Camille Ora-Nicole

Camille Ora-Nicole (she/they) is a Writer, Producer, and Artist living in Southern California. Her work focuses on creating more inclusive spaces for Queer and BIPOC people, whether it be the space within pages, on the screen, or IRL.

Camille is the founder of The Queer 26, a non-profit multimedia organization that helps queer creatives of color thrive through filmmaking, writing, and photography. The Queer 26 provides a platform that gives queer folks the space to speak their truths, express themselves, grow in their craft, and find new opportunities.

Alongside The Queer 26, Camille runs Oracami Studio, which examines the impacts of our environments on how our memories are formed and how it affects our relationships with others and the universe. Camille combines poetry with visual arts in order to illustrate the themes present in her work.

Camille received her BFA in Graphic Design from Cal Poly Pomona in 2014, and her Master of Heritage Conservation from USC in 2018.

FILMMAKER Q&A

Your work often combines poetry with visual arts to explore themes of memory, relationships, and identity. How do you approach the fusion of these mediums, and what do you feel each contributes to the narrative experience?

When I add visuals to my words, I am opening up spaces for those words to live in. Sometimes those spaces exist in pen and ink on paper, and other times, it lives on the screen. Words are one thing on their own, but when you add visual elements to them, often it clarifies or deepens the meaning in ways that cannot be expressed simply with words on paper. Visuals make everything all the more visceral, and if it’s done right, memorable.

The support of organizations like the California Arts Council was crucial in bringing “Passion of X” to life. Could you speak to the significance of collaboration and community partnerships in the creation of impactful multimedia projects, especially those centered around marginalized voices?

The support is HUGE! CAC made it possible for us to make the film. That community of panelists allowed us to create a work of art that empowered queer and BIPOC writers, cinematographers, editors, artists and more. When the community comes together in believing in something like this, the results reverbrate. It sets these amazing artists up for not only opportunities like this, but opportunities in the future. Furthermore, when we are able to finish projects like this, it adds just another layer of proof that our stories matter, that our talent is bonkers, and that we deserve to be invested in.

Could you share a bit about your transition from studying Graphic Design to delving into the realms of filmmaking, writing, and photography? How has your educational background influenced your approach to storytelling and visual expression?

In the timeline of my creative pursuits, writing came first, followed quickly by photography, then music. Unfortunately, when I got into undergrad, both were for the most part sacrificed for architecture. Switching into graphic design allowed me the space that I had been missing to jump back into photography, and then back into writing, primarily songs. Although I loved film and tv, and wanted to find a way into it, I really at the time couldn’t figure out quite how to make that happen, or how I even wanted that to happen. I just knew I wanted to make things that people could see and relate to. 

On the day I walked (but not graduated, I had one more quarter), a friend asked me if I was interested in doing graphic design/being an art PA for a film by Aderisa Productions. That summer was my first time on set, and although it was exhausting, I loved it. That last quarter I took an acting class and also loved it, and knew for sure that film was going to be something I’d want to pursue. Honestly I still wasn’t sure what that looked like, and it took a while to get to the point where I’m at now. I am thankful for the time though - it’s given me the opportunity to hone a lot of transferable skills and better understand where I want to be in film, and how to get there. I don’t know how much graphic design itself led me to filmmaking, since the desire was already there, but I do know that it created a conduit and a skillset that opened that first door into filmmaking.

How do you see art, particularly film and multimedia, contributing to broader social movements and conversations, especially in addressing issues like anti-trans legislation and violence against marginalized communities?

When it comes to art and social movements, I always think about it in the most traditional ways. Art was not always created for “art’s sake”. Art told stories, celebrated important people and moments in ways that could be understood by a broader population, reminded us of tragedies, and acted as campaigns. Basically, art was more like…graphic design and marketing back in the day. Applying the arts, particularly filmmaking to social movements is the creation of propaganda, for better or for worse - and I really do mean for better or for worse. It can get someone like Trump elected. It can scare a state into passing anti-trans bills that threaten and take lives.

It can also break down barriers to understanding that trans folks are not inherently dangerous, or that gay marriage won’t bring on the apocalypse. It can make those that didn’t already know it realize how poorly marginalized people are treated by the police, and by America in general. 

Art is powerful when it has a message, and that message doesn’t have to come in the form of a PSA. It can be “Pose.” It can be “Watermelon Woman.” It can be “But I’m A Cheerleader.” It can be “Vida.” Hell, it can be “Happiest Season!” The point is to create something that people can relate to, and makes them laugh, cry, afraid, or want to throw a chair.

Your Master's degree in Heritage Conservation suggests a deep appreciation for preserving cultural heritage. How does this perspective inform your storytelling, particularly in exploring themes of identity and belonging?

It’s often said in the field that preservation advocacy is storytelling - it’s looking into the history of a place and at the way it has imprinted on us and finding out why it matters. From there, it’s telling the story of why it matters in order to help protect it. 

There is a flaw to this though, and it goes along with my thoughts on propaganda. Often, the stories being told about a place are told as documentaries. They don’t always provide examples of a fight, carry big emotions, or express ideas through subtext. As I move forward in my own craft, I want to go the way of “Insecure,” “Dodgeball,” “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” and “West Covina,” or that one recent episode of “Abbott Elementary”. I want to use subtext to get people to look at where they’re at and understand why they love it (or why they don’t). I want to inspire folks that haven’t always had a say to take action in determining what their communities look like as we move forward.

What future projects or initiatives are you excited to explore with The Queer 26 and Oracami Studio? Are there any particular themes or stories you're eager to delve into next?

With Q26, we’re actually working with a few partners on fiscal sponsorships that will fund the development of film productions! One is with Aderisa Productions (full circle) and another for Rainbow Entertainment. Once we are able to raise the funds, we will also be doing another iteration of Passion of X. 

Other than those, this year we’re really focusing on our community events, including our writing meetups, new jam sessions, movie nights, open mics, and more! 

Personally, I am a couple of weeks away from releasing a single called Coffin Shop, and the first in a set of three for this year. It’ll be my first time doing music videos for my singles, so that’ll be exciting! I’m also working on a feature script, a set of pilots, and collaborating with a couple of different teams as a producer on projects that should be completed by the end of the year. Busy and happy about it :)

If you were hosting a movie marathon night, what theme would you choose, and which three films would absolutely make the lineup?

My theme would be Dark Shit/Dumb Shit/Pretty Shit, and the films that would make the lineup are “The Menu,” “Bottoms,” and “Annihilation.” Actually, this makes me want to create a real day-long lineup!

Can you share a lesser-known film or TV series that you feel deserves more recognition, and what about it makes it a standout for you?

I would go with the film “Take Me,” featuring Taylor Schilling. Her acting in the film (and the acting in general) is phenomenal, and it is a highly amusing and ridiculous film. I feel like it could have the makings of a cult classic, if more people watch it and find it as fun as I do, anyway.