Stormy Daniels made quite an impression at the SXSW world premiere of the documentary “Stormy.” The film, produced and directed by Sarah Gibson, takes an intimate look at the life of the porn star who became a national sensation when it was revealed that she was paid $130,000 to keep quiet about her alleged affair with Donald Trump. As the credits rolled, Stormy Daniels took the stage and candidly exclaimed, “Fuck Trump!”
A Political Documentary and a Character Study
Judd Apatow, the executive producer of “Stormy,” described the film as a political documentary and a character study. The 110-minute film captures the whirlwind of events that occurred during Trump’s presidency and offers viewers a fly-on-the-wall perspective of Stormy Daniels’ life as the scandal unfolded.
The documentary explores how Daniels navigated her career and motherhood while dealing with the aftermath of her alleged affair with Trump. It delves deep into the impact that these events had on her life and sheds light on the challenges she faced.
A Longstanding Connection
Stormy Daniels shared an interesting anecdote during her appearance at SXSW. She revealed that she first met Judd Apatow 20 years ago when he hired her for a small role in the film “40 Year-Old Virgin.” Due to personal tragedy, Daniels couldn’t make it to the shoot, expecting to be replaced. However, Apatow surprised her by sending flowers and rescheduling the shoot, showcasing his empathy and understanding.
A Personal Journey
“Stormy” was primarily filmed in 2018, when Trump was already in office and the Daniels scandal continued to loom over him. The revelation of hush money led Daniels to file a lawsuit against Trump, challenging the validity of the non-disclosure agreement she had signed regarding their alleged affair. Trump denied the allegations and accused Daniels of lying, resulting in a second lawsuit from her on libel charges. However, the second suit was eventually dismissed. In August 2018, Trump’s lawyer Michael Cohen reached a plea deal regarding his involvement in silencing Daniels.
Empathy for Stormy
As the documentary premiered in an election year, Judd Apatow expressed his hopes that “Stormy” would foster empathy and understanding towards Daniels. He acknowledged that such movies may not alter people’s voting choices but believed that it was crucial to humanize her and provide a three-dimensional portrayal of her life. Apatow wanted viewers to recognize the challenges faced by individuals caught in the midst of scandalous situations.
Raising Awareness of Stormy’s Struggles
Erin Lee Carr, who served as a producer on “Stormy,” spoke about the purpose behind the documentary. She hoped that it would shed light on the challenges Stormy Daniels faced within the legal system. Daniels has been left to deal with the consequences of her trials and financial hardships, especially due to her former attorney Michael Avenatti’s actions. Avenatti gained fame for representing Daniels in her defamation lawsuit against Trump but later faced charges of bank fraud and misappropriation of client funds.
The filmmakers aimed to bring more awareness to Stormy’s struggles within the legal system, raising questions about the lawyer who did not have her best interests at heart.
The documentary “Stormy” has created waves at its premiere, offering audiences a candid and personal look into the life of Stormy Daniels. While it may not change political outcomes, it aims to provoke empathy and understanding for a woman who found herself at the center of a media storm. To learn more about the documentary, visit F5mag.com.