Stormy Daniels: Under The Coverup

Jim Steele – Hello Rachel, thanks for taking a minute to talk with me. I’ve had the opportunity to check out the promos on Vimeo, and we’ll include all the links pertaining to the project, along with contact for IndieGoGo and your Studio, sounds like a super fun project. Still, for those who are unfamiliar with what you’re up to, this is gonna be a great opportunity to get the word out, let everyone know what’s going on, what’s at stake, and some of your goals. 

When did you first conjure the idea of a Trump/Stormy parody? Forget the porn aspect of it for a minute. When people think of Trump, something super spicy like this, or a re-run of The Apprentice is what everyone might expect to see. Did you ever consider a straight up comedy or otherwise satirical production? Or, because of the publicity that the Stormy situation had, and continues to have, did a XXX parody seemed to be the obvious destination? What’s gonna set this film apart, what makes it so special?

Rachel Music – Hi Jim, thanks so much for taking the time to wax porno-sophical with me. For starters, I think you’re spot-on. I come from a comedy background and my MFA’s in TV writing - there is 100% a SFW screenplay here. I imagine it being right in Adam McKay and Armando Iannucci’s wheelhouses (think The Big Short and Veep). I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if either of those two announce pre-production for a Trump Campaign-through-2020 film after the election.

And that’s sort of my point - the past few years, the movie has written itself. Folks will be climbing all over each other to dramatize it … once we’re hopefully past the cultural hangover it has induced. As a writer and sex worker, there’s a specific perspective that I can bring to the projects I take on. This, though, was more or less an exercise in impulse. More on that later.

Jim – The storyline speaks directly to the fortitude of the President– pun intended. Still, many of the President’s supporters claim that “alleged” events such as this, occurring years prior, have little to no bearing on his current ability to lead, of a fitness for service… and by service, I mean as a pubic servant. In publicity, you have mentioned that it is not your intent to defame or diminish the character of anyone. I’m curious, don’t you think that this is gonna piss some people off?

Rachel – I can’t tell if “pubic” is a typo or another pun, so we’re off to a good start.  

Jim – It was a typo, a reminder of the Covid climate we’re in, having to do this remotely… but since you caught it and got a kick out it, we’ll leave it at pubic servant. Please, continue.

Rachel – Of course it will. Not to sound curt, but that’s not my problem. People like to be pissed off, and I’m the last person who’d try to talk them out of it. I mean what I say in my interview - I’m not making a hit piece or a character assassination. Let Aaron Sorkin do that. I want to make a funny porno. Emphasis on FUN. If I really wanted to piss people off, I’d make a 5-hour musical porno about Ayn Rand and call it Atlas Shagged. Unfortunately, the more divisive a topic (or person) becomes, the less likely someone believes you’re just goofing off. But don’t we all kind of need exactly that right now?

Rachel Music | STORMY interview from Schadenfrau Studio on Vimeo. If embed does not load, please hit this LINK!

Jim – The last time I saw Ayn Rand was on Donahue, and that was 35-40 years ago. Not necessarily a smokin’ hot package. I’ll leave that comparison at the door. But the thing is, even if you tried to be negative, with our President’s ego, you know he’s going to pre-order this thing. I wouldn’t be surprised if Trump asked for a signed copy.  Shit. He’s liable to frame it. Level with me, do you have a bone to pick with Trump, or is it just a good story?

Rachel – Those aren’t mutually exclusive, Jim.

Jim – Fair enough. Let’s move on. Haha. You’ve pledged half of proceeds to Covid relief efforts. I think that’s commendable and could be the best example of using the unlikeliest source in funding a public service work. What prompted you to contribute half of the take to the war against the Coronavirus?

Rachel – That’s very kind of you to say, but let’s be honest - I’m promising a hypothetical half of hypothetical revenue resulting from a hypothetical sale or distribution deal. I’m sincere but it’s no great risk. When you crowdfund there’s a higher respect for the money you raise, and if you’re putting donors’ funds to a better cause than yourself, it feels like a nobler pursuit. Also? Maybe I’m terrified the movie will be terrible and people can say, “well at least Aunt Debbie got a ventilator out of it.” The bratty child in me really likes the idea of doing public service with a pornographic film to watch certain folks squirm when they find out how the philanthropic sausage is made.

