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# FEATURE : The Coast Is Queer 2 – film maker Campbell X
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/feature-the-coast-is-queer-2-film-maker-campbell-x/
- Published: 2021-02-17T17:17:49.000Z
- Updated: 2021-02-18T12:29:22.000Z
- Description: Brian Butler finds queer film maker Campbell X’s masterclass hugely enjoyable
- Author: Brian Butler
- Tags: Arts, Community, Features & Longread, Information, Interviews, LGBT History Month, Out & About, Queer Corner, Reviews, Campbell X, Marlborough Productions, New Writing South, The Coast Is Queer, Travis Alabanza

[**Campbell X** ](https://linktr.ee/campbellx?ref=scenemag.co.uk)is probably best known for his 2012 film **Stud Life**, which is a story of platonic friendship between Queer people with what he calls “ romance on the side.” It’s a typical throwaway comment – nonetheless the film is in The Guardian’s Top 10 Black British films. It centres on a stud butch lesbian whose best friend is a gay man who becomes jealous when she gets a lesbian girlfriend. He’s also the creator of [**Visible** ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38lRn2jFMj4&ref=scenemag.co.uk)– a documentary as he says “ reclaiming Queer stories – including trans men, butch and non binary people ” It features queer/trans/intersex people of colour.

[![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/campbell-x600-1.png)](https://www.gscene.com/features/feature-the-coast-is-queer-2-film-maker-campbell-x/attachment/campbell-x600-2/?ref=scenemag.co.uk)

Asked how he works Campbell said: “ I draw energy from people around me who give me the courage to do the work – work about people who are brave enough to stand up for others. “

Campbell’s inspiration comes from performers like **Mzz Kimberley** , who appeared in Stud Life “*A Black trans woman who is an established UK actress, so we don’t only need to look to the USA for trans actresses.*”

Another inspiration is [**Travis Alabanza**](http://travisalabanza.co.uk/?ref=scenemag.co.uk) – a femme trans risk-taking performance artist , writer, activist – considered one of the most prominent emerging Queer artistic voices. “ They have resilience despite systemic prejudices against them ,” says Campbell. Similarly [**Lynae Vanee** ](https://www.instagram.com/%5Flyneezy/?hl=en&ref=scenemag.co.uk)– a Black poet, educator, photographer combining humour and politics. Jane Fonda too is on the list as an actress, activist, writer/producer who acknowledged her white privilege and applauded the Black Panthers and the LGBTQ+ rights movement and climate change protesters.

[![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/alabanza600.jpg)](https://www.gscene.com/features/feature-the-coast-is-queer-2-film-maker-campbell-x/attachment/alabanza600/?ref=scenemag.co.uk)

“ They all stood up and said : this is me – take it or leave it .” On the film-making process Campbell is clear: “ Film/finance takes a long time so you need passion – a burning desire to make the film – the best film possible,”

Campbell is also a big fan of [**Berto Pasuka**](https://blkoutuk.com/2019/02/05/read-pasuka-who-black-queer-british-and-visible/?ref=scenemag.co.uk) , who was the co-founder of Ballet Negres in 1948\. A Black Queer Jamaican dancer, choreographer, director, writer and painter – Campbell says: “ He was a Jamaican who was out in the 1940’s , which is something people can’t imagine . ” Campbell recommends [Ballet Black – free to view here on BFI player,](https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-ballet-black-1986-online?ref=scenemag.co.uk) it’s a documentary about Pasuka’s dance company , made some 20 years after Berto’s death

[![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/tumblr_inlin600.jpg)](https://www.gscene.com/features/feature-the-coast-is-queer-2-film-maker-campbell-x/attachment/tumblr%5Finlin600/?ref=scenemag.co.uk)

What kind of stories does Campbell tell ? “ Stories about outsiders, weirdos , people who don’t fit in , people outside the status quo : stories of friendship, love, desire and intimacy ,” he says. “ I’m interested in how Queer people navigate their lives after they’ve come out . Coming out happens all through our lives – it’s not a one-time event. “

Just the act of coming out is not the story he wants to tell. “ There are gender/body issues – how do we fit in to the world outside of us ?” The trauma we experience in our childhood is his interest “ how do our formative years affect our lives, and how can we include them in our Black Queer stories?

Campbell’s other work includes episodic TV – specifically a trans web series called **Spectrum London** , featuring queer people of colour.

Another work – [**Different For Girls** ](https://vimeo.com/ondemand/dfg?ref=scenemag.co.uk)– was a mainstream tv look at lesbian and gay people who have children – covering the challenge of forming families for LGBTQ+ people . The film clip he showed the event was of the pain of two women who have split up but where children are involved – it was compelling to view.

Campbell is proud that Stud Life – distributed by the marvellous [ **Peccadillo Pictures** ](https://www.peccapics.com/product/studlife/?ref=scenemag.co.uk)– has a trans/queer cast and crew – an important aspect for the film-maker. Another vital strand of his message, he tell us is “ Your silence will not protect you.”

[![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/campbell-x600-2.png)](https://www.gscene.com/features/feature-the-coast-is-queer-2-film-maker-campbell-x/attachment/campbell-x600-3/?ref=scenemag.co.uk)

Campbell is vehement abut the structure of the film industry and how weighted it is. As far as film funding is concerned he’s clear: “ The puppet masters in film are not black. We think someone’s going to come and rescue us – and they’re not . We have to rescue ourselves as Queer and Black “.

And he also feels strongly “why aren’t we hearing our Black queer stories : why aren’t these stories being financed or commissioned in the UK?”

Set aside all these important issues, his quote of the session for me was “ Tik Tok and Instagram are very Queer – you just have to teach the algorithm what you’re looking for .” A light-hearted if true moment in a gripping insight into a fully committed Queer Black film maker.

Campbell is on the panel for a screening of the film and discussion: **Beyond ‘There’s Always a Black Issue, Dear’ on 28th February 2021,** [more info here:](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/queer-black-british-tracing-lgbtq-histories-tickets-138413391179?ref=scenemag.co.uk)

[![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/the-coast-i600.jpg)](https://www.gscene.com/arts/books/feature-the-coast-is-queer-1-val-the-queen-of-crime-novels/attachment/the-coast-i600/?ref=scenemag.co.uk)

[](http://coastisqueer.com/?ref=scenemag.co.uk)[The Coast Is Queer sessions](http://coastisqueer.com/?ref=scenemag.co.uk) will hopefully be available online soon. Watch out on **New Writing South** and [**Marlborough Productions** ](https://linktr.ee/marlboroughproductions?ref=scenemag.co.uk)sites .

Look out for my 3rd feature on the sessions featuring queer writer **Jamie Windust.**

[![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/63717cff600.png)](https://www.gscene.com/features/feature-the-coast-is-queer-2-film-maker-campbell-x/attachment/63717cff600/?ref=scenemag.co.uk)