sexuality, attractiveness, relationships, and sexual orientation
• 1.4.M Describe qualities that contribute to a positive self-image.
• 8.3.M Object appropriately to teasing of peers and community members that is based on perceived personal characteristics and sexual orientation.

Movietalking Ideas: Who benefits from camps like True Directions, the teen or the parent or anyone? How can we overcome hate and intolerance against the LGBTQ community?

Age: 17+

Challenge Issues:

• Homosexuality
• Sex
• Language

Some people are going to have a problem with this movie because it deals with homosexuality. The movie originally struggled to even receive an R rating because of a scene where two girls kiss. Other than that scene and some swearing, the movie is much more tame than many PG-13 movies featuring straight couples. This movie is a must see for teens as it gives them an understanding about intolerance, and learning to accept themselves and others for who they really are. 

Why I Included This Movie: But I'm a Cheerleader has been one of my favorite films since I saw it my freshman year of college during an LGBTQ Alliance meeting. The movie fosters conversation. Don't think that I've ever seen it with people and then not talked about gay rights issues after. The movie shows teens that it's okay to be yourself, that homosexuality is not something that can be changed, and to accept everyone for who they are.  

Cheerleader LLC, 1999, Rated R, ASIN: B00009MEB8