Today we’d like to introduce you to K. Parker.
Hi Parker, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, I have been a passionate storyteller for as long as I can remember. As a child, I would often call my family into the bathroom from the bathtub to watch “the show.” On a nightly basis, they could expect an elaborate story acted out by my Barbie dolls as I masterfully puppeteered from behind the shower curtain. Shortly thereafter at age 8, I had my first series of film classes. My instructor took a liking to me and recruited me to participate in a couple of films he and his film company were producing as a part of my hometown’s local film festival, The Sidewalk Film Festival. Ignited with my newfound love of film as an art form, my mother enrolled me in On the Set summer film camp where I got to learn all the inner workings of creating a film.
I attended the Alabama School of Fine Arts for high school where my concentration was in theatre arts. Afterward, I attended undergrad at Howard University as an acting major. Though I was studying acting, I was still extremely interested in filmmaking so my sophomore year I bought my first camera and begin creating my own films.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The most challenging thing for me has been maintaining balance. I am interested in exploring so many aspects of my artistry but I’ve had to accept that sometimes I’m best served giving my energy and attention to one project at a time. I often feel pulled to work on multiple projects at a time but I’ve learned that I can’t take that risk if it diminishes the quality of the work that I am doing.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a director, writer, filmmaker, actor, and community connector. I explore a plethora of different forms and genres in my work. These include comedies, dramas, podcasts or “audio dramas”, documentaries, stage plays, and screenplays. My work as a community connector centers creating accessible events for queer poc to connect and have fun.
My work is heavily inspired by my identity as a queer black woman. My first film project was a documentary series titled “Black Girls R Us,” which gave black women a space to speak candidly about issues we face and solutions that need to be considered. My latest documentary project is a short titled “(Masc)hood” which examines masculinity through the lens of queer women, non-binary folx, and trans men. Each of these illuminates an experience and perspective that is not readily supplied in the media.
In addition to these documentaries, I have also been commissioned by Atlanta area theaters to write and develop work for other early career artists. The audio dramas Crossroads and Tucker’s Cove were both commissioned by Actors Express and are available on buzzsprout for streaming. Both of these audio dramas explore an expansive, futuristic world that allows the listener to create the visual world as they listen along.
The work that I’m most proud of is my play “How To Be A Lesbian,” a comedy one act that was featured as a part of Synchronicity Theatre’s Stripped Bare Arts Incubation. How to Be A Lesbian is a comedy one act where a queer Black woman comes out of the closet and realizes that there is much more to being a lesbian than she anticipated. Led by an omniscient male voice, the protagonist is thrust into different sectors of lesbian culture, trying to figure out where she fits in.
Up next, I am producing my web series, A.T.L. (All These Lesbians) an anthology that explores the loves and losses of different queer women living in the metro Atlanta area. Be on the lookout for that this upcoming summer!
I think what sets my work apart from others is the intention that goes into each project that I create. I am keenly aware of how important representation is in the media. For so long, stories about black and queer folks have been commodified for diversity points and often don’t accurately reflect our experiences. We often see queer stories that focus on the traumatic events of the queer experience, coming out, not being accepted, being discriminated against, etc. Similarly, a lot of stories about the black experience focus on traumatic moments in our history or our continued efforts for liberation. Don’t get me wrong, these stories are extremely important but as a people, we are not monolithic. We deserve to see stories that explore all of our intersections and experiences. I am determined to create those stories and make them accessible to the masses.
I also wanted to plug the community event series that I currently have running, Queers and Beers. This is a free event that takes place every 2nd and 4th Wednesday from 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm at Hippin’ Hops Brewery on Glenwood Avenue in East Atlanta Village. It is a great place to hear some good music and meet new people while supporting one of the only black-owned breweries in Georgia. You can stay updated about our events on Instagram @queersandbeersatl.
What does success mean to you?
Success to me looks like creating pathways for my community to elevate. Success to me isn’t about having the most money or influence. It’s instead about using my resources to support other people in my community. For me, success will look like making a way for other young storytellers to get their stories in front of the people who could benefit from them the most. Success will look like continuing to create safe spaces for queer and black people to gather and commune with one another. Success for me hasn’t been achieved until everyone gets a seat at the table.
Contact Info:
- Website: kparkercreates.com
- Instagram: @kparkercreates
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCODTAKoFmf1XXY7W2J6sh1g
Image Credits
Jessica Dynelle
