I had an interesting conversation with Joe Manganiello last year. It was during the Sundance Film Festival, and Team InStyle had set up a pop-up photo studio on Main Street in Park City, Utah, to photograph and interview all of the fest’s stars about their new projects. All of the sudden Mr. Manganiello walks in to our studio unannounced.
Eyebrows raised. Hearts pulsed. To what did we owe the pleasure?Two words: La Bare. “I brought the real life Magic Mike,” he said. He was talking about premiering his film, a documentary he financed and directed himself that takes an insider’s look at the history, the lives, and the culture of the popular male strip club, La Bare in Dallas. (Watch the trailer here.)
This weekend, Showtime debuted the film to viewers across the country. It was a victory for Manganiello, who wanted so urgently to tell the back story behind male strippers after playing one himself in Magic Mike. The truth you learn after watching it: Like Hollywood, it’s a tough business.
A glimpse of our conversation is below.
Why this strip club?
Joe Manganiello: “It’s one of the oldest kind of notorious like most popular clubs in the world. A friend of mine used to dance there in the ’90s, so when I was researching Magic Mike I uncovered it and heard all the stories.”
So this all because of Magic Mike?
“Well, yes. I mean I wasn’t hanging around male strip clubs before Magic Mike [laughs]. There are so many misconceptions about the industry—mainly that it’s sex driven and rock-and-roll, and they’re the rock stars. But it’s not what people expect.”
It’s portrayed that way in Magic Mike though.
“Magic Mike only got to scratch the surface because it was only two hours. They needed to tell a love story, they couldn’t really concentrate on the guys.”
Did Channing Tatum approve?
“Yes. And [director] Steven Soderbergh. They’re both super excited about the movie and behind it.”
RELATED: Watch Channing Tatum Play Box of Lies Against Jimmy Fallon
So one thing you learn while watching La Bare is that it’s not just about dancing.
“They’re not that great of dancers. They’re just really charming, friendly like they’re just the coolest guys.”
And it has a darker side. [One of the dancers was murdered and Manganiello filmed the dancers in mourning.]
“You get to see the guys in a light that you wouldn’t just see from parties. And you see these big strong guys really open up to you. They’re vulnerable. It’s really just amazing to see as they pour their hearts out on camera, which you would never expect.”
As a director, what’s it like being behind the camera?
“Great! You don’t have to listen to other people. You don’t have to work on somebody else’s project when you don’t necessarily agree eye to eye on what they are looking for. So I think there’s a lot more control and because of that you get to be more creative.”
Check out La Bare, available on Showtime.
PHOTOS: The Hottest Celebrity Abs!