out is in
This is a music docu-series about some of our favorite musicians who are changing the world through their work and who also happen to be queer.
our inspiration
We think Celisse is the perfect artist to kick off our show. Her vibrant and daring character just carries a cool factor that feels genuine and grounded. Singer, multi-instrumentalist, and actress Celisse Henderson has an impressive track record to say the least. Her career has included performances with a range of artists, including Joni Mitchell, Marcus Mumford, Annie Lennox, Jon Batiste, Brandi Carlile, Lizzo, Melissa Etheridge, Joss Stone, Macy Gray, Mariah Carey, and Phish.
Beyond that, Celisse is involved in her community through her racial justice activism and efforts. Lately, she has developed a love for film photography. She has used it as yet another artistic expression and talent to share with the world.
Being out is bringing your full self to your work and your community efforts, therefore allowing the world to witness your shine and be inspired by it. We think that this message will resonate with viewers from all walks of life, queer and straight people alike.
This will be a short documentary about the human behind the work, the glamour, and the labels. We want to use this episode as the sizzle reel to pitch the show to networks and gain interest in our series. In exchange for Celisse’s participation, we will offer an edited live and intimate performance for any song with hopes to feature Celisse as an episode in our series in the future.
2 full production days in LA
1 hour sit down interview and broll with audio
Additional 1/2 day for live performance of one song
Shoot your community outreach or activism
Location for the interview will be ideally at your house or at a space that feels intimate with you
Promotional content captured of you playing a song from three well-lit angles at an interesting location
Rights to the content for web distribution with attribution
the sizzle production plan
the series
The throughline is simple. Queer artists are making positive contributions to both the industry and their communities. We will walk together through the humdrum of everyday life with our favorite musicians while experiencing a new and deeply personal side of them outside of their music and fame. Maybe we see them trying out a new hobby, cooking, helping a local non-profit, flipping through their album collection, or heading to the river to go fishing. While the landscape of both music and culture are evolving right before our eyes, thanks in large part to these visible queer musicians, we find ourselves most drawn to the things that root us in everyday life and bind us together. These musicians represent people of all shapes, sizes, colors, and cultures which is helping to reform the narratives we hear in our mainstream. Ultimately, impacting the lens through which we view ourselves and we aim to amplify their stories.
giving back
All of these musicians have used their social status to uplift a cause that they believe in. They want to give back. We want to use each episode as an opportunity for them to also promote those ideas or organizations. This will not only highlight the great work that the non-profit organizations are doing, but will also illustrate how queer people contribute to their communities. They all carry influence that goes well beyond their music and they use their voices to create real change. We will work with artists to learn which of these causes or organizations they want to feature. This will be a necessary component for each episode. We won’t tell the audience that queer people are good humans who are having a positive impact on the world beyond their music, instead we will show them.
on the shoulders of giants
We've come a long way since artists like Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Big Mama Thornton, Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, and later Prince, Elton John, Indigo Girls, challenged gender and sexuality norms. Imagine a world without these musicians stepping out to share their talents. More often artists are publicly embracing their queerness, paving the way for future generations to be proudly out. There is a historical aspect of our show where we want to leave space to recognize the heritage that brought us this far. We want to include as part of the documentary someone who was a musical inspiration to you growing up. We will recognize how they broke the mold as an artist, trailblazing the path for artists like you. This will further demonstrate how representation and visibility are important.
reference videos
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Ash Bernal
DIRECTOR/POST-PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR/EP
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Wade Yamaguchi
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY/EP
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Jade Ehlers
CREATIVE DIRECTOR/CASTING DIRECTOR/EP
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Jason Harper
STORY PRODUCER/EP
the approach
The production will feature interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and performances from each artist. To foster comfort and vulnerability, we’ll maintain a small, diverse crew and use a stripped-down camera setup for sensitive scenes. By spending time with artists in their homes and intimate spaces, we’ll capture honest interviews and vérité moments, highlighting how they navigate both their personal and public lives.
the look
the look
It's essential to capture the duality of how artists are seen by their fans and how they see themselves. We’ll collaborate with each artist to create a personalized look for their story, whether they prefer a polished vibe or something grittier and avant-garde. Overall, the show will have a natural tone in lighting, creating an intimate, living room-style conversation that beautifully showcases each artist's unique story and brand.
The look and feel of the episode will be organic and authentic as the viewer steps into the world of Celisse. It will have a handheld documentary style which will make it feel like the audience is sitting in the living room with Celisse. We will use wider lenses to make sure the environment is captured beautifully. The tones will be warm and rich with the black levels lifted slightly to create a film like image. We will use vintage lenses to create nice focus fall off and beautiful flares. These lenses will have a unique character that will help tell Celisses' story. We will work further with Celisse to establish style that reflects her originality and flair.
Ash Bernal
“I’m a queer artist who grew up in a conservative, Catholic family in rural America, relying on queer creators to understand and accept myself during my formative years. Music and art have the power to connect us, and by normalizing queerness through representation, we can create a community where we all coexist and inspire one another. The featured artists in this show are dedicated to nurturing the queer cultures that they lacked in their youth, and I’m passionate about using my queer lens to amplify those stories and break down barriers for others pursuing their dreams.”
Wade Yamaguchi
“Growing up in a small, conservative town in Colorado as a half Japanese, half German kid, I know how important diverse representation is for young kids. I discovered my passion for music through guitar, eventually joining a punk band that defined my youth. After high school, I fell in love with visual storytelling and launched a vibrant career in film. Meeting friends in the music and film scenes opened my eyes, challenging my family's beliefs and inspiring me to document queer narratives to combat ongoing discrimination. My background shapes my storytelling, and I recognize my privilege as a straight, cisgender male, striving to be an ally to the LGBTQIA+ community. Inspired by queer artists, I hold hope that my children will grow up in a more loving and accepting world.”
