Hello and welcome to Big Gay energy. I'm Bree. I'm Fiora and I'm Caitlin come along with us while we dive into the fun and nuances of queer media representation matters. And we're here to talk about it. Hello everybody. Today, we are talking to director producer and streaming service Creator, Christian Baker. Well actually, there are too many hats to list because she seems to do at all. Thanks for chatting with us today. Kristin, yeah, thanks for having me.
We have to disclose something though. We actually know Kristen Jon, Jon Jon. That's right. and I've worked with Kristen before, so, And and they're still having me on the podcast so it went well, yeah. Alright, let's keep those Happy Times going and I will start with the first question. So was there a show book movie or song? I also a lot of choices that made an impact on you and started your love for media.
Oh geez. Well, it's definitely going to be either like a show or a movie because that's, that's my jam. Absolutely. So gosh, I'm trying to think like, Ones that it's I'm going to pick a movie just because I remember, I'm this old sitting and like rewinding VHS has on my
favorite movies, right? Like over and over again, and, you know, some of them that I just like memorized and watched like, like just with the The Princess Bride and love The Princess Bride. I remember, I re-watched pretty woman but I think that's because I had a crush on Julia Roberts, and just didn't know it at the time. I'm but that was a that was a solid rom-com.
Still still one of the best of today, in my opinion, you know, there's a really random movie called toys with Robin Williams and Joanne Joan Cusack. That's an LL. Cool. J was like LL, Cool J's. Like first rule, that was just phenomenal. And I love that visually, I remember that movie. So, I would say like those were three that I watched over and over again, as a when I was starting to kind of play around. Started playing around with like VHS cameras and editing when I
was you know, in junior high. And so I would watch all those who I feel like those are probably some pretty solid Inspirations early on for me. So you are a nerd from the start from. I mean no doubt. No question about it. Super, super? No, I mean, listen, I was a Star Trek Watcher Star Wars. You know, I love the Sci-Fi. Love me some Xena. You know, come on. Yes. Big dork right here. So what prompted you to get into telling queer stories through film?
Um, you know, when when I was I was working a full-time nine-to-five job, but I still felt like really called to make movies and it was when YouTube was just starting to like, become like a thing and like everyone suddenly was making their own content, and I was like, wow, I can do that, but there wasn't enough like lesbian content, lesbian clear.
Enter. And there was a TV show that was from the UK called bad girls that we got over here that had a Mickey and Helen storyline that I just like ate up. Like, it was like ice cream like an ice cream sundae and when their storyline ended at season 3, I was like what am I going to do? And then I was geeking out with a friend of mine and she was like, let's make lesbian web series and I was like, that's a great idea.
But instead of just making one, I also decided to start a streaming platform when I have no idea. How to code or do any of that. The so that's how Tello was was born, but I raised a little angel, investing money and found some people who could help me and I figured if I could do the content part of it like make things that were like good and cheap, then I could feed, you know, this the the kind of the YouTube piece of it. So That's how that all got started. And here we are today.
Here we are having a having a convo about it. That's right. What do you think is the importance of having representation behind the camera as well as on camera? Well I mean gosh how have set have we all been at like the male gaze for telling telling queer female stories. You know what I mean? It's like, it's so upsetting and you can tell it's like, Yes, you know, don't get me started on Disobedience.
I mean, geez, Louise, oh my gosh, God, you know, and so I think that's just one example of, I think a male gaze especially when it came to the intimate scenes that just really messed. I think made the made the movie, like, for some people just like, had such a negative impact. So, yeah. I think I think it's so important to to have rep, you know, have representation behind the cameras. So that we understand the nuances of our other own storytelling in our own story
and it's, you know, it's hard. Sometimes it can be, it can be hard when you're looking, you know, to speak to the community in a nuanced way. Yeah. Absolutely. I think they were and I, especially liked her age about how the, the male gaze in queer scenes, but oh yeah, yeah, blue is the warmest color. I mean, we can list them. We can all my gosh. Do you know what I'm saying? Like, we know what they are. Those are definitely ones that I can't watch.
