To promote the 1994 release of The Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, a music video starring cast member Hugo Weaving was filmed for 'I Love the Nightlife (Disco ‘Round)', a 1978 disco classic and Top 10 hit originally released by Alicia Bridges.

This silent, unedited behind-the-scenes footage shows Weaving rehearsing reaction shots for his character’s transformation from uniformed airline pilot and family man into flamboyant drag queen. In the final video, Weaving’s change takes place under a full moon, and Weaving’s performance leans into the werewolf and horror movie tropes suggested by the storyline, especially with the addition of long fingernails and wispy hairs signalling the arrival of his drag wig.

The footage offers insight into the process and commitment of a great actor like Weaving, who, even for a film tie-in music video, gives it his all, experimenting with new expressions and gestures for every take. It’s also funny to see him giggle between takes, overcome by the hilarity of what he’s doing. Once set to Bridges’ empowerment anthem, Weaving’s exuberant performance is crucial to the music video’s joyous end result.

In the wake of Priscilla’s box-office success, the remixed version of ‘I Love the Nightlife (Disco ‘Round)’ charted all over again, reaching No. 11 in Australia. Bridges is an out lesbian and longtime supporter of LGBTQIA+ rights, and her biggest hit remains popular within the gay community.