Gay artists should consider alternative cities
It’s difficult for any artist, even gay artists, to get noticed in crowded cities like LA and New York. So these gay artists moved to Denver, an alternative city, to stand out from the crowd and avoid high production costs.
Gay artists in Denver
“It really comes down to the story…You can tell people stories – ones that aren’t normally told.”
Listen to gay artists finding success in Denver:
Summary of Gay Artists
Rachel Herring Finley stars in Carlos Daniel Flores’ short film I stand stillan abstract piece based on an original poem that explores the love between two women. Part of Denver’s own CinemaQ Film Festival last July, which highlighted local and national gay artists, the short film honors the victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting and reminds us to “give ourselves some joy and respect our truth, whatever that may be.”
Carlos was born in Puerto Rico and was exposed to music and art at a young age. Film directing satisfies his “desperate need to express himself” and allows for experimentation through the medium itself. He recently moved to Denver from Florida and is inspired by the city’s energy and creativity. Rachel earned a degree in opera and musical theater training from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City, but returned to her home state of Colorado to perform in local professional theater.
Carlos and Rachel met through the Denver theater community and today share the process of working together I stand stillIt covered the organic nature of the project, what it was like to film in Denver, and the connections between the Pulse shoot and the film. Listen to her advice for aspiring actors and directors and learn the value of supporting the arts and gay artists in our community!
Topics about gay artists
Rachel’s long road to appearing in the film
- Degree in Opera
- Training in musical theater at AMDA in New York
- Back to Denver
- Involved in the theater, got to know the film community
- I fell in love with the film
How Carlos became a director
- Born in Puerto Rico
- Father is a musician
- Love of all arts
- Realized possibilities of the film medium
Rachel’s affinity for acting
- Singing cultivates the love of performance
- Love of history
What motivated Carlos to direct
- Desperate need to express yourself
- Loves all aspects of filmmaking
- It is necessary to actively create something
The background of the short film, I stand still
- Part of a series
- Film about a poem
- Ambiguous, abstract shape
- The subject ties into Carlos’ process of accepting himself as bisexual
Like the actors in I stand still improvised the central argument
- Two lesbians argue about a hidden relationship
- The original plan was for an ad-lib argument, audio was not to be used
- I based myself on big moments in previous relationships
- Difficult to film, but beautiful
- Shows how similar we all are in relationships
The amazing experience of filming in Denver
- Carlos recently moved to Denver
- Loves the city, the beauty of the mountains
- Not oversaturated with industry people
- I have a hard time finding other creatives
- It feels like there are no rules yet
- The project was very small and no permits were required for filming in public spaces
The art scene, gay, straight and different in Denver
- Carlos values energy and creativity
- Acceptance of all forms has come to life in the last decade
- Investing in murals, street art
How the Pulse Nightclub shooting affected Carlos’ creative process
- Do sound design, compose music for I stand still
- The shooting made it difficult to continue
- Ultimately completed film as a tribute to the victims
The connections between the Pulse filming and the film I stand still
- Personal connection for Carlos: Bell tower at the end as a body count
- Wider Analytical Connection: Accept your truth, whatever it may be
Rachel’s Character Building Process
- Typically drawn from personal experience
- I stand still The actors were required to build their characters gradually, an organic experience
- Associated with feelings from difficult relationships
- The ultimate goal is to make it truthful to the audience and other characters
How long did it take to film? I stand still
- Six weeks with breaks in between
- All involved in a different project at the same time
What Carlos’ trial looks like
- Different every time
- I stand still started with a poem, a storyboard
- Schedule created
- Organic process, improvised argument scene
- Carlos is responsible for sound design, composing, editing and coloring
What’s next for Carlos?
- Follow-up short films (different subject matter, similar style)
- Working on a film around a bilingual poem with a dancer/choreographer
- Also working on another short and feature film
- Entertaining film series (under two minutes)
The benefits of starting with short films
- Work on a budget
- A good way to discover new things and meet people
Carlos’ advice for aspiring directors
- Just start creating
- Don’t worry about what others are doing
Rachel’s guide for aspiring actors
- Give yourself the opportunity to make mistakes
- Learn from small parts, projects
- Connect with other artists and learn from their experiences
The three top locations for film productions
- Santa Fe/Albuquerque
- Atlanta
- Vancouver