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4 unusual facts about Jennie Livingston


Jennie Livingston

Who's the Top?, Livingston's first dramatic film, a 22-minute-long short film, premiered at Berlin International Film Festival in 2005, and stars Marin Hinkle, Shelly Mars, and Steve Buscemi.

Livingston is the niece of the late film director Alan J. Pakula, who initially warned her away from film directing, but later proved encouraging.

Jennie Livingston (born February 24, 1962) is an American director best known for the 1990 documentary Paris is Burning.

The film, a lesbian sex comedy with musical numbers, also features 24 Broadway dancers choreographed by Broadway choreographer John Carrafa in the manner of Busby Berkeley.


Shelly Mars

Mars went on to appear in many more films, including Drop Dead Rock with Debbie Harry and Adam Ant, Jennie Livingston's Who's the Top?, Venus Boyz, Mary Harron's The Notorious Bettie Page and a documentary based on her own life, The Dark Matter of Mars.


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