Bam Bam and Celeste is a madcap sticks-to-downtown farce fable that turns longtime friends Bam Bam and Celeste from outcasts to overnight sensations as they leave their buttoned up Midwest town for the wide open streets of New York City. In the first feature screenplay written by Margaret Cho and Mommy, Cho stars alongside Bruce Daniels (Margaret's friend and opening act for whom she wrote the part of Bam Bam). Alan Cumming, Jane Lynch, John Cho, Wilson Cruz and Kathy Najimy provide irresistibly spirited support. In addition to playing the title role of Celeste, Cho also plays Mommy, the impersonation of her own mother cherished by Cho's fans. The film is directed by Lorene Machado, Cho's longtime creative collaborator on the concert films. In BAM BAM AND CELESTE, Cho’s outrageous and hilarious, and ultimately empowering personal voice gives birth to a film that captures her infectious spirit.

Synopsis

In Bam Bam and Celeste, Celeste (Margaret Cho) and Bam Bam (Bruce Daniels) are friends still stuck in the boring Midwest hometown where they grew up. Frustrated as they see life passing them by, they go to a fortune-teller, played by the irrepressible Kathy Najimy, who gives them just the nudge they need to break out of their rut. Responding to an ad seeking contestants for TRADING FACES, a reality makeover show shooting in New York, they set off to take the city by storm. Their yellow brick road to the Big Apple is strewn with potential disasters and comical crises, as they encounter thugs, survivalists, racists and a “lesbian Lone Ranger,” played with ballsy charm by Jane Lynch (BEST IN SHOW) and other roadside distractions before finally reaching The City. They arrive, only to find their hometown high-school nemeses, now the style dictators of the world-famous Salon Mirage, sitting in judgment at TRADING FACES. Helped by the show’s booking assistant, played with delight by Alan Cumming, and an assist from Celeste’s Mommy, the two friends survive a potential break-up, sabotage from without and doubts from within, and a fashion-challenged wardrobe to discover that true beauty lies within.

Bam Bam and Celeste is produced by Eva Kolodner (GIRLS DON’T CRY) and Yael Melamede (MY ARCHITECT) for Salty Features and Margaret's production company, Cho Taussig Productions. Executive producers are Michael Hakan and Julie Huntsinger; co-executive producers are Liz Manne and Catherine Tait for Duopoly.

The Filmmakers

Comedian/Writer/Producer: Margaret Cho
Born and raised in the Haight district of San Francisco, Margaret Cho is a product of what she calls that “confusing, enlightening, wonderful time.” She started performing stand-up at 16, moved to Los Angeles. After opening for Jerry Seinfled and appearing on a Bob Hope special, Margaret Cho, seemingly overnight, became a national celebrity. Starring in a short-lived ABC sitcom called ALL-AMERICAN GIRL, that the network watered down for mass consumption, Cho chronicled her sitcom experience in a no-holds-barred one-woman show called I'm The One That I Want. The show was extremely well received, toured the U.S, and was made into a concert film and a best-selling book of the same name. The film, which garnered incredible reviews, broke the record for the most money grossed per print in movie history. Cho followed up with Notorious C.H.O., a smash-hit 37-city national tour that culminated in a sold-out concert at Carnegie Hall. This was also recorded and released as a feature film, hailed by the New York Times as "Brilliant!" In March of 2003, Margaret embarked on her third sold-out national tour, REVOLUTION. The tour grossed $4.4 million and was heralded as "Her strongest show yet!" by the Chicago Sun Times. The CD of REVOLUTION was Grammy-nominated.

Cho has just completed her ASSASSIN tour of the U.S., Canada and Australia. Her most political and topical work to date, it was lauded as "Murderously funny!" by the New York Times, and premieres in select theatres and on the gay and lesbian premium channel here! TV in September of 2005. Her second book, I Have Chosen to Stay and Fight, is due out from Penguin Books in October of 2005. As an activist, Cho has been honored with many awards and accolades from numerous organizations as the A.C.L.U., G.L.A.A.D., N.O.W. Cho has lent her name to many causes and also maintains a website dedicated to marriage equality (loveisloveislove.com). Margaret Cho is a grassroots phenomenon, attracting loyal and diverse fans; her audience is huge, underserved - and will not be denied.

Comedian/Actor: Bruce Daniels
Chicago-born Bruce Daniels has been Margaret Cho’s opening act at her concert appearances since the REVOLUTION tour, and the actor and comedian was dubbed, “The main fag behind America’s number one hag,” by Out Magazine. After working on a never-released film where they played lovers, Cho pushed Daniels to try stand-up, and eventually invited Daniels to be her opening act. The two have performed together ever since. Gay Wired described his REVOLUTION performance as “hilariously personal,” and a place where “comedy meets story-telling”. Delivering laughs along with social relevance and irreverence, Daniels is the perfect partner for Cho, on the road and in BAM BAM AND CELESTE.

Director: Lorene Machado
Lorene Machado produced all of Margaret Cho’s hugely successful concert films, and directed three of them, NOTORIOUS C.H.O., REVOLUTION, and ASSASSIN. Machado was also a director on the television series LIFE 360, and wrote, directed, produced and edited the short, STARCROSSED. BAM BAM AND CELESTE is her first feature.

Screening Times:

1st Public: Tuesday, Sept. 13th, late evening, Varsity 8

Press & Industry: Wednesday, Sept.14th, early afternoon, Varsity 8

2nd Public: Thursday, Sept.15th, late afternoon, Varsity 8