Trudie Styler has been a producer for a long time now, as well as a talented stage and film actress (and political activist and fundraiser, mom of 4, young grandmother, and wife of rocker Sting). But director? At last: Styler will oversee “Freak Show,” written by P.J. Clifton & Beth Rigario and based on the book of the same name by James St. James. Celine Rattray, Styler’s partner, will produce for their Maven Pictures. What a splendid idea. (Will Sting make a Hitchockian cameo?)
If the name James St. James rings a bell, it’s because he wrote the book that became the movie “Party Monster” starring Macaulay Culkin as Michael Alig. Alig was one of the Club Kids in New York. He killed Angel Melendez in 1996 and went to jail until his parole in 2014.
“Freak Show” sounds like a lot more fun, about a teen named Billy Bloom described as “smart, funny, cultured, artistic kid who loves to dress up in wildly imaginative and fabulously flamboyant ensembles. Determined to be himself, he’s not going to change his ways, even if it means braving it out among the bullies at his new high school.”
Styler has already produced several small terrific films including Dito Montiel’s “A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints” which introduced Channing Tatum and Shia LaBeouf (in film), as well as exec producing Guy Ritchie’s “Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” and “Snatch.” She and Rattray brought Catherine Hardwicke’s “Miss You Already” to Toronto with much success. She will bring her savvy and edgy style to the picture. Look for an indie hit here.
