As a queer artist navigating through the creative landscape, I find myself deeply inspired by the words of Gallo and their fellow panelists. Their passion for personally transformative art, their emphasis on community support, and their innovative approach to funding resonate strongly with me.
Queer creators, content makers, advocates, political analysts, opinion leaders, and public officials discussed how current issues in politics and the film sector are intersecting and proposed that independent storytelling and social media platforms can effectively counteract the rising anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment during a one-hour panel at NewFest36‘s second Industry + Filmmaker Day.
On a Friday, Nick McCarthy, the programming director at NewFest, commenced an occasion hosted at Manhattan’s LGBT Center. The focus of this gathering was the intersection of cinema, media, and political advocacy. Kickstarter, NEON, and The Hollywood Reporter were the event collaborators.
The open dialogue included perspectives from Matt Bernstein, a political and cultural commentator, Marti Cummings who is a drag artist, political activist, former city council candidate, Jude Dry, a filmmaker and culture critic, River Gallo, a filmmaker known for “Ponyboi”, Crystal Hudson, New York City council member of Brooklyn’s District 35, and Rajendra Roy, the chief curator of film at the Museum of Modern Art.
As a passionate gamer (and ally), I can’t help but feel the tension brewing ahead of the 2024 election. Recently, at a gathering of creative minds in Hollywood, we delved into how queer artists can navigate the tumultuous political landscape – from local and state ballots to federal elections, and the surge of anti-LGBTQ+ bills across various fronts such as transgender rights, intersex rights, book bans, and censorship. We also discussed the intriguing possibility that an uptick in LGBTQ+ representation within films and media might have an impact on the progress or regression of our community’s legal rights and societal acceptance.
Hudson, the first openly gay Black woman to be elected in New York City, expressed to the audience that she wouldn’t have achieved this milestone if not for those who believed she could make it, and that belief was fostered by popular culture, art, and creative individuals who paved the way. On the other hand, Cummings, who became the first nonbinary candidate for City Council in New York City in 2021, highlighted that political representation – such as Chi Ossé, Tiffany Cabán on the New York City Council, Mauree Turner in Oklahoma’s state house of representatives, and Sarah McBride in Delaware’s state senate – sends a message that everyone has a place at the table, and their voices will be acknowledged.
Gallo, who is both a writer, director, and activist for intersex rights, firmly agrees that there’s a strong connection between the creative work artists produce and the legislation concerning LGBTQ+ rights in the U.S. This idea is echoed by Favianna Rodriguez, co-founder of The Center of Cultural Power, who once said that art often serves as a precursor to political change, being approximately 15 years ahead of it.
They expressed, “I often point to Pose as a time when I felt, ‘Wow, we’ve made it.’ Transgender individuals are now a significant part of mainstream culture in a way that is uplifting and stunning. But then, what followed? Over the last five years, there has been an alarming increase in hostile actions against transgender people through legislation.” They continued, “It seems like a dance we’re stuck in. As artists, we must have the resilience to keep moving forward and to continue making more daring and significant strides in our work if we want to bring about positive policy changes.
A movie-maker, known as Dry, who worked at Indiewire during the period of Transparent on TV, also emphasized how acceptance by American society as a whole can shift positively or negatively for the transgender community. They pointed out that visibility often brings risk – this has always been true, but it’s particularly noticeable in light of the backlash against trans rights and the significant impact of Laverne Cox’s Time magazine cover story.
Regarding the strategies queer artists might employ at present, Cummings mentioned that creating movies may not be particularly effective given the upcoming election in two weeks. However, they highlighted existing works that expand the range of stories being told as a means of continuing to challenge anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments both now and in the future. Narratives that portray the delight of queer existence, such as “Heartstopper,” can provide a positive reflection for a young person who is frequently exposed to negative portrayals of their future and present due to legislative changes, helping them see themselves in a more affirming light rather than how these lawmakers attempt to define them.
