Who is John Waters?
As a familiar presence in the world of American filmmaking, John Waters is known for his ability to produce esoteric work that catches the imagination of a wide range of fans all over the country. Easily recognized due to his slight frame and trademark pencil-thin mustache, Waters has been the force behind bringing a number of eclectic performers to the attention of mainstream theater audiences, as well as producing a number of works that are considered to be high art films with enduring appeal. Born John Samuel Waters, Jr. on 22 April 1946, Waters began his interest in the theater and performing at an early age. His first work was to stage puppet shows that were loosely based on the popular Punch and Judy, but incorporated a much more aggressive approach. Waters also exhibited an interest in movies that tended to be cutting edge in both filming techniques and content. Gifted with his first 8mm camera on his sixteenth birthday, there was little doubt that John Waters would become a fil
“If scandal, sleaze and celebrity worship are our national religion, then John Waters is an American prophet.” (Hoberman, 1998) The Prince of Puke, Sultan of Sleaze, King of Kink, Pope of Trash, PT Barnum of Scatology, Baron of Bad Taste: these, among other respects are some of the titles used to characterize John Waters. Born on April 22, 1946 in Baltimore, Maryland it was there, where he would meet the men and women willing to work in front of and behind the camera on his self-written, self-produced movies. “As a student in a Catholic high school in the 1960’s, John Waters sneaked of to see all the movies condemned by the Church’s Legion of Decency.” (Geier, 1997) According to Waters, (1981) It was his grandmother who for his 17th birthday gave him his first camera, an 8mm Brownie which summoned his potential to turn his obsessions with violence, gore, and deviance into eccentric 8mm exploitation shorts. With his counter culture friends acting, he began making silent 8mm and 16mm fil
