Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Felix Mack. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Felix, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
I’ve been very lucky so far to have been able to work on a number of independent queer and trans productions but the most meaningful one so far has to be Willa Justice – Drag Queen Private Eye, written and directed by Jonathan Andre Culliton. Producing this with such an energetic, kind and hard working group in the beauty of the high desert here in Southern California has been such a joy. I’m a big fan of camp comedies and spy films so to be part of a project that meshes these two genres together is a dream come true, and with a drag queen as the star no less! I feel very strongly that we should be creating joyful, fun work like this which centers around queer characters especially right now as the lgbtq community at large is under attack. A big part of why I do what I do is because of my belief that visual media has the capacity to change hearts and minds and spark difficult conversations between people. I’m excited for what the future of this project and others in similar veins might look like.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m a writer/producer originally from Scotland. When I moved to LA 3 years ago something clicked inside of me and I realized that I could turn my lifetime passion for writing into something so much bigger. With a background in grassroots activism, I have always been excited about pushing forward social change and I know understand that film and television are a brilliant medium to do so. I firmly believe that culture moves faster than policy, and with that in mind I am committed to creating and shepherding in works of queer and trans joy to be played on the biggest screens possible.
So far, I’m immensely proud of the community I have around me of likeminded creatives who want to further queer and trans rights and representation. My brand is camp, colorful, loud and proud and I’m thrilled to meet others who want to live in that world with me. I take inspiration from creators like Jamie Babbit, John Cameron Mitchell and John Waters, among others. I’ve seen so much media representation about trans people specifically which portrays us as tragic victims who are traumatized by the world. Although there is a truth to this it is hardly inspiring for those of us who so badly need to see ourselves depicted in the media. We deserve fun, silly, entertaining stories that can act as possibility models for younger members of the community and those who are at an earlier stage of figuring things out. That is what I want to see, so that is what I am creating.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
It might sound cheesy but the biggest thing I’ve had/am having to unlearn is imposter syndrome. It’s super common for creatives and it can sometimes feel cyclical but finding a way to step into your power, to receive compliments and most importantly to be able to step back and truly see how far you have grown is so important. Even when things feel terrifying and you are so out of your depth you need to find ways to show up and be confident through the fear. It honestly goes so far. That doesn’t mean that you can’t be honest about feeling lost or confused but it does mean finding ways to ask questions and. be curious that comes from a place of passion for the work and a belief that you belong in the spaces you are in.
It’s can be difficult to do this, especially for marginalized individuals but it is even more important for us to do this work in order to take up space in places we have historically been excluded from and to create new spaces for others like us.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The grey areas of it all. Or should I say, the vibrant, multicolor of it all. Being an artist means living in questions, many that aren’t answered, some that are figured out through the work itself. In a world that is becoming increasingly black and white, I find immense pleasure in working collaboratively with others who aren’t afraid to change their minds or come up with wild and wacky solutions to problems. Especially when working on set, there are so many ways to think out of the box and on your feet to Macgyver your way out of an issue and that to me is delightful. I’ve had the luxury of working with some truly great minds so far and I’m so excited to see what those people go on to do and to put what I’ve learned from them to great use. Creativity is a vast world we get to play in and I’m honestly just so happy to be along for the ride.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @soccermomzen
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/felix-mack-085b64229/
Image Credits
Mike Tribble