We were lucky to catch up with L.c. Henderson recently and have shared our conversation below.
L.C., appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
Picking just one project is like picking a favorite child. So, I’ll share two examples that come to mind.
The first project is “The Four Daniels,” which is a short I wrote and the first film I directed. “Daniels” is a sex-positive romcom told from the perspective of Sophie, who’s processing a traumatic breakup by dating multiple men…all ironically named Daniel. Writing and directing that film reaffirmed my love for the art of storytelling. We shot in 2021, and it was a healing process for the cast and crew to create together after a horrific year in the pandemic. I’m so grateful for that experience. “Daniels” is wrapping up our festival run, which has taken us to Los Angeles and Austin and even Athens, Greece. I’m so excited to release it into the world soon.
The confidence from “Daniels” inspired a piece I created for Meow Wolf Grapevine: The Real Unreal called “I Really Wish Mercury Wasn’t in Retrograde Right Now!” This micro-short film is a sapphic retelling of Adam and Eve, where instead of being punished, our lovers are rewarded for following their desires. Having a piece in an interactive art museum feels so surreal. Like, a total stranger could be watching “Mercury” right now as someone else is reading this interview. It truly shows how connected film makes us, and how art can resonate with anyone. I always say, if even just one person can relate to something I make, then I’ve done my job.
L.C., love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m L.C. Henderson, and I’m a film director, writer, and editor. By day, I work at bmpcreative, an agency that works directly with Netflix to create social content for upcoming titles. Under the helm of Justin Johnson and Anthony Deptula, I’ve been so lucky to work on projects for shows such as “Squid Game Season 2,” “Cobra Kai,” “Outer Banks,” “Avatar: The Last Airbender”…the list goes on and on. By night, I focus on my own independent films, ranging from writing shorts and features, editing my friends’ projects, planning funding initiatives, and even creating vision boards for films I want to direct.
I grew up in the mountains of North Carolina, in the town of Mayberry (for all the “Andy Griffith Show” fans out there). My childhood was shaped by the rich storytelling traditions of the Appalachians – from my grandparents’ memories of meeting in the streets of downtown, to my parents convincing my young aunt that Patrick Swayze was running on the beach during family vacation. I started writing Jonas Brothers and Tokio Hotel fanfiction at 13 years old with my best friend, Brittney, and at sleepovers we’d stay up until 7am writing about how we were destined to fall in love with the boys from each band. When I realized I wasn’t going to marry Bill Kaulitz, or musically be the next Gerard Way from My Chemical Romance, I tumbled into film school and rediscovered my love of storytelling. This time, however, I had the power to bring those stories to life visually. It turns out that those sleepless nights writing fanfiction paid off.
For anyone who’d like to work with me, I offer freelance editing services and creative consulting. I’ve been lovingly dubbed a “Creative Superstar” at work because I bring off-the-wall humor to edits that resonate with a younger audience online, while also balancing more heartfelt pieces that move fans to tears. I’m always searching for compelling stories, and love helping others shape their ideas, whether as a co-writer or director.
I’m still relatively young in my career, but what I’m most proud of so far is my ability of not giving up. My mom always said I was hard-headed as a kid, and she’s right – once I’m determined on a project, I refuse to let anything stop me. Even if it takes years to get something made, as long as I’m deeply passionate about the story, I’ll make it happen.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
As a filmmaker, I feel it is my duty to shine a light on stories of marginalized groups who have not had a chance to shine on screen. Inspired by the works of Gregg Araki, a lot of my body of work is about queer love, which were stories I needed to see as a young, queer artist. I want to create characters who aren’t afraid to explore love, characters who are blue-collar workers like those in the area I grew up in, characters who are diverse and from a wide range of backgrounds around the world. On the screen, I strive to cast actors from underrepresented groups, as we need more authentic representation in the industry. My films refuse to cater to just one type of audience – I want every viewer to find a piece of themselves, physically or emotionally, in my stories.
I also believe art is a form of political protest. For example, my first feature film, which we’re currently seeking funding for, follows a young ex-convict readjusting to life after his recent release from prison. Instead of judging our protagonist, our story focuses on the failures of the U.S. justice system to those it incarcerates. Not only are voting rights revoked for recently released citizens, but housing is hard to secure, steady and well-paying jobs are few and far between, and government assistance (such as food stamps) can be incredibly difficult, even impossible, to obtain. These barriers often force people back into a life of crime just to survive. Our film explores these issues to foster understanding, aiming to shed light on a system in desperate need of reform.
As a society, we’ve lost the plot on empathy. Through my art, I hope to bridge that gap, offering perspectives on lives that may feel unfamiliar to some. At the end of the day, we’re all made of the same flesh and blood, and we’re all fighting for love and connection. I want to remind viewers of that shared humanity.
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
People, people, people. Art cannot be made alone. Even auteurs surround themselves with a team of people to get the job done. I’m guilty of craving solitude while creating – especially in the early stages of writing a script. I get embarrassed, questioning if what I’m working on is worth making.
But I’m constantly reminded that a film isn’t real until collaborators bring it to life – whether it’s someone seeing potential in a script, a crew capturing the vision on set, or feedback from the first round of edits. Having an outside perspective is invaluable because it helps reveal the blind spots you didn’t even know were there. Find one person who will always give you honest feedback. For me, I’m lucky because that’s Brittney, my aforementioned best friend and fanfiction co-writer. Sure, too many cooks in the kitchen can be a problem, but if multiple people flag the same issue, it’s worth revisiting what’s not working. And that’s not failure – it’s an opportunity to grow.
Competition is real, especially in the film industry. We all want to be the next household name so we can bring our passion projects to life. But if you see everyone as competition, you risk becoming bitter and resentful. Instead, focus on building a supportive community. When it’s your time, they’ll rally around you. We’re all here to tell stories, whether through film, painting, music, or another medium. Why waste time resenting someone else’s success when you could be inspired by their journey?
At the end of the day, art is our legacy. It’s how we’ll be remembered long after we’re gone. Art allows future generations to see our stories, our truths, and our passions. Cinema is far from dead. Use your voice to create boldly, support others, and leave behind a legacy that inspires. Long live artists and the work we create.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://filmsbylc.myportfolio.com/
- Instagram: @filmsbylc
Image Credits
THE FOUR DANIELS PROPERTY OF HIDDEN GEM AND NOW HERE PICTURES
I REALLY WISH MERCURY WASN’T IN RETROGRADE RIGHT NOW! PROPERTY OF MEOW WOLF