Like I tried to watch Disobedience and it was a do not finish for me because especially when they got to that one scene. I think we everybody kind of I don't get the spinning, I don't understand it but sure. Whatever. I'm sure someone out there is going to send you a very long Reason 3, but I think you can just say, for me, I don't understand it. If it speaks to you. Fantastic and I agree with you. For me, it did not, it did not resonate. I also just don't think it did
anything for the narrative. No. So Anyway, well, thankfully, we have conscious creators out there who are like, yourself, who are trying to make things through the lens of the intended audience, which we appreciate. And so we thank you for starting your own streaming service production company. What was the process like for getting those projects started? You mean like like the web series projects that we were creating when we first started
like, is that what you mean? Like the original content piece? Kind of like getting any production company off the ground. So yeah yeah I mean it's usually because you have a project that you love you know that you want to that you that you want to either a story idea that you want to tell and then you either write the script or you have
someone write the script. So you know really it all starts with story, all starts with the story that you want to tell and then you, you know, write a script figure out your budget either, go raise the money or crowdfunder, ask people to work. For free depending on how long it is or involved, it is and feed every make sure you feed everyone and then yeah.
And then you start just kind of like slowly doing your best to make original content to make your content and tell and tell your story and create like your collaborative team that you love and want to be around. That's all did that answer it for you? Is that okay? You did great. That was great. Okay. I also wanted to touch on those streaming service part as well. Like how did you go about like just deciding that you wanted to do that and like actually doing
it? I know, isn't that the dumbest idea Kailyn? I mean it's like I didn't know what I was doing and I was like this is ridiculous. But at the time I don't know if y'all have or any of the listeners have ever had this idea that just won't let you go. It's like it will not be released and like there's something in your be Being that tells you like nope you got to do this. It's just an idea that just keeps tapping you on the shoulder and that was the
streaming platform. And I kind of said to probably myself, like, that is so stupid. You don't know how to code. Like, why would you started streaming platform everybody? Started shooting platform to know how to code, but it would not let me go. And so, I thought, okay, if I can, like find someone, who knows, how to do this, or know, someone who knows how to do it and can do it, like, kind of inexpensively because I really did. Have a lot of money. Let's see what we can do.
And so I just started asking around you just kind of start and that's what I have found. I think this is the case in anything that you want to do any dream that you want to do, any idea that you have you start asking people and you go hey do you know someone who knows how to And whatever it is that you're looking for. And I was lucky that I had people in my kind of circle randomly. And that's the other thing that I think happens is like serendipitously, things start happening.
And that's kind of when, you know, your idea is one that you are supposed to continue with. I think when you have like, like you just happen to be at coffee with this person because you all are on your kids, are on the same soccer team. And you say, like, oh, I have this idea to do Bloody blah and they go, I know someone. Who does that? It's like weird, how stuff like that starts to happen when one of your ideas is you're supposed to continue with it.
So that's kind of what happened to me. Is I started just asking around and I found someone who like knew how to new kind of had a code or knew what we needed to do. And I just started asking people to take meetings and I asked for help, I didn't try and pretend like, I knew something I didn't, I didn't try and like, I just was, like, real honest about it. I was like, I have no clue how to do this. I feel like it might be easy.
What do I need? And it's amazing how when you ask for help people, like, kind of show up to help and show up to, like, support you and that's kind of what happened. And so I found someone who could who knew where to find people to inexpensively build a streaming platform, which I know sounds really weird but they did and we went through multiple iterations to by the way like the one that you know.
And then different people came into my life, to redo the site and like make it because we started this y'all I just got a notice from LinkedIn. It was like, congratulations on your work anniversary for starting telefilms. 16 years ago. Whoa. I was like, no, no, it was 12 years ago, LinkedIn and Linkedin was like, no, you're old. And I was like, oh my God, I didn't know. Linked it offered insulting you Services. Listen, listen, it's LinkedIn.
