Hola Dannie aqui,
Sharing with you all today a trailer for the documentary "BECOMING LESLIE" that is set to premiere at SXSW today. Locals to the Austin hill country still speak of the outrageously iconic Leslie Cochran. Leslie was a cross-dressing, thonged, party-loving, on and off again homeless poster child for the "Keep Austin Weird" campaign as well as the mascot for Austin's downtown nightlife. "BECOMING LESLIE" takes an intimate and unflinching look at the legacy, life and times of Leslie Cochran.
"BECOMING LESLIE" is directed by Tracy Frazier this film marks her directorial debut. Frazier has worked previously as a producer on several short films ("Backroads" and "Swerve") as well as being a second unit director ("Goodbye Sirena" and "Jumping Off Bridges") she also did miscellaneous crew work on "Houdini's Last Secrets," and "Shipping Wars."
Director Tracy Frazier says she believes "BECOMING LESLIE" will be a "unique look into the life of a man on the streets searching for peace and a true sense of home."
Here is the trailer for "BECOMING LESLIE" enjoy.
Above- "Austin artist Bob Coffee positions a model of a statue honoring Austin icon Leslie Cochran on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018. It will be used to cast a mold to make the final statue." (KXAN Photo: Frank Martinez)
Here is a video from Austin's KVUE ABC news on Leslie getting a statue in downtown Austin, Texas.
Leslie Cochran passed away on March 8, 2012 today marks the seventh anniversary of his death today also was proclaimed Leslie Day for all time in Austin. Those who knew Leslie will never forget him; he was one of a kind. In the 1990s and early 2000s he reached local fame as a peace activist, urban "outdoorsman" and a harsh critic of the local police and their treatment of the homeless, he was a man with many causes.
His death at 60 years old was the result of a traumatic brain injury that many conclude was caused by an attack that occurred in 2009 in which Leslie was severely beaten by a group of people in downtown Austin. The years after the attack of 09' Leslie struggled with health problems, however, he never ceased living life the way he wanted and fighting for the causes he believed in.
Leslie lived along Bouldin Creek in South Austin during the time I had my video store (2001-2006) and was a regular. He was always very sweet and a little wild. It was an honor to have his freckled thonged booty in my store. He was thrilled to get reactions from my other renters as well as my young son. Austin will always miss him and so will I. I am overjoyed that director Tracy Frazier has chronicled cinematically a look at Austin's once and future Queen Leslie Cochran.
"BECOMING LESLIE" is set to premiere today at 5:30 p.m. in the Rollins Theater at the Long Center for more information about "BECOMING LESLIE" click here.
Stay Strong, Live Good, Love Movies!
Dannie H.L. Knowles aka Pekosa Peligrosa
