The full truth behind the existence of literary wonder JT LeRoy is finally being brought to the public’s attention. ‘Author: The JT Leroy Story,’ the new documentary about the celebrated writer who turned out to just be an invention of another scribe’s imagination, opens this Friday in select theaters. Amazon Studios and Magnolia Pictures will distribute the film, which was written and directed by Jeff Feuerzeig, into Landmark Sunshine Cinema and Lincoln Center’s Elinor Bunin Munroe Theatre in New York City.
‘Author: The JT Leroy Story’s theatrical release comes after it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January. The documentary’ then screened at such other festivals as the San Francisco International Film Festival, Independent Film Festival of Boston, Seattle International Film Festival and BAMcinemaFest.
Amazon Studios and Magnolia Pictures have released the following synopsis for ‘Author: The JT Leroy Story’:
On January 9, 2006 The New York Times sent shockwaves through the literary world when it unmasked “it boy” wunderkind JT LeRoy, whose tough prose about his sordid childhood had captivated icons and luminaries internationally. It turned out LeRoy didn’t actually exist. He was dreamed up by 40-year-old San Francisco former phone-sex operator turned housewife, Laura Albert.
‘Author: The JT LeRoy Story’ takes us down the infinitely fascinating rabbit hole of how Albert breathed not only words, but life, into her avatar for a decade. Albert’s epic and entertaining account plunges us into a glittery world of rock shows, fashion events, and the Cannes red carpet where LeRoy becomes a mysterious sensation. As she recounts this astonishing odyssey, Albert also reveals the intricate web spun by irrepressible creative forces within her. Her extended and layered JT LeRoy performance still infuriates many; but according to Albert, channeling her brilliant fiction through another identity was the only possible path to self-expression.
For more information on the documentary, visit its official website. Watch the official trailer, and check out the official poster, for ‘Author: The JT Leroy Story’ below:
Written by: Karen Benardello