My documentary package, Courageous Creativity, focuses on queer artists. I did a lot of research in and out of class in order to create my products. For the most part, I stuck with all of the same conventions as normal documentary and magazine layouts, including b-roll and indirect interviews. A convention I challenged, though, was that 34- to 54-year-olds were the most likely to watch documentaries regularly, while 16- to 24-year-olds were the least likely, and yet young people are my target audience. My lack of knowledge regarding documentaries was remedied with the lessons we had in class, watching various documentaries during class time as well as for homework. These all varied in terms of content and techniques, yet all were connected by one thing: having a concrete intended message. I knew right away that more than anything, my documentary had to be informative but also serve a greater purpose. In class and also just from consuming documentaries on my own, I knew that interviews were the focal point in most documentaries. Since I didn’t rely heavily on voiceovers throughout the planning process, I wanted a natural and concrete way of expressing and emphasizing certain points that our subjects would want to fully flesh out. My research with magazines showed that the process of creating one is very tedious; for example, you must remember specifics such as keeping the background white and continuing your text with columns that run vertically. It was also important to present all of my information about my doc in a professional, non-biased way, and focus more on the behind the scenes rather than the content at face value.
My target audience is queer artists ages 16-30, although I think that my documentary can impact anyone of any age. On my social media page, there are multiple hashtags that reach out to potential viewers, as well as artistic challenges for them to engage in. I also believe that speaking directly to an audience is the best way to make them feel directly involved in the process, which is why I also asked them which questions they would like to see asked in future episodes, or what types of interview subjects they would be interested in watching. I also think that a give-away of art supplies as well as a charity stream where the viewers can directly ask questions to the creator and “stars” creates a connection with viewers that feels more personal. As for my magazine, there is a Q&A with the “creator” (me) where I explain my purpose and motives for creating the docu-series. It is easier to engage with a piece of media when the message behind it is clearly stated.
My blog is where I feel I can be most connected with my viewers, as there is no expectation of true professionalism or fear of discussing taboos. I express my hardships and doubts while creating every product, as well as how they changed and grew naturally throughout the complete process. There are also a multitude of blog posts where I ask for suggestions or input to help better my products; creating a humble persona also aids in developing a lax and comfortable branding. My documentary footage also had genuine and heartfelt clips that furthered this.
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The specific elements of my production work together to create a sense of a relaxed and fun atmosphere, with elements of creativity scattered throughout. The main takeaway from my branding is to be able to discuss art in a peaceful and comfortable setting. Although I am not the best filmmaker, I tried very hard to create a brand centered around calming, light colors through how I designed my magazine as well as my logo and social media page. I initially chose my social media page to be on Twitter, but due to technical issues, I went with Instagram. I am actually glad it turned out this way because I think that Instagram is a better fit for my overall branding. Younger people tend to use this app, and many artists rely on the algorithm and overall layout of the app to publish their work. Everything has clear cohesion, and I would like to believe that it all looks like it was created/inspired by a single company. I am particularly proud of my photoshoots for my magazine, as I think they were very engaging and professional, but also had a silly and friendly vibe, since my subjects were laughing together.
The conclusive feel of my products lean more towards lightheartedness, which I represented in my documentary excerpt through font, color choice, soft music, and funny clips. Although there are moments that can be serious, I think there is a consistent relaxing and comforting feeling. For example, my interviewees make jokes and there are frequent cuts from their interviews to them dancing and laughing.
While the aim is to feel relaxed, my documentary still works to target social issues surrounding gender identity and sexuality, with a specific emphasis on art. My interview subjects are all queer, and in my excerpt, both are gender non-conforming as well as female. As someone who is part of the LGBTQ+ community myself, I thought it was very important to delve into a topic that I personally experience and find important to share. I have found that it is somewhat of a stereotype to be artistically inclined and “gay,” so I wanted to showcase why this is most often the case. My subjects explain that art (specifically performance art) gives them the opportunity to express themselves in ways that are dangerous or taboo when not under the sphere of art. Building a community that also shares common interests can quite literally be the determining factor of someone’s happiness. People of the queer community tend to be more isolated from their peers, and are at a higher risk of being ostracized due to political or religious beliefs. Similarly, art and creativity in general is not often pursued as a result of stigmas; most people tend to think that art is a waste of time, and that there is no value in pursuing art. It is for this reason that I think those who feel at a distance from their peers tend to gravitate towards choosing to express themselves through art. “Art kids” tend to be labeled as weird, wacky, and quirky, so I tried really hard to present my subjects as down to Earth to demonstrate that not only is this not always true, but also that there’s nothing wrong with viewing the world from a unique perspective.
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