Take a Walk on the Wildside

Wigs: shoulder length or long, naturally curled or straight. Shoes: pink glittery six-inch heels or black shiny two-inch heels. Nipples: stick on dime or dollar sized. A vibrant mesh of items line the shelves of one of Toronto’s oldest cross-dressing stores. Opened in 1987, Wildside was one of the only places to offer a full male-to-female transformation through makeup, clothing and hair. Still open today, Take a Walk on the Wildside provides viewers with a glimpse into a day in the life of the store. As five customers pass through, we peek into their colorful lives and reasons for visiting. While customers come and go, storeowner Paddy consistently offers warm and welcoming service. As we witness heartfelt interaction, it becomes clear that Wildside is much more than just a store and Paddy more than a storeowner. In an age where items can be purchased easily and tutorials accessed online, “Take a Walk on the Wildside” shows why the store acts as safe and important space for its clientele. Winner of Best Documentary Short at the 6th Annual Canadian Screen Awards, 2018..