A Q&A with "Inspired: The Voices Against Prop 8" Director Charlie Gage

LONG BEACH, CA- The passage of Proposition 8 in California on November 4th, 2008 was no doubt devastating to the LGBTQ community because it not only eliminated marriage equality in the state, but also enshrined discrimination into the California Constitution. However, what resulted from this voter-approved amendment was an awaking of epic proportions within the LGBTQ movement. Rallies and marches were planned out throughout the state and various equality organizations began to manifest themselves in the Golden State... including the Latino Equality Alliance.

Inspired: The Voices Against Prop 8 is a film that documents that very movement and showcases individuals who decided to do something about the injustice of Proposition 8. Early this month, LEA was able to chat with Director Charlie Gage as we explored details of Inspired, what went on in the mind of the creators, as well as the surprising and unexpected directions and emotions that took form during the creation of this documentary. All of which led to a very inspiring climax which has undoubtedly changed the lives of the numerous individuals involved. 

————————————

LEA: Thank you for taking part in our Q&A Charlie! Considering much of the documentary took place during the aftermath of the passage of Prop 8, how did the making of this film come about?

CG: Thanks for having me take part! Well, I actually never planned on making a movie, but immediately following the passage of Prop 8 I had a friend visiting from Mexico City and I gave him the option of either hanging out at a bar in Long Beach or taking part in one of the many anti-Prop 8 rallies. Honestly, I didn’t see any point to the rallies at first. The gay protests were planned in gay neighbors, to complain about how devastated we gays were because of it’s passage and I thought to myself, “Really, what’s the point? What kind of impact is this going to have?” Well, my friend chose to check out a rally in Long Beach and so I brought my $60 Samsung camera and I started recording everything. I was a bit blown away at the community’s response, and before I knew it I had footage from about 10 different rallies. At that point I got together with my friend Ian McIntosh and we decided to put a film together. We started bringing interviewees in, and started the meticulous process of cutting and combining the footage together. The whole process took about one and a half years.

LEA: The LGBTQ community in California was heavily impacted by the proposition and it triggered an emotional response never before seen in the state. Was it your and Ian's plan to grab that emotion and showcase it in the film?


CG: During the making of the film we kinda dubbed it “the Prop 8 film not necessarily about Prop 8” because as far as the film goes, it shows how various people in the community were propelled into action and how some organizations got their start. The LGBT community had a civil right removed from them and some within the community went from sitting back, sipping on their martinis and letting HRC do all the work, to standing up and taking action. That’s where this film really focuses on… the individuals who stood up and decided to do something about having their marriage right eliminated from them.

LEA: It appears you were inspired by what you were witnessing as well, is that correct?


CG: Oh yes, definitely! For the first 3 weeks after Prop 8 passed, there was a rally going on every other day. People were marching all throughout Los Angeles including in communities of color, and appearing on CNN describing how violated they felt having a civil right eliminated by voters. The people who rose up and decided to take action definitely were and continue to be an inspiration for the LGBT community throughout the nation!

LEA: In the film's promotional material, you make the following statement: “Intimate interviews reveal the ways the movement comes together, and the subtle and not-so subtle ways it can be pulled apart from within.” Can you describe what you meant by this?


CG: When you make a documentary you don’t really know what you have until the end. You don’t have a script or story boards. The interviews you conduct with people pretty much drive you to where you wanna go and the racism issue within the gay community ended up being a huge subplot of the film. Our first interviewee stated there was a rift within the LGBT community between the east LA groups and the west LA groups, and everyone I interviewed pretty much corroborated that information. Looking back now, it’s kinda ridiculous to think that just because we’re gay that means we’re all going to get along. In reality, just because we’re gay doesn’t mean we’re not racist. The passage of Prop 8 forced many different groups from various parts of the LGBT community to come together and work towards a common goal of equality. The day of decision is where this film reaches it’s climax. But really, there is no ending. Marriage equality continues to be fought for in the state today.

LEA: What do you hope to accomplish with this film?


CG: One of the things I kinda realized during our initial screening at the Q-Doc Film Festival in Portland, Oregon was that many people outside of California really had no idea of what had occurred in the state after the passage of Prop 8. Non-Californians had a general idea because of what they heard and saw on their local news, but they had no idea of the immense activism that sprouted because of the proposition. Something I hope we can accomplish in this film is to get the word out there throughout the nation so others can see that the activism and passion that occurred in California can happen everywhere else as well. People have to work together so that there can be in impact in the LGBT Civil Rights movement.

LEA: Prop 8 definitely initiated the wakening of a "sleeping giant" in California. If you could describe one emotion during the making of this film, what would it be and why? 


CG: Well I’m not going to say ‘inspired’ because that’s a bit cheesy (laughs), but one emotion that really stood out was being ‘embarrassed.’ Making the film really opened me up to different elements I did not know existed, like the rift between the various neighborhoods and communities with the LGBT community. Luckily, because of the research and interviews that were conducted I was able to meet all kinds of people from every sector of the LGBT movement in SoCal. I was kind of in my own personal bubble living in Long Beach, and going to the Falcon bar, totally oblivious to what was going on. This film really opened my eyes to our community in ways I hadn’t imagined.

LEA: I believe it may be correct to assume that many people from within the community have that same oblivious stance on issues that pertain to the LGBTQ community. Now, if can you describe an emotion that you felt at the completion of the film, what would it be and why? 


CG: Oh (laughs)! I wish my co-producer Ian was here to describe this with me but I must say, and I hope this doesn’t sound hokey or like I’m tooting my own horn, but there’s still sections throughout the film that get me choked up. There is so much raw emotion that comes across when you are watching the film, and even though I’ve seen it tons of times, it still gets to me. In “Inspired,” we also covered a wedding between Elena Popp and Bridget Gonzalez and that was very emotional as well. The LGBT community had a right civil right eliminated and it was just amazing to see every one say enough is enough and take a stand to win equality back! It's an ongoing struggle, but a struggle that is well worth it.

LEA: Charlie, thank you for taking time to speak to us! We look forward to the exciting California premiere in Long Beach this weekend! 


CG: Thank you!

Note: "Inspired: The Voices Against Prop 8" debuts this Saturday, September 17th, at the Long Beach Qfilms Festival at noon. The next two screenings will take place at the Doc Miami Film Festival in Miami, FL on September 24^th, and UNSPOKEN Human Rights Film Festival in Utica, New York, October 13th-15th. 

————————————

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Antonio X. Garcia was born and raised in San Diego and was brought up in a heavily Roman Catholic home by Mexican parents. He now resides in the city of Los Angeles where he is pursuing collegiate degrees in Political Science and Creative Writing. In January 2011, he was elected to the position of Board Member with the Latino Equality Alliance, and now serves as Social Media Chair.