Jim – As long as nobody chokes on the sausage, we’ll be fine. I’ll tell ya, I must imagine that the saga of Stormy and Trump is gonna have to be a bestseller. Still, you’ve got to produce it. These things aren’t free, there’s no stimulus dollars driving this effort. How much do you think the price tag might be, and do you feel like producing this in the middle of a the Covid pandemic is cost effective or even feasible? After all, many of the Studios are either closed or operating on some limited basis. What are your thoughts in the logistics of a porno shoot?  

Rachel – We’ve got a Flexible Funding budget of 150K, which is generous. There are plenty of potential snags when it comes to Covid Compliance on set - luckily, I have access to a lot of line producers who are certified in set management for these times. It adds time, overhead, you name it.

But! I’m not deterred. Whether we Great British Baking Show it and sequester everyone in the countryside to film as a pod or have individual units remote-directed to keep sets sparse, we’ve got options.

Jim – Determination is key, options are always good. You mention Covid compliant… someday that might have to denote films the same way we do with “condom” or “no condom”. Anyway, talent… where are you at with talent, and were any of the actors and actresses hesitant to be a part of this production? True story- I was talking with a former actress about this. Her reaction was “My first thought is that would be a hella fun thing to be involved with. My second thought is that might not be a great thing to be involved with!” Do you think that the satirical, and hopefully red-hot sexual value of the work will over-ride any political landmines that might be lying around?

Rachel – I don’t want to speak on behalf of our talent yet, but it actually deepens your point: some hopeful cast members don’t want to go public with their involvement until the film is funded. It’s an interesting place where we have people intrigued, but everyone’s kind of holding their breath waiting for someone to wave a magic wand and give us legitimacy. It really baffles me. I work best with people who, take this any way you want, have no shame - so generally this would have to jump out to you immediately, rather than be a job you need to agonize over.

Jim – A Domme with no promised agony? You’ll need to school me someday on the finer points. Alright, let’s go back to funding needed for a minute. I read where you’ve already begun a legal fund and retained counsel. How much money do you think you’ll need in the war chest? Are you expecting a fight when this film drops? I mean, it’s parody… sort of. How much blowback will you get, and I guess the better question is, who will it come from? Let’s say the White House stays out of it. Do you see his supporters or other right leaning groups leading the charge?

Rachel – We’ve earmarked 15K as a retainer, and (I am literally knocking on wood while I type this) the war chest should be there for insurance only. I’m well within my rights with Fair Use and parody, but that won’t stop anyone with a rage-on. Hell, the scuttlebutt I heard was that people think STORMY is going to be the one to sue me. Are you kidding?! I want her blessing more than anybody’s. She should play herself! Her publicist should email me back!

Jim – She absolutely should, I was gonna mention Stormy in the starring role. Wow, I’d buy the blu-ray for that. Still, do you think it matters, when and if some groups or government lawyers come after you, that; in reality, it’s nothing that hasn’t already been talked about, said before, discussed already? Everyone already knows most of the ins and outs of the Stormy affair, including the disappointing details of Donald’s performance. Not to mention the hush money and non-disclosures. From what I can tell, you might be more likely to catch some shit from the left. Let’s face it. This could be a boon for Trump. What would you think of that? If say, leftist groups came out to fight… what if women’s rights advocates stood up and said, “You’re mocking a woman who was abused, a woman who was bribed to keep her mouth shut?” Is that a possibility? If so, what’s gonna be your answer?

Rachel – Why you gotta bring nuance into this?

Jim – I like nuance…

Rachel – I’m kidding, it’s actually a great point to consider. This is a project that by its very nature will enrage and alienate at least one group of people, and I’ll be damned if I can predict which one. I see leftist groups or sex-negative feminists trying to hamstring me more than the Trump camp.

