Pop Star on Ice starring Johnny Weir, part two of a two-part Q&A

Here is Part 2 of the Q&A that was held during the New York premiere of Pop Star on Ice starring Johnny Weir. Pop Star on Ice is a documentary that followed Johnny for two years in his quest to become the world's best figure skater and possible Olympic champion. After the film, Johnny, his best friend Paris Childers, and directors David Barba and James Pellerito, answered questions from the audience. In Part 1 of the Q&A, the cast and crew spoke about Johnny's internal struggles, working with U.S. Figure Skating and the ISU in making the film, how this project began (David and James didn't start out making a documentary about Johnny), and recent Canadian press accusing Skate Canada of trying to "masculinize" male figure skating in time for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics Games.

In Part 2, topics include the perceived homophobia in the United States, the infamous bathtub scene, how Johnny and Paris became best buds (although initially they started out as enemies), and the eight-part series greenlighted by the Sundance Channel that picks up where the documentary ends (around March 2008). David and James are continuing to shoot Johnny for the series and shared with the audience that the focus for the series will be more on Johnny and his current coaching team of Galina Zmievskaya, Viktor Petrenko and choreographer Nina Petrenko. The first seven of the series will be aired early next year prior to the Olympics and the last episode will air post-Olympics. Can't wait!

Comments

[Lela]

What was that about the father comment in the first part? Hilarious.

[ann]

OMG... gotta love Johnny "DIVA GLARE" lol

thank you for recording this Q&A!!

[ruth]

absolutely adore Johnny...he's just so real and funny!

[StuckinCanada]

Really. what was the father comment about?

[Pippa]

Susan, thanks so much for this!

[wanda]

Johnny and his dad are close - there is even a shot of them hugging and kissing in the film. His comment was definitely not about his own father, he was just alluding to older generations sometimes having had problems being accepted if they were not particularly masculine.

[taylor]

That is so wonderful. Thee first answer he gives, especially, is so complete.

Thank you for posting this.