Upstairs Lounge Gay Mass Murder
HEART WRENCHING NEW TRAILER: “UPSTAIRS INFERNO”: Film about gay mass murder, like you’ve never seen before
Camina Entertainment is excited to release the second highly emotional teaser trailer for the eagerly awaited documentary, UPSTAIRS INFERNO. (https://vimeo.com/
An IndieGoGo fundraising campaign also runs through Sunday, November 23rd to help offset the incredibly expensive licensing fees for newspaper photos and newsreel footage. (http://igg.me/at/Upstairs-
On June 24, 1973, an arsonist set fire to a gay bar in New Orleans called the Up Stairs Lounge. The result was the largest gay mass murder in U.S. history. Despite the staggering historical significance, few people know about the tragedy. Thirty-two people were killed and some bodies were never identified because their families were ashamed that the victims were gay. No one was ever charged with the crime. The tragedy did not stop at the loss of lives. There were also the delayed injuries: lost jobs, fear, public ridicule and severed families. The devastation was compounded by the homophobic reactions and utter lack of concern by the general public, government and religious leaders. The fire permanently altered lives and was the root of many lifelong struggles.
The new trailer for UPSTAIRS INFERNO is very personal. It brings humanity into the headlines by shining a light on the very painful effect the tragedy had on survivors, witnesses and loved ones. It’s noteworthy to mention that it includes a heart wrenching interview of a survivor who lost her lover, Reggie Adams in the blaze. As part of her long healing process, she legally changed her name to “Regina Adams” in honor of her “one true love”. In addition, the trailer includes Ricky Everett and Francis Dufrene (two survivors who barely escaped the inferno), the son of one of the victims, Reverend Troy Perry, and more.
UPSTAIRS INFERNO is poised to be the most comprehensive and authoritative film on the fire. Interviews with survivors and witnesses to the aftermath have been heart wrenching and insightful. Some of the people we interviewed haven’t discussed the fire until now, especially on camera. I’m thrilled to say that many granted us exclusive on-camera interviews. The documentary also features interviews with historians, experts and current leaders of the New Orleans LGBT community. UPSTAIRS INFERNO will be the only documentary about the fire to feature these pivotal players in one place. Police reports, crime scene photographs, personal photographs, newspaper clippings and video clips from local news stations are also featured in the film. The previous, highly publicized trailer is located at http://vimeo.com/94905654.
Because a historical film cannot exist without historical photos and footage, the licensing fees are the only things delaying the release of the film. People can donate to UPSTAIRS INFERNO and help preserve history on film by following the link on www.upstairsinferno.com or directly at http://igg.me/at/Upstairs-
Camina’s previous documentary, “Raid of the Rainbow Lounge” recounted the widely publicized and controversial June 28, 2009 police raid of a Fort Worth, Texas gay bar that resulted in multiple arrests and serious injuries. The film, narrated by TV icon Meredith Baxter, continues to engage sold-out audiences across the country! Over the past 15 months, the documentary has screened over 35 times, including 29 mainstream and LGBT film festivals across the United States, Mexico and Canada. The film has won several awards including 5 “Best” Film and 3 “Audience Choice” Awards. The film also received attention from the Office of the White House, Department of Justice and a division of the U.S. State Department. (www.RaidoftheRainbowLounge.
UPSTAIRS INFERNO
Anticipated release: 2015
Estimated run time: 90 minutes.
Directed and produced by Robert L. Camina (“Raid of the Rainbow Lounge”)
More information is available at www.upstairsinferno.com
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/
Twitter page: @UpstairsInferno
