LIPSTICK OF THE BRAVE
Tripping Jupiter’s “Lipstick of The Brave” is an equal parts timely and timeless piano ballad with a personal message dedicated to freedom of gender expression. The single is accompanied by a short film with hand-drawn animation directed by illustrator, animator and two-time Academy Award Nominee Bill Plympton that brings the story and message of “Lipstick of the Brave” to life in gorgeous living color.
ABOUT THE SHORT FILM
Bill Plympton’s hand-drawn music video for “Lipstick of The Brave” takes Madstone’s intimate and personal story and turns it into something universally accessible and instantly captivating, conjuring images of each one of these queer icons of Madstone’s childhood in a expressionistic, manic animation style that is typical of Bill’s work as a cartoonist and animator. With two academy award nominations, a Cannes jury prize, and a number of other awards and accolades under his belt, Bill Plympton was Madstone’s first pick for someone to bring their vision to life, and when Bill received the track he immediately took to it, with Madstone saying that he instantly understood and captured the message they wanted to get across.
HONORS
In 2022, the year of release, the short film / music video has been named as an official selection at the OUTShine LGBTQ+ Film Festival, LGBTQ+ Los Angeles Film Festival, Big Apple Film Festival, Cherry Grove Archives Collection Film Festival, Montreal Independent Film Festival, Cinema Diverse: The Palm Springs LGBTQ+ Film Festival, Reel Affirmations: Washington DC’s International LGBTQ Film Festival, Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival, Coney Island Film Festival, Santa Fe Independent Film Festival, and Woodstock Film Festival.
MADSTONE’S MEANING BEHIND THE SONG
“‘Lipstick of the Brave’ is about my journey of personal empowerment, embracing the goddess energy inside of me and each of us – and honoring that goddess energy by dressing in drag and embracing drag/fantasy through lipstick, makeup and dress. It is a brave and courageous act when any of us does it as individuals, it is an act of collective power when we do it in community”. It’s a message that holds particular weight at this particular moment where trans and gender non-confirming youth across the country are under assault from unnecessary and cruel legislation aimed at policing their gender, but the classic style of the song allows it to transcend just being a song of the current moment and become a rallying cry of the outcasts, misfits, and rebels who have always and will always be here.
WATCH AUDIENCE FEEDBACK FROM WILDSOUND FILM FESTIVAL
FROM THE FANS
“I love the sentiment of it… the song is so beautiful, and the title, too! What a charming and poignant little film.” - Cherry Vanilla, former publicist for David Bowie, singer and actress
“What a gorgeous song. I feel honored to be part of this story and this history.” - Stephen Trask, creator of Hedwig And The Angry Inch