Take a Walk on the Wildside

Film & Animation – 15 min

Wigs-shoulder length or long, naturally curled or straight. Shoes- pink glittery six inch heels or black shiny two inch heels. Nipples- stick on dime or dollar sized. A vibrant mesh of items line the shelves of one of Toronto’s oldest cross-dressing stores. Opened in 1987, Wildside was one of the only places to offer a full male to female transformation through makeup, clothing and hair. 

Still open today, Take a Walk on the Wildside provides viewers with a glimpse into a day in the life of the store. As five customers pass through, we peek into their colorful lives and reasons for visiting. While customers come and go, storeowner Paddy consistently offers warm and welcoming service. As we witness heartfelt interaction, it becomes clear that Wildside is much more than just a store and Paddy more than a storeowner. In an age where items can be purchased easily and tutorials accessed online, Take a Walk on the Wildside shows why the store acts as safe and important space for its clientele.

DIRECTOR
Lisa Rideout
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Lauren Grant
SCREENWRITER
Lisa Rideout
EDITORS
Avril Jacobson
Lawrence Jackman
PRODUCERS
Lisa Rideout
Sasha Fisher
CINEMATOGRAPHER
Jack Weisman
COMPOSER
Ben Fox
CAST
Patricia Aldridge
Ralph Hartley
Enza Anderson
Sabrina Anne Hogan
Alexis

Watch on:

Premiering on June 1st, 2023

Curated by:

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