Song For Rent, After Jack Smith

16mm film with optical sound

With Kate Smith singing "God Bless America" looped in the background, experimental filmmaker Jack Smith starred as Rose Courtyard—a drag character based on Rose Kennedy—in his 1969 film, "Song for Rent." In this adaptation, Barbarella Bush joins Rose in a campy exploration of US nationalism, queer assimilation, and denunciation.

Closed captioning and audio description make Song for Rent, After Jack Smith accessible to a wider audience, while also playing a critical role in the film's structure.

  • Malic Amalya
    Director
  • Jade Theriault
    Key Cast
    "Jack Smith as Rose Courtyard"
  • Rae Raucci
    Key Cast
    "Barbarella Bush"
  • Kolmel W. Love
    Production Assistant
  • Nathan Hill
    Assistant Director
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short
  • Runtime:
    5 minutes 36 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 1, 2018
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    16mm
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • San Francisco Transgender Film Festival
    San Francisco, CA
    November 10, 2018
    North American Premiere
Director - Malic Amalya