Can be a saucy Wench, but, yeah, so or it could have been in my head. Either way. But yeah. So 16 years ago is, when I first at least even put Tello up as, like, a job position that I had, so, who knows when it was. But yeah, 16 years ago so certainly platforms were not is abundant and easy as they are now. So we were really trying to figure out like how do we do this?
Like At first we were going to be like free and open and and YouTube and we're going to make all this money on Advertising which did not happen. So then we had to figure out. How do we put up a subscription while? Then we had to figure. Out, how do we make it reoccurring revenue and those things are now like you.
Y'all could decide to start a streaming platform right now if you had a little bit of money and there you go and you'll have an app and you'll have reoccurring revenue and you'll have, you know, a beautiful template platform. We didn't have any of that so we had to like figure it out with no money. So I really had to beg borrow and steal for what I was doing early on. And again, was lucky to have really generous people who Who
wanted to be helpful. Yeah, so then in 2018 tell him moved to a Vimeo platform and but yeah in the early days it was like we were figuring it out. We're just figuring it out and finding people who could help and then and then I was lucky that I had a couple of family members who came in with some money to be Angel, Investors and kind of helped me out and help me get started.
Sounds like you were an OG and the space I was I was I was out there with Netflix and Hulu and then it was like, well, yeah, hello. Netflix Hulu and little tell oh that sounds like it a show. I'd watch hahaha. What would you say was your biggest obstacle? To in all of that, probably, you know, I don't know, normally I would say money. But you know, I was working a full-time job. So you know, I wasn't going to
go hungry or anything like that. So it was really passion that kind of helped me with tell, oh, you know, I think I think the biggest Optical were people giving and it wasn't an obstacle, is just sort of an annoyance, but it's like, people telling me what I should do and how I should do it. It. Oh, you know, you should really open it up to like the full LGBT community. No, I don't want to do that. Oh, you know, you should make it like more like strong women, Focus.
Nope, I don't want to do that. Do you know what you like? If I had one more person, tell me like, do you know what you
should do? I could have funded my entire site and like been as big as Netflix everyone wants to give you suggestions and they have a brilliant idea but you know you're doing The Sweat Equity and like the other thing it was really hard was like breaking through the Press piece and getting our Word out there, you know, I don't hear it as much with Tello, but like, I used to have, you'll be like, I didn't know there was a lesbian streaming platform.
I've never heard of Tello and you're just, like, banging your head against the desk, like going, like I'm doing my best to get, but we couldn't get major press Outlets to pick us up. We can barely get like the two or three lesbian Outlets to pick us up. So it was really getting the word out and we were on social media and it was trying to get followers and people to pay attention. And so that was really it in the early days.
The frustrating and obstacle was a getting the word out when you have no money, you know, absolutely. We've gone through a lot of progress and regression when it comes to queer media, like over time to where we are now. So, what do you think about the current trend of shows with like, major queer representation? Clear aliens just being canceled over sudden?
Yeah, I think it's like take two of like, straight straight white, guys, canceling lesbians like the show Runners did it in 2016, and now they're doing it to the community now, and it's just with this bizarre wave of like, you know, who you know, who we haven't, like totally crapped on the queer, female Community. Let's let's go. Let's cancel all the shows. Let's cancel representation, and, you know, I don't know, I don't know.
I don't know what it is. I, you know, I might like armchair Philosophy Theory, this is based on just Kristen. So please anyone who's listening like this is my theory personal Theory. I think these shows were started during the me to movement. They went into production. They came out it was huge for our community was amazing.
And then all the sudden, the decision-makers since they don't have to care about really diversity as much anymore because I don't feel like it's as big of a deal at this time. Are deciding that That they should be canceled, even though it has a solid rabid fan base, like, for whatever reason, it's not fitting into their algorithm and I, you know, unfortunately, I told some the other day, Netflix is not going to bring something back from public pressure.
They're just not someone might pick it up, but they always go back to the algorithm and they have an algorithm that makes all their decisions and so they can kind of go sorry you'll, you know, you can sometimes get ahead of it, I think I can remember it was like a typical or someone like tried. It will try and do a please, renew. Kind of campaign. But, you know, and and I think their algorithm and metrics change, it used to be how much are you? Chain.
