Pop star on and off the ice

One of the most elegant and flamboyant skaters on the ice, Weir is equally entertaining --- and sometimes even more so --- off of it. And as open as Weir has been with the media throughout his roller-coaster career, fans now have a chance to get an even more up-close and personal tour of what life for an Olympian is like. At least what life is like for an Olympian named Johnny Weir.

Beginning in the fall of 2006, just months after Weir placed fifth in the Olympics in Torino, a couple of filmmakers began recording Weir's every step, capturing his sometimes testy training sessions with former coach Priscilla Hill and filming behind-the-scenes drama at his competitions around the world. But a la reality TV, the filmmakers also show Weir doing pilates, taking bubble baths and going to tanning salons.

The result is the film, "Pop Star on Ice,'' and on June 11, it will make its New York premiere. True to Weir's passion for fashion and drama --- he has done his fair share of modeling and has made a habit of wearing over-the-top costumes --- he plans to arrive at the SVA Theater in Chelsea in a Bentley (owned by some friends) and spend the day tweaking his hair and makeup. He's been hounded for tickets from "my girls at Starbucks.''

"It's all very surreal,'' Weir said in a recent interview. "From this film you'll see that the sport is not just the pretty packaged figure skater with beautiful music playing. I challenge any athlete in any sport to do what I do --- to fall on a giant ice cube every day.''

There is no one quite like Weir --- he makes a point of saying he's "not the most P.C. person'' or a "cereal-box person'' --- but what the film does manage to capture is the sense of the pressure on these athletes and the incredible rigors of the sport. And that's something to which all figure skaters at that level can relate and something which can educate even the most ardent fans.

Weir, an unscripted character in an often overly scripted sport, is sure to provide memorable insight into skating and his persona.

The film debuted May 24 in Seattle and will be featured at film festivals all over the country --- from Silver Spring, Md., to San Francisco --- this summer.

Weir hopes "Pop Star on Ice'' will open up people's eyes to the athleticism and challenges of the sport.

"People look at figure skating as a girls' sport,'' Weir said. "The shame is that what I do isn't as respected as a multimillion-dollar NFL player.''

The filmakers, David Barba and James Pellerito, became almost extended family to Weir. Even though Weir was aware of their omnipresence --- which lasted through the spring of 2008 --- even Weir said he was surprised to watch some of the scenes. "Particularly the days in training when I was way more diva than I ever thought I was,'' Weir said. " I shocked myself with how disrespectful I was to Priscilla Hill.''

Weir, originally from Coatesville, Pa., began skating when he was 12, considered an old age in figure skating. He made up for lost time quickly and soon he began training with Hill, a national competitor who just missed a trip to the Olympics herself. She coached skaters in nearby Newark, Del. She had been at his side through his rise and often through much turmoil. During the 2003 nationals in Dallas, Weir had a shot at making the world team but crashed into the boards early in his long program and withdrew.

Hill, however, was also at his side when Weir performed one of the most incredible comeback routines in the sport and won the national title the following year at nationals in Atlanta. He reeled off two more U.S. titles and earned an Olympic berth in 2006. 

In the summer of 2007, Weir switched coaches and began training in New Jersey with Galina Zmievskaya, best known for guiding Oksana Baiul to the Olympic gold medal in 1994.

Weir said he is not sure whether Hill has seen the film but added, "There's no malice.''

"We were all there,'' Weir said. "Priscilla was there when we fought all the time. She's very well aware of the film and accepted the guys at her house.

"I don't think there's anything that going to shock her, maybe some things that were said or maybe some things that she wore,'' Weir said.

Weir relinquished his American crown in 2007 to Evan Lysacek and came up short again in 2008. But Weir followed up those disappointments by winning a bronze medal at the 2008 world championships. That's as far as the film follows Weir on the competitive end.

But have no fear, Johnny Weir fans. If you can't get enough of him from the film, the filmmakers are also making a multiple-episode TV series titled "Be Good Johnny Weir,'' that is set to air on the Sundance Channel this fall.

The TV series will follow Weir through his international competitions this fall in Russia and Japan, where he will try to impress judges that he should be part of the U.S. Olympic team.

A year ago, Weir would have seemed almost an automatic pick for the U.S. team, but now Weir has his work cut out for him this season since he placed a crushing fifth at the 2009 U.S. Championships in January and failed to make the world team. The United States can send three men to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February. Jeremy Abbott is the current U.S. champion and Lysacek --- Weir's main rival --- was third at nationals but captured the 2009 world title.

In addition to dealing with the hoopla of the film and trying to get his programs ready for the Olympic season, Weir has been active with personal appearances, including one during New York's famed Fashion Week and has become involved with a few charitable causes, including Figure Skating in Harlem and recently began working with a non-profit group called to help raise awareness about childhood obesity. He recently auctioned a figure skating lesson to benefit the cause for a winning bid of $2,500.

"I should go with that (rate),'' Weir said with a laugh.

At any rate, Weir is usually worth the price of admission. But for now, Weir will have to wait and see how he fares at the box office and his home office, the ice rink, for results.