I love when the music on my playlist from the 70s and 80s is rediscovered by a new generation. Tracy Chapman is back on the charts. Joni Mitchell is back on tour. The Indigo Girls’ biggest-selling single, Closer to Fine, was a hit in Barbie that literally defined the movie.
Of course Barbie would be an Indigo Girls fan!
To further raise Amy Ray and Emily Saliers (the Indigo Girls) back into the mainstream, the newly released film Glitter & Doom sifted through the entire Indigo Girls’ catalog to create the backdrop for their musical love story. The iconic songs string together the journey of two people who discover each other one summer, fall in love and then hit the wall of the ever-prevailing cause of relationship failure — The real world is calling. How do you continue on your path to fulfill your passion without compromising your dream — or losing the one you love, or yourself in the process?
The idea for the screenplay is a romantic story in itself as it was given as a gift from screenwriter Cory Krueckeberg to director Tom Gustafson (who hails from Batavia, IL) on their 20th anniversary. The story was inspired by their chance meeting at the Berlin Nightclub in Chicago on a stormy 4th of July night, and the 29 days they had together before they were to be separated by an ocean for months
Glitter & Doom was released this week by Music Box Films, and is screening this week at the Music Box Theatre 3733 N Southport Ave and Emagine Batavia 12.
Here is the synopsis for the film:
In a fantastical summer romance is set to the iconic hits of the Grammy Award-winning, trailblazing Indigo Girls, Glitter & Doom follows the love-at-first-sight connection between carefree circus performer Glitter (Filipino star Alex Diaz) and struggling musician Doom (UK newcomer Alan Cammish). An undeniable spark throws them into a summer of camping trips, late-night conversations, and innovative song-and-dance numbers – until the real world comes calling. Their relationship is put to the test as Doom confronts the realities of finding success in the music industry and Glitter has an opportunity to run away to Paris as a circus performer. Glitter and Doom struggle to make sense of their whirlwind summer while staying true to themselves and pursuing their dreams. Punctuated by a star-studded supporting cast (including Lea DeLaria, Tig Notaro, Drag Race alum Peppermint, Ming-Na Wen, Missi Pyle, and the Indigo Girls themselves, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers), Glitter & Doom is a creatively ambitious, visually stunning queer musical about the power of love – and the “POWER OF TWO.”
Here’s a little piece of trivia about the making of the film. Emily Saliers was ill with Covid during the filming. Her scenes had to be shot separately after she recovered. A green screen was used to place her into the scenes with Amy Ray and other cast members.
Click here for the Music Box showtimes and information.
Cast & Crew
- Glitter : Alex Diaz
- Doom : Alan Cammish
- Robin : Missi Pyle
- Ivy : Ming-Na Wen
- Fiasco : Tig Notaro
- Boston : Lea DeLaria
- The Doctor : Amy Ray
- The Dream : Emily Saliers
- Wink : Alejandra Bogue
- Viola : Viry Dimayuga
- Ariel : Ali Saluguero
- Director : Tom Gustafson
- Screenwriter : Cory Krueckeberg
- Music & Lyrics : Amy Ray + Emily Saliers (Indigo Girls)
- Producers : Cory Krueckeberg, Tom Gustafson, Hunter Arnold, Ale García, Alejandra Cárdenas, Felicitas Arce, Antonio Urdapilleta
- Executive Producers : Curt Cronin, Gary Nelson, Marcia Nelson, Sig De Miguel, Stephen Vincent
- Music Produced By : Michelle Chamuel
- Director of Photography : Cristian Solano
- Editor : Cory Krueckeberg
- Production Designer : Geo Martínez
- Costume Designer : Adela Cortázar
- Choreographer : Franky Aviña
- Casting By : Sig De Miguel + Stephen Vincent
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