And it was, how much is it being finished? And then it's how much is being re-watch. Now, it's how many new subscribers is? This show getting us. So the algorithm is constantly changing as to what is success. And so I think as a creative that can be re and as a viewer that can be really frustrating. It's like why? And it also like makes no sense. What does get renewed? That seems to not be as good or as popular compared to what does get renewed and why.
And so part of it I think is like they just don't have empathy around representation that we would want them to in order to like, figure out how to make it work and make it happen or or and or how important it is to the community. And so I just don't think they care.
Yeah, I mean since like you said I do think that they, you know, since their business they're just like well that is that's it. Like this is the decision and especially Netflix Netflix has really been pissing me off the last few years but yeah but in your opinion what's changed the most from when you started in the industry till now I will say people are are more willing to not balk at content with strong female characters that have a lesbian storyline.
Where is it first? It was almost like a non-starter like you would literally here like. Well you have the L word and it was like well yeah eight years ago and this was before Generation q but it was like you know Dick Wolf can have 15 shows on the air that's all about like you know some kind of you know medical or whatever emergency but God forbid we have 2 lesbian shows so that was like kind of
back in the day today. At least I think people are willing to look at it. They recognize they do need diverse representation and I do think you see a few more Side characters who are Queer on the shows. They might not be leading it. So I think that's something that's changed for the better since since I started 16 years ago. So Yeah, so, I mean, that's a,
that's a positive thing. I think, you know, when we're able to have to lgbtq Highmark, rom-coms, not just one or two, lgbtq holiday around columns on Lifetime, then we will have kind of hit a stride. Like, I feel like they still only let us have one. Yeah, you get one a year and that's it. yeah, and and be happy with it, you know, sorry if it doesn't represent everything you want, you know, we gave you this like be happy, you know, you kind of like
Harris more. Happy content would be nice, though. It's always sad. Yeah. Yeah, - please. Yeah, emphasis on the calm ones that aren't the happiest season. I have for out there. Everyone, I have 4S, we need them to go watch those. Yeah, I know. I got my wife, watch the one Christmas at the ranch. This was at the ranch. It's soaked. It's actually really good. I think this is actually the best. Queer rom-com that exists like truly? Yeah, thank you. Thank you. Yeah. Good go. Wash it.
Wash it. If it's so good. That no one, I know knows about these movies. And I'm like this what I wanted in a movie. Yeah. So we're just about there. Yeah. Then they complain about it and I'm like I have four of them. Their right ear. Go watch, yes. Sorry Caitlin need to cut you off. Yeah and then I lost my place. How do you see the future of queer? Meda media evolving? That's a really good question. That's a really has. Let me ask this question.
Has A League of Their Own gotten a season 2 yet? Not not yet. Not officially not official. Okay, that's what makes me nervous. That's that's the thing that makes me nervous like that to me should be like a no-brainer. But I know so, you know, I don't know. I think what will be nice. I do think we're evolving beyond the coming out story. I think a lot of time was spent as it should be. I think we're a young storytelling Community.
I think the community still have young storytelling community and we were really obsessed with come Hang out stories and you know, older stories where it's like what did lesbians do back in the back in the olden days before there is like, you know, so I think we're starting to move beyond that and I wear I'm hoping that we're going. Is that people recognize that we get more money for it? I think we're still very, very struggling and suffering for for being supported monetarily.
When you see nice bright spots where there are one terribly supportive. Things. You know, Wynonna herb is a great example of a community really coming behind and just like supporting it in a big and meaningful way. And I think that You know, I think it would be nice if other things could have, could be supported by the Canadian in the same in the same vein. That's my, that's my hope and kind of what I'm, you know.
Hopefully hopefully seeing Yeah, I think the warrior none Phantom is doing a pretty good job at the moment of they got Billboards and yeah what the hope for warrior none should be kind of what what one day at a time did where it went to pot TV. I can almost, I will go. If Netflix renuzit, I will be shocked. What what they should hope is that another Network sees how popular it is and Looks at at picking it up or doing something in conjunction with something that would be the hope.
