Saturday, September 29, 2018

Behind The Scenes: Not So Innocent by Richard Rothstein


Look at that flesh
Pink and plump
Hello, little boy
Tender and fresh
Not one lump
Hello, little boy
This one's especially lush
Delicious


Hello, little boy
What's your rush
You're missing all the flowers
The sun won't set for hours
Take your time
Stephen Sondheim. Into The Woods


Children's versions of Little Red Riding Hood generally portray Red as a sweet innocent, terrified of the evil and lecherous cravings of the Wolf.  Many adult versions of the tale, including Sondheim's Into The Woods, give Red a bit more depth, and portray her as an active participate in the goings on around her.


Richard's telling of tale follows the darker more sexual version of the relationship between Red and the Wolf, in fact Richard titled his shoot 'The Passion of Little Red Riding Hood'  No shrinking violet, Richard's version of Red is far from naive, in fact, Sergey's Red is not surprised to encounter his wolf, he seductively presents the bait, willing feeding his meat to his hard and hungry carnivore.


It's not clear if this is Red's first time with this particular wolf, but it's clear he's had plenty of experience cruising by the den.,,


'I want gay Hercules vanquishing evil evangelicals and Islamist extremists. I want a twunk Goldilocks encountering three great big burly and hair muscle bears. And I want a lustful big bad wolf blowing three little pigs. That’s the new normal and I’m going to be part of the wave with my photography.'


The Wolf wasn't the only stranger hanging out along the path.  When Richard first sent on this set I assumed the stranger was the make-up artist, a possible 'stand in' for grandmother, or a passerby who came upon the forest shoot.  The stranger is actually a friend of Richard's who came along to play.


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