Wachowskis host TransLife Center benefit at film studio

The award-winning sibling filmmakers Lana and Andy Wachowski held a very unique benefit, TransReelization, for Chicago House’s TransLife Center Aug. 2. The event took place in their North Side Chicago film studio, Kinowerks.

Additional photospread at the link: windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/photospreadthumbs.php?APUB=wct&ADATE=2014-08-03&AGALLERY=TransLife.

On display were props and representations from their many films, including the Matrix series (guests could sit in a Matrix chair from the famous scene with Laurence Fishburne), Cloud Atlas, Speed Racer and the much-anticipated Jupiter Ascending, out in 2015. The Wachowskis gave a private tour and discussed how they move a project from concept to a finished film—and they even showed several exciting minutes from Jupiter Ascending, with the film’s stars racing through the skies of Chicago.

The evening also featured a short film series in the studio’s screening room, with a diversity of trans-related movies shown, as curated by Mickey R. Mahoney and Karin Winslow, a Chicago House board member and wife of Lana Wachowski.

Stan Sloan, CEO of Chicago House, also gave a parting award to TransLife founding Director Bonn Wade, who stepped down from the post July 31. Sloan also introduced the new director to the crowd, Josie Paul. Paul told Windy City Times she is excited to continue the work that Wade started, and looks forward to serving the Chicago transgender community.

Videos below by Tracy Baim/Windy City Times