And I don't know the deep, I don't know the details around it, I don't know. I think there's an IP involved, which can always be a little bit more complicated if it's. Yeah, so, yeah. So Netflix would need to release the IP, which can sometimes be very difficult and then another you again, depending on how expensive it is. Someone would want to put money behind it, that matches the What
would they believe that? Watchability of it would be absolute so but if not place doesn't release the IP. It's it's dead in the water. Uh-huh. All right. Unfortunately. Yeah. I mean, sorry, I don't mean to be a downer but I don't know. We did a whole episode people. I don't think people understand the nuances of content and like, what exactly it takes to be, you know, what it takes for something to be renewed, or jump to another Network.
Yeah. And that's it can get frustrating to see a lot of tweets from people that are somewhat inaccurate, or ignorant of that. Kind of Stuff. So yeah. Yeah. Agree. Yeah I'm always willing to come on and talk about that stuff by the way, should you want to just email me since y'all? Can I love talking about that stuff? And you know as someone who kind of has a streaming platform like knows a little bit about the nuances or you know around it.
So anytime you want to talk about that let me I'm here for you. That was a super fun time. We would totally be down. Yeah, All right. So this has been a fascinating conversation and you're obviously, you've been like super passionate about creating media since like the nerd days as a kid with the VHS. But like I won't, we wanted, I always find it good to know like why people are doing something. So why do you think it's so important to make a difference like, with queer like, using
queer media? Like why is that so important? Well, I think to, for me, it's two reasons. When I first started, I was like working a full-time job. Sotelo was the thing and making contact with thing I did on the side like for fun. So I was sort of like, I don't care what y'all want to watch. This is what I want to watch, and I'm the one that paying for it.
So I'm gonna make it. And so at first it was sort of like a very selfish Endeavor where I was like, this is what I want to see if you all want to see it too. Fantastic. Like good. I think what I have come to realize and I, and I have talked about this all the time and I'm truly, truly believe it. I believe that when content creators, not just me, but when anyone makes content for our Community. That is a positive representation, obviously.
I think it saves lives. I truly, truly believe it saves lives. I think, you know, the suicide rate that we have in the community that, you know, is is still like higher. I think kids or people. When they don't see themselves represented, don't feel worthy that their stories are important that they have a community, especially people who live in rural areas and I, so, I think,
It saves lives. I think any time you talk to anyone who's a part of like a passionate fandom, you will hear someone say I felt so alone and then I found this and I felt like I belonged somewhere and then I found the fandom and I felt like I really belonged and I had friends that saves lives. Not just saves lives, but it also makes our life feel more
worthy. So even if someone doesn't want to like, I mean, there are obviously people who have committed suicide, we know them And I've heard about them, but I also think that like, it makes your life better like finding a sense of community just makes your life better. And so I think there's there's a quality of there's actual life, there's a quality of life. And yeah I just think it's like
just so important. Yeah. So at the end of the day I'm like I said I don't mean to be dramatic, but I think it saves lives and I truly believe that. All right. We agree. And that's why we do this as well. So that's why we're here. Exactly y'all. Yeah. And it is, it's the same thing with what? Yeah, with what y'all are doing? Putting something out there. Someone's going to say yes to it, you know. But you're going to pick the
topics you want to talk about. You're going to pick the people you want to talk about if someone wants to join you great but if not it's your time it's your dime. And you know, talk about what you want to talk about. So yeah. But that is how we create Community. You're 100%. I'm with you. So, we're curious if you have any projects you're working on or releasing soon. My goodness, always always Bree. I'm always working on something. That's just so much, so much storytelling.
