Jenifer Yeuroukis, a filmmaker friend I’ve met about a decade ago in my hip hop classes at the former Edge Performance Art Center in Los Angeles, has just directed her first feature film The Queerdos that I executive produced. The Queerdos also marks the first feature film of the film movement Dogma LA 25 that a collective of filmmakers and I have founded. Wrapping The Queerdos, I’ve taken the opportunity to have a conversation with her.
How did you begin filmmaking?
JY: After attending Cal Arts theatre school I was hired by an artist to choreograph movement for her video installation and live performance art in France and Germany.
That job evolved into a ten year collaboration that pulled all of my theatre, dance movement and cinematic visual aesthetics together. When I returned to the United States I landed a director shadow position under Michael Nankin (Battle Star Galactica) and he really encouraged me to continue down the path of directing cinema.
What was your experience directing The Queerdos as your first feature… and how did it come about?
JY: The experience was like a fever dream grand prix car race. Every part of this production moved SO fast! But that structure kind of worked for me. There was no real time to second guess my gut instincts. I’m not afraid of making fast decisions if I have to. I enjoy the process of creative problem solving and there was a lot of that on this ultra low budget 10 day shoot. I got attached to the project in an unexpected way. I had just moved back to Paris to live permanently and my colleague and dearest friend Quentin Lee called me and said “Do you want to direct your first feature film?” I said “Sorry I can’t, I just moved back to Paris I am not coming back to LA” He sent me the script and I instantly recalled that I had read the short film version of it three years prior. As soon as I read the feature script, I was in love and buying a ticket back to LA.
I know you have directed a vertical series before The Queerdos… how would you compare both experiences?
JY: This is hard for me to answer. Honestly they were the same but different and I hesitate to elaborate on it because I don’t want to compare. I loved both experiences for totally different reasons and I learned a lot shooting both. And I would 100% direct a vertical and a feature again. My preference is horizontal old fashioned filmmaking, but I cut my teeth on art films and dance choreography in Europe so that should say a lot about me.
How does The Queerdos fit into the current climate of America and the world?
JY: How do I answer this without triggering people? The climate of America needs sincere story telling no matter who the characters are. The Queerdos offers an updated version of the 80s queer films that I adore. But more importantly I believe The Queerdos will speak to people who we might not consider sexually Queer but who are still different than the 1950’s nuclear family image. I mean my mom is straight and white (she still has a photo of her crush, Kris Kristofferson in her kitchen) and yet I think she’s a total “Queerdo” because she simply marches to her own beat in life and doesn’t fall in line with that 1950’s family picture. All she wants is exactly what the characters in The Queerdos want, to be seen and embraced by a community of peers, to experience love and laughter without fear of being ostracized. I also think in a world of AI tech driven graphic images, it’s refreshing and healing to see a film that is more organic.
What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from making The Queerdos?
JY: Too many to list here. I am learning every day with everything I do. I am always making mistakes and learning. I am grateful that I get to work with so many creatives who have shown me a tremendous amount of grace.
Is there a favorite scene or moment of The Queerdos on set?
JY: I think that I got to make a feature film with kind generous and very talented people. We laughed A LOT. I remember there was a moment when BOTH the DP, Douglas, and the first AC, Stanley, were really sweating from holding in their laughter. It’s really hard to keep focus when you are laughing. Like, impossible. So hats off to them for simply not breathing to get the shot. They are my heroes.
What are you working on next?
I am going back to France. I want to get back to my video installation art.
What is one advice you’d give to a filmmaking about to make their first feature?
Just say yes if you have the opportunity to do it and know that not everything will go the way you planned, be flexible and embrace a lot of imperfection. Say please and thank you a LOT.
Find out more about the film on TheQueerdos.com #thequeerdos #dogmala25
