I thought this was cute:

Here is a letter from the film's writer and director, Craig Brewer:

Hello FiLM Club Member,

Before you watch my movie, I wanted to tell you about an experience I had with Tequila. Not the kind of Tequila you put in a margarita, I'm talking about the kind that spins around a pole, wearing platform heels and a G-string.

Hustle & Flow is not my first stab at feature filmmaking. My first film, The Poor & Hungry, was a black and white, DV movie. I had a crew of two: my brother in law, Seth Hagee, held the boom pole, and I held the camera.

One of our locations for the movie was the King of Clubs, a strip joint in South Memphis. I had made arrangements with the owner to shoot some scenes on Sunday just before they opened their doors to the public. Many of the dancers came early to participate in the movie as background extras.

Since Seth and I were the only crew members, we ran into a bit of a problem. Seth had to flash a red light across the stage, which meant there was no one to catch audio by holding the boom.

This is when I met Tequila.

She was country as all get-out, with freckles running across her tiny nose, and a twang that would turn Loretta Lynn's head. She eagerly volunteered to be our boom operator (and if there are any boom operators reading this, let me tell you, watching little Tequila hold that boom over her head, wearing her clear high-heel pumps, and bright orange bikini, was a sight to behold.)

When we were packing up our gear, Tequila came up to us, excited and sad. "Y'all comin' back t'morrow?" she asked. "Cuz I can hold the pole s'more for ya."

I saw it in her eyes. She had been bitten by the creative bug.

For many of us, creative expression and collaboration with others is nothing new. But we must never forget that there are many in this world who've never been asked to express themselves with movement or words or paint.

Regardless of our given circumstances, we are all entitled to contribute a verse. It is our right as human beings. A right that belongs to you, to me, and to a country stripper named Tequila.

I hope you enjoy the film.

Craig Brewer
Writer/Director of Hustle & Flow

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The fruits of my DVD binges: http://www.dvdaficionado.com/dvds.html?cat=1&id=kurlyswirl

I be Scrobblin': http://www.audioscrobbler.com/user/TasteeTreat/