Still filthy, still fun: The respectable John Waters
In the 1970s, John Waters was the bad boy of fringe filmmaking with his cult-classic, X-rated Pink Flamingos. Flash forward more than 30 years, and he's the guest of honor at Mr. Jefferson's U, and the Virginia Film Festival is showing the now NC-17-rated picture that still you don't recommend for your mama– unless she's one of those who fell under the sway of Waters' magical filth so many decades ago.
Waters moved from extreme film to mainstream in 1988 with Hairspray, which is also being screened at this year's film fest. He's made 16 movies, including Serial Mom and Cry-Baby, written five books, published collections of his photographs, released music compilations such as A John Waters Christmas, and staged art exhibits.
And over the years, he's crossed paths with some of the most memorable characters of the late 20th century: Divine, Manson follower Leslie Van Houten, kidnaped heiress Patty Hearst, and Johnny Depp.
Baltimore, his hometown, has been the setting for most of his movies. Some people see Baltimore through the lens of The Wire; our Charm City has always been Waters tinged. But we catch up with him recently by phone in New York.
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