The argument you posit is infuriating, but I smell what you’re cooking. To that I’d say, “I am instead amplifying the story of a woman who was abused and threatened and bribed and still overcame it all to become a household name and example of speaking truth to power.”

Jim – Amplifying a good message should get it done. But if women’s groups were the ones protesting, wouldn’t that be misplaced? I think that you, and most within the Industry, have proven time and again that, if anything, we tend to celebrate and protect women’s rights. The girls are doing what they like to do, making good money. Isn’t that what Stormy was doing. Is this really a story of empowering women, of showing what a strong woman is capable of? Is this film a good example of telling the “Big Boys” in the room to sit down and shut up?

Rachel – Yes.

Jim – That’s an answer that doesn’t require nuance. Simple does it. Yet, I think that is one thing that those outside the Industry miss, and it’s too bad. Sure, the headlines are all about the sex. But many times, there is an underlying theme of the girl being in control. Does this work have a similar undercurrent? A theme of letting the leader of the free world know that he is not in control of every last thing, that no man is ever really in control of a strong woman? I think that without ever realizing it, most guys give women nearly any amount of control in a relationship. Your thoughts?

Rachel – I’m glad you bring this up. I was specifically a Domme, so the power dynamic here is always at the front of my mind. This President has absolutely shown that he takes issue with women being assertive, and we may have the story of the number one woman to check a man with (or with delusions of) unchecked power.

Jim – After reading the press release, I can’t get this off my mind. Who, what, when, and where … Tell me about the possibility of a Rudy Giuliani Gimp? Is the little fella gonna have the usual black latex and rubber ball gag? I imagine that Tarantino on a bad acid trip couldn’t have come up with such a great idea! Give us a sneak peek at how that might play in? Is it a janitorial type role, a fluffer? What do you envision for Rudy?

Rachel – You know, I hadn’t considered Rudy in the movie in a sexual capacity, but nothing is ever counted out. the RG Gimp Suit is just one of many names I use for the different price tiers: we also offer Tiffany’s Sybian, Scaramucci’s Cock Harness, and Sean Spicer’s Fursona.

If we do put him in, it should be a black PVC or latex outfit. I’m worried he might look like The Penguin, though - the dude’s built like a bowling ball.

Jim – He’s a funny looking little guy, but those perfect teeth really make the package… Rachel, we’ve talked about an awful lot. Put out the best pitch. Make me want to throw money at you, to get this thing in people’s living rooms. I’ll leave the floor to you. Pretend that I’m a little wary of what you’re up to, make me a believer. How much do you need, and again, remind me where can I go to contribute to possibly the best parody feature ever made?

Rachel – STORMY: Under the Coverup is a feature-length erotic epic following one woman’s brush with fame that leads her into the national spotlight and unearths a staggering corruption scandal. It’s a taut political thriller based on true events - with as much sexual intercourse as we can cram into its narrative. It’s a gripping family drama pulled from the headlines - featuring dozens (if not scores) of adult acts stuffed inside its snug little plot holes. It’s the dream of a time when we can look back at this and laugh, rub one out, and then stick around to laugh some more. Most of all, it’s a reminder that nobody can be scared of something they are laughing at. Whether you bust a gut or bust a nut, we’re gonna make the best damn stag film since Deep Throat. VISIT  https://igg.me/at/stormyporn  

Jim – Thanks Rachel, it’s been a pleasure. I appreciate your time. I also want to that Erika Icon at TheRubPR for setting this up, be sure to follow on Twitter @TheRubPR. We will be sure to share the story, drive traffic and funding over to IndieGoGo, and look forward to the movie. Also, be sure to follow Rachel and  Schadenfrau Studios along at Twitter @schadentweet , or on the web at https://www.schadenfrau.com/. Thanks again Rachel! As you said in the promo, “Let’s Make History!”

Rachel – Jim, it’s been a treat - thank you for everything!

Follow Jim Steele on Twitter @TheJimSteele

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