Dry highlighted efforts by queer creators who are going beyond featuring a single LGBTQ+ character in their narratives, and are instead “using their platform to be political. A new show this season that I really love is English Teacher. … They did a really great episode about a shooting club on campus and because [Brian Jordan Alvarez] is queer and a good comedian, he really threads the needle amazingly in addressing school shooter drills,” they said. “Making queer art is a political act still, but the limits of representation have been shown and we have to move beyond it and use our platforms to speak to other issues that are affecting Americans.”
For Roy, recent censorship attempts by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are a form of “creep” that people should work toward stopping before attacks on certain communities and their rights escalate and grow. “[Ron DeSantis] tried to say you’re not allowed to play an ad on television in support of abortion rights. That’s creep, right? Each little step like that, we have to fight against and remain vigilant, because it will creep not only into the political sphere and your corporeal sphere, but also into the cultural sphere, and certain images will then become forboden.”
In the face of possible or actual retribution and suppression, it’s crucial to hold firm to your beliefs and discover alternative paths to carry out your tasks, which is equally significant right now.
Last year was a significant shift for me as I gained representation from major Hollywood studios that now focus on internet creators. However, my passion for discussing the Middle East didn’t align with this new path. Navigating an industry where there’s little generational precedent for online work can be tough, but I adapted by focusing on platforms like Patreon. In essence, I’m connecting with like-minded individuals and collaborating on projects. We’re aiming to foster our own communities instead of relying on big conglomerates, and we’re providing mutual support.
As a gamer, I recognize that queer artists and individuals are facing numerous hurdles in today’s political and artistic milieu. However, I believe one effective approach to overcome these challenges is by crafting art that empowers us on a personal level – art that transforms us.
They expressed that we’re working within an unstable industry and nation, and their desire is to produce strange, uncanny art, tackling tasks that are deeply frightening to them. As an artist, they feel it’s our responsibility to delve into what lies beneath society, revealing the hidden aspects and uncomfortable truths. They believe we should strive for thorough investigation in our work, not necessarily with the aim of changing laws, but rather for a personal transformation that may echo through broader cultural layers.
Additionally, it was proposed to explore options beyond established studios and conventional financing, opting instead for community-based and crowd-funded initiatives. This approach could aid in the promotion of art forms capable of resonating beyond mere political instances, as pointed out by Gallo. Notably, he remarked that artists in the U.S. often lack the funding support enjoyed by their counterparts in other nations.
Here’s one way of paraphrasing the given text: “It’s important to understand that the film industry operates within a closed resource pool, where funding is primarily available for projects with high potential profit. As filmmakers, we should shift our perspective from seeking help from upper tiers (e.g., investors or agents) to collaborating with those around us – friends, colleagues, and community members. By working together, we can support each other in creating, producing, and funding our own projects.
Additionally, the panelists, along with them, advocated for a deeper examination of social media platforms and their significant influence in capturing both voter and entertainment audiences. Dry pointed out that many TikTok creators are doing groundbreaking work. He was fond of the movie “I Saw the TV Glow“, which had a decent run, but when it comes to viewership, maybe we should be less elitist about content creation and distribution methods. On TikTok, visual content is being widely consumed.
Last year, conflicts occurred during negotiations involving unions due to the presence of traditional studios, streaming platforms, a grocery delivery service, a tech company, and algorithms. These entities were primarily focused on their own interests rather than culture. However, it was the traditional studios that shaped our cultural landscape, with figures like Louis B. Mayer being instrumental in creating cinema culture. Roy further stated that while the process of producing content is challenging, influencers currently hold significant power. If an influencer can collaborate effectively with a creator, there could be a new path forward, and we might be on the verge of it.
As a passionate gamer speaking to this gathering, I wholeheartedly concur. Instead of fixating solely on elected officials and politicians for guidance and trust, we should shift our focus towards content creators. We need to depend less on the words of politicians and more on those who craft genuine, honest, and real content. These are individuals who call it like they see it, standing up against power rather than those who might say whatever is needed to boost their own interests.
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2024-10-21 02:25