Bob Mackie
#SPOTTED: BOB MACKIE IN TORONTO FOR “NAKED ILLUSION”
Fashion visionary Bob Mackie made a special visit to Toronto this weekend in support of his new Documentary NAKED ILLUSION, directed by Matthew Miele.
With two Q&A appearances following weekend screenings of the Film at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, Mackie reflects on a dazzling six-decade-spanning career having designed iconic looks for the likes of Cher, Marilyn Monroe, Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett (and her eponymous show), Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Donna Summer, Elton John, Tina Turner, Miley Cyrus, and several more. Some of these names even appear in the Documentary. He has won Primetime Emmys and TONYs and his vision to this day,.still dictates red carpet sensibilities. Mackie is an American treasure.
So delighted to have met the man behind some of Fashion’s most unforgettable moments. And he is absolute angel, still looking great and full of life in his mid–80s! He mentioned needing to go get his glasses after having drinks with some notable names in Canadian fashion, prior to his screening. Will never forget this moment! He was so personable!
You can now stream NAKED ILLUSION on-demand on Prime Video.
(Photo/video credit: QE Deux | Mr. Will Wong)
#FIRSTLOOK: HOT DOCS TED ROGERS CINEMA PRESENT “A WEEKEND WITH BOB MACKIE”
Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema is thrilled to present A Weekend with Bob Mackie, a two-day celebration honouring the life, artistry and immense cultural impact of the iconic American designer who brought sparkle to the worlds of fashion and entertainment. On January 18 and 19, 2025, the Cinema will screen the Canadian Premiere of the enthralling new documentary Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion (Matthew Miele | USA | 105 min. | 2024), offering unprecedented access into Mackie’s world and delving into his unique upbringing and the pivotal relationships that shaped his life and career. Both screenings will feature exclusive and insightful Q&As with Mr. Mackie and Joe McFate, who has served as Bob Mackie’s Design Director for over 26 years.
Bob Mackie is a legendary American costume and fashion designer whose illustrious career spans over six decades. Known for his daring, innovative designs, Mackie has dressed some of the world’s most iconic entertainers, including Cher, Carol Burnett, Diana Ross, Elton John, Miley Cyrus, P!nk, Tina Turner and Zendaya. His creations have left an indelible mark on both fashion and entertainment, from stage and television to film and the red carpet. With nine Emmy Awards, three Oscar nominations, and a Tony Award for his work on The Cher Show on Broadway, Mackie’s work continues to inspire and influence generations of designers, performers and fans around the world.
Directed by Matthew Miele, the acclaimed director behind Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s (2013) and Always at The Carlyle (2018), Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion showcases the six-decade career of the award-winning costume and fashion designer. And like his costumes, Bob Mackie is wholly unique and unfiltered, which makes for a compelling and candid subject. The film examines Bob’s unique upbringing, those whom he has held dear within his inner circle, and the familial surprises in his life that have all contributed to the optimism and audacity present in his work.
The film gives access to the full Bob Mackie archive, which has been meticulously kept and curated with many rare and unseen artifacts, including the outfits that didn’t make the cut. It also captures the over-the-top costumes as they get sequined and beaded from sketch to stage. Specific highlights include some of the soon-to-be lost art methods by old-world artisans that help make each outfit Mackie conjures something to behold and remember.
Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion includes original interviews with Bob Mackie clients and collaborators, along with those he has inspired—designers, stylists, comedians and actors—as well as Mackie’s first-person account of some of his most iconic looks from The Carol Burnett Show’s Scarlett O’Hara dress to Cher’s 1986 Academy Awards look and Tina Turner’s iconic concert costumes. Bob Mackie is a truly peerless and timeless designer, with interviews from Cher to Pink, to Tom Ford and Miley Cyrus, to RuPaul and Carol Burnett a testament to that fact.
A CONVERSATION WITH BOB MACKIE: NAKED ILLUSION
D: Matthew Miele | USA | 105 min | 2024
Bob Mackie, a six-decade costume and fashion designer, received the CFDA Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement award and Tony nomination for The Cher Show. His unique, unfiltered style has been showcased in a new documentary.
Saturday, January 18 / 7:00 PM
Sunday, January 19 / 2:00 PM
Tickets for Hot Docs Members will be available starting Tuesday, December 17, at 1 PM, with sales opening to the general public on Thursday, December 19, at 1 PM.
To buy tickets and learn more, please visit www.hotdocs.ca
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