Stay Updated

We're excited to keep you in the loop on all things Frameline (with no spam - ever!)

The World According to Allee Willis

Directed by Alexis Spraic2024USA98 mins

If the name Allee Willis doesn't immediately register with you, it's not your fault. The music industry historically has never been kind to women, songwriters, or LGBTQ+ folks. But it'd be pretty hard to have escaped the past 50 years without having heard some of Willis' lasting contributions to pop music and culture. From Earth, Wind & Fire's "September" to the Pointer Sisters' "Neutron Dance" to the theme song from the show Friends, Allee Willis was a singular musical phenom whose career defied the societal and industrial molds.

The World According to Allee Willis is both a love letter to the late artist from the famous folks who loved her — Cyndi Lauper, Alice Walker, the Pet Shop Boys, Lily Tomlin, Luenell, DEVO's Mark Mothersbaugh, and Willis’ longtime partner Prudence Fenton — and a tour of Willis' impressive archives of early video, kitsch collectibles, and musical offerings. But above all else, it’s also an invitation to the coolest pool parties of the 80s where you could rub elbows with the likes of Elvira, Patti LaBelle, Paul Reubens, Joni Mitchell, and Debbie Harry at Willis' astonishing Los Angeles home. Imagine a real-life Pee-wee's Playhouse, but in pink, and you’re all set.

Special performance before the film by the official band of San Francisco: The SF Pride Band!

Expected Guests

Alexis Spraic
Director
Prudence Fenton
Participant, Producer
Luenell
Participant
Nicholas Coles
Producer
Quick links
Sponsor
Director
Alexis Spraic
Year
2024
Country
USA
Running Time
98 mins
Language
English
Section
Documentary Features
Program Note Writer
Joe Bowman
Community Partners
Copyright 2022 Frameline. All rights reservedSite by ED.

Stay Updated

We're excited to keep you in the loop on all things Frameline (with no spam - ever!)