Today we’d like to introduce you to Carrie Miller.
Hi Carrie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Hi, I’m Carrie Miller. I always felt very impacted by the films that I watched growing up. After being in school and studying gender, sexuality, queer theory and queer film – I realized that I could not only be impacted by this work, but that I could impact. I remember the first time I watched a lesbian film made by a lesbian director and I realized I liked movies. Because before, not much of the heteronormative imagery interested me. After that, I began creating my own lesbian films which then expanded to gender identity, queer & trans representation, documentaries, queer life stories, etc. As I was making these films I inevitably created a queer set environment that harbored safety and feeling seen. This led me to want to create more spaces like this such as queer movie night events. I founded Lavender Lens in 2023 in Athens, Ga at ATHICA, an art gallery. The event garnered attention through the local newspaper, on my college campus, and within the queer community I had found home in. This once a month event that began as a project in Athens has expanded and grown with me now, out of college, to Atlanta, Georgia. Lavender Lens is presented by a non-profit art collective, The Bakery Atlanta, where I showcase feature-length films by queer filmmakers, host queer short film nights by local filmmakers, and invite guest speakers that highlight Atlanta’s queer history and promote activism for our generation and beyond. I just love being able to surround myself with friends, creatives, and queer people (aka the best kind of people ;)).
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Honestly, most of my struggles come from society’s expectations. This includes trying to conform to what a person at my age should be doing or what it takes to be a “real” filmmaker. Once I started pursuing what I wanted to pursue and work with people that respected me and honored me as a creative individual, everything became smoother. Following my passions at my own pace has done wonders to my creativity. Following through with ideas I have without taking criticisms too personally has given me success.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a creative, I focus on queer stories, film, art, and history. I also challenge myself to create things out side of the box, which I see as using queer as a verb and putting it into action. This impacts my work by creating my own spaces like Lavender Lens and connecting with other LGBTQ organizations, non-profits, and creatives such as Out on Film, Queer Film Alliance, The Bakery, Touching Up Our Roots, and more. Working with other people is essential to my artistry. Getting people together and facilitating the experience really highlights my success in producing. I will continue to do anything I can to not only honor the LGBTQ people that paved the way for me as a queer artist, but to look at the present and see what the community needs. What inspires me the most is seeing people like me being creative and being acknowledged for it.
I have made around 11 short films, 3 dance films, 2 music videos, and a feature length documentary film called A Time With Isadora which is centered around the phenomenon of the “Mother of Modern Dance” Isadora Duncan which explores how one artist influences many by integrating historic dance works, new choreography, visual art, photography and filmmaking. My proudest short films are In Retrospect, which is about a queer couple who finds themselves transported into the 80s lesbian club scene through unusual circumstances after being dissatisfied with their own queer club scene in the 2020s, and Beauty Within, which is about new friends who meet in a garden and find themselves shaping their queer relationship until one of them has a confession about gender identity that is shared through a letter.
I am working on new projects with first time directors and I am writing a feature length script that expands on In Retrospect, which I intend to highlight more of the 80s lesbian club scene and the queer club scene today. Additionally, I intend to work on two more documentaries; one that highlights queer elders and another that depicts my unique and yes-queer upbringing. Check them out on my website! Help me make it a reality.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success to me is to passionately create art without boundaries. I am still at my early stages of everything I would like to do to contribute to this world. I am sure I will continue to grow and evolve of what it means to be successful as a queer artist. If people are moved by my films, art, or events, then I sure am successful. But, also a Park Ranger recognized me on a hike for my Lavender Lens Queer Movie Night, so I would call that a win.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://carriemillerfilms.com
- Instagram: @carriemillerfilms, @carriemiller__, @atimewithisadora
- Youtube: @carriemillerfilms
