In an ideal society every person, who has not been wrongly convicted of a heinous crime, would be treated with the utmost of respect. And given enough attention, understanding, empathy, compassion plus fairness, while a part from each other and also when face-to-face. People would be free of prejudice, judgment, discrimination and disgrace. Sadly and disturbingly, we know all too well this is not the case amongst our human race.
Chicago resident Candy Minx (actor, writer and director) delves into such issues by creating bold and clever vignettes for the film “Making Sex” that finally gives Drag Kings, instead of Drag Queens, a face.
1. What were you like in grammar school, high school and college?
CANDY:” All my report cards said the same thing, "Candy would be a good student if she stopped looking out the window and applied herself." I've been a dreamer my whole life. I'm an army brat and we moved a lot so I was shy early on. Once my family settled in the Pacific Northwest I started getting mad social skills as I got older and into high school and art school. I had a correlation between being in drama class and building sets, acting in plays and working hard in art class that gave me currency socially. I decorated the school dance. I drew art on friend’s coats. I organized plays and people. I wasn't good at school but I was socially sophisticated. I can talk to a tombstone.”
2. Are there any hair and fashion trends that you were a victim to and say to yourself "What was I thinking?"
CANDY: “I love clothes. I don't regret anything I've ever worn. I was a punk and a Goth with a misspent youth at nightclubs in New York and Toronto where dressing lively, sexy and outrageous got you past a line up and onto the dance floor. I'm sure my parents may have regrets about how I dressed over the years though, heh heh.”
3. Could you also please tell enormously nosy people, like me, what your personality was like in school and how it has changed since those days?
CANDY: “I said hi to everybody and talked to everybody once I got to high school. I was a "people person" and still am. High school was when I became aware of the joys of hanging out in coffee shops with friends and shooting the shit. It's a pastime I dearly love and still live.”
4. Did you know from the ripe old age of 6 or so you wanted to get into showbiz, and how did you eventually get into it?
CANDY:” Yes. I was shy and quiet as a kid but I was very obsessed with tv, books, comics, movies and dancing. My sister and I would show off and dance when our parents had parties. Somehow performing and being funny and silly seemed easier than speaking in regular conversation or working at academics.”
5. If you weren't in showbiz, what kind of job would you like to have?
CANDY: “Indiana Jones.”
6. Candy, your IMBD profile says you are an actor and director, so the question " Which hat do you prefer to wear: actress, or director and why?" just came off the top of my head.
CANDY: “I prefer directing. I spent many years doing improv in Toronto and those workshops and performances with a troupe (ZU ZU's Petals) gave me a lot of inspiration for building characters. I love improvising, writing characters and dialogue and then bringing them to life in film. I love working on a film set and the collaborative experience with actors and crew. Note-to-self: update my IMDB profile.”
7. Including "MAKING SEX," How many films have you directed? What else can you reveal about your career to inquiring minds—who truly do want to know?
CANDY: “I've directed several short films. They have been screened in art galleries, bars, and outdoor settings. I am interested in having film and art cross over into non-traditional but community-based venues as well as screenings in commercial theaters. I've always been obsessed with strange people, people on the wild side or living counter-culture to mainstream. My goal is to insert these kinds of fringe, oddball, misfit, flaneur characters into a feature film. You can see one of my short films on YouTube here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3cRCzvPS4w
8. What's everything you would like readers to know about your movie “MAKING SEX?”
CANDY: “I don't believe we are written in stone. I believe these characters are reflective of this idea that we are mutable, exploring, questioning, thinking animals. I believe these characters are wrestling against what it means to live with cultural taboos and normalness force-fed onto us...how we can be free to find out whom we are...and that it can be an ever-evolving type of self-questioning. Self-awareness can manifest in many ways. If society force feeds gender onto our personal narratives, what happens when we become the storytellers?”
9. What other future artistic works do you have up your sleeve?
CANDY: "I have 3 documentaries kicking around, some in editing and some ready to be shopped around. One of them is titled MIRL and I've been working on it for 4 years, travelled 7,000 miles, interviewed over 30 people and have about 14 hours of tape. I have an EPK I can share with you here too
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NfnBrZ2evA&;feature=youtu.be
10. When do you expect your film "MAKING SEX" (that not only includes your ultra-intriguing vignettes but also those of Zandra Rivera) to be available for the masses to see?
CANDY: “Spring 2013, the film is still in pre-production.”
11. Lastly, what words of wisdom do you have for struggling actors, directors and producers?
CANDY: “Be open-minded and kind to others whenever possible. Our imagination is tweaked when we put ourselves compassionately into other people's positions. Learn from friends, from strangers, from school and workshops. Ask lots of questions. Don't be afraid to look foolish. Take workshops with people you admire. I have three people that really influenced me and I was lucky to be in workshops with them. Robin Wood, Guy Maddin and Lisa Steel. All three of these artists/teachers had a natural relationship with film. They encouraged me to see that the camera is like a part of our body. It can be an extension of our body and brain, organic and alive. I also made very strong lifetime friends when I was in college. I learned more from my friends than some of the classes! You need to be driven, you need to experiment, argue and explore weird ideas. Don't be afraid to film weird ideas. It’s okay to break rules and it's okay to follow rules. Have fun! And, “Thanks so much for this opportunity to share with you and your readers!”
For more information on the exceptionally likable and true artist, Candy Minx, please follow the links below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NfnBrZ2evA&;feature=youtu.be http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3cRCzvPS4w http://gnosticminx.blogspot.com
*photo credit - Stagg