We know this about money. So, February, 28th, my project scare BNB, which is added series. The first two episodes are releasing. It's fantastic. It has men dollar Rose, Sterling, Victorian Lily Richards, Abhishek rule. It's a it's a thriller were no lesbians kill or get killed in the end. In fact, no one dies spoiler alert but it is has jump-scares. It's really fun. You're on the edge of your seat. Like what's going on in this Airbnb that they've rented. And so that's coming out,
February, 28th. People can still go and watch Mary. On Diva box office dot TV that came out this past December. So Fiora if you liked Christmas at the ranch, you will love Mary and gay. It's super fun, super cute, lovely, lovely, lovely. That's the Holly around, cam that's already out. So then I'm hopefully I'm should knock on some kind of faux wood around here going into production on an action-thriller. Yes it's not this. I don't think this will be the end title but it's currently
titled entitled safe house. And It's like the closest I could get to Atomic blond but set in present-day but it's like Kick-Ass badass. Like, this is what I've been waiting for 10. I'm so excited. It's like a little bit of lady. Love it in there as well, but like, just some like, you know, super, Super Fly. Amazing people. And, you know, all we always talk about because my mom would get mad at me. If I did, I would talk about my next holiday.
It's not a rom-com, but it's a holiday come. A that is called redneck Christmas. Oh boy well one has to go back in the closet by the way in this family comedy said it Christmas time so but it's also based on true stories of me bringing my friends or girlfriends home to my very, very Southern rural, lovely, beautiful family. And the craziness that absolutely ensues because I have a crazy family. I think I'm going to Vibe with that a lot because that was like kind of like my life.
Yes. Yeah, and it's kind of like my homage to like the flyover states and when you when the, when queer people come home and and, you know, it's not it's it's not as traumatic. As I think past family, movies have made it out to be. Mine is very, very loving. There's obviously some drama and conflict because it's story time, and it's, and that's what makes it, you know, more the ending more wonderful. But yeah, it's based on, based on. Oh my, my Stories and bringing
folks home. I love it. I love. All of us are going to watch it all. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Yes. We'll do a reaction video to it. Oh, that would be amazing. Amazing, amazing, I hope but I'm hoping those get funded and again, manifesting putting that out into the universe and there's a couple of other things. I don't want to belabor it but those are kind of the the top we do. I do want to mention, I have Sonata coffee that. I'm hoping to shoot which is a cute little like why?
A written by like a young upcoming lesbian writer. So she did it. She wrote a meet-cute kind of based on like her fanfic so it's a no mine to those like coffee shop. Meet-cute fanfic that are out there. Yeah, that's great. That's awesome. Give this woman some money. Well thank you for sharing those with this. And we can't wait and we will make sure to shout them from all of our social media. I appreciate you. So Before We Say Goodbye. Do you have any final words for
the listeners at home? You know, I would say, you know, I always say of course support my projects but I would just say support projects that you love with your time with your talent with your, with your treasure. And and if you want to create start creating like, do something a little something
every day. Whether it's writing, whether it's like watching, you know, behind the scenes, or how to videos or or, you know, writing your own projects, like, you know, put put Something out into the universe that that you want to see your that, you feel passionate about and I think that makes a huge difference and find your hundred people, you know, find your people find your community. I think that's so important. That's great. Thank you again for taking the time to talk with us today.
Thank you. Nice to meet you. We really appreciate it. And love to getting to know you better because we know you a little bit but we got to know you so much better now. To everyone at home listening, make sure to check out Christian streaming services, Diva box office dot TV and tell. Oh, we'll see you next time. And with that, we've been big gay energy. If you liked this episode check out all our other episodes on whatever you're using to listen right now.
If you're listening on Apple we'd really appreciate it. If you left us a review, no matter how brief it, helps us get into apples algorithm to reach a wider audience, please. Feel free to reach out to us. We would love to hear from you about everything and anything you can find us on all the social medias at Big Gay energy, pod, or email us at Big Gay energy pod at gmail.com, if you'd like to make friends with other queer media, loving people, reach out to us to join
our Discord server. If you'd like to support us. Check out our merch store or join our patreon for Early Access to episodes, exclusive content and so much more. Until next time, stay safe and hydrate for lesbian Jesus.