I saw this video on Youtube today. It expresses a few points that run through my mind when submitting my work to festivals. Just the concept of people of color, indigenous, gay, or folks of age not being “relevant” in society therefore the film industry (we see this with the commonality of tokenism or the production of works which present narratives full of the typical perspectives people are comfortable with – over and over – instead of new presentations which present life on the spectrum as it is).

I’ve wondered when people read my works and see the multi ethnic ensemble inherent, if it turns them off a little (if they’re a judge from a community where they weren’t exposed to POC and prefer to keep things monochrome – buying into the societal imprint about that).

I do wonder if this impacts how the works are embraced during the submission process, about my ability to “place.”

Especially since I was asked by a producer once, if I’d consider making my black transgender character CISgender. And white. So it would be… “more accessible.”

I was troubled to say the least. This was one of my only interactions with the industry in my still hidden-away-land-of-obscurity, and to hear that come from her mouth was troubling indeed. I addressed it trying to communicate openly without reacting.

But it’s offensive and weird.

It’s like asking a slender person: can you plump up (cuz more people will like you), telling a punk or goth to dress more mainstream because people, telling a jovial person to kill it citing how people want to know you’ve suffered. It just crosses a line. And quite honestly I already consider how to make works digestible. I’ve taken out the fat, must I take out the meat too?

The point of the video was empowering for me as a creator of color. It was nice to know some people don’t think I need to go anywhere with it, other than where I am.