“Queer Isolation” short and “HOW TO” video
by Jordana Valerie Allen-Shim
Filmmaking inspiration and helpful tips
Unleash your creativity!
We are excited to share this Short Film as well as a “How To” instructional tip created from award-winning storyteller, Jordana Valerie Allen-Shim.
About the film: Noelle, a 24-year-old queer woman is forced back into the closet when she loses her job due to the pandemic and has to move back to her hometown. Lonely and depressed, she looks to dating apps for companionship, but doesn’t keep any conversations going. On a routine trip to the grocery store, she runs into one of the girls she was matched with, Krystal. Rather than make up excuses for ghosting, Noelle takes a risk and opens up to her to find that she isn’t alone.
“Queer Isolation”:
A “How To” instructional tip:
Jordana Valerie Allen-Shim
(Writer, Director, Editor)
Jordana Valerie Allen-Shim is a Toronto-born, U.S.-raised award-winning writer, director, and editor of Korean and Jewish descent whose work has been featured in over 115 film festivals around the globe. She is also a dog mom, She-Ra and ABBA superfan, and aspiring graphic novelist.
Along with film, Jordana Valerie has a deep background in activism and social justice. She also worked in electoral politics for four years, holding leadership positions at several major progressive organizations, before realizing that she could make a far greater change through art. Her life goal is to dismantle capitalism but she is also intent on telling bold, disruptive stories about queer women and non-binary people of colour.
Twitter: jordanavalkyrie
Instagram: jordanavalerieallenshim
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT / ADVICE:
There are always going to be people who tell you no. People who tell you that your goals are not achievable, that you have to compromise your vision, that you have to wait before pursuing your passion. I am so proud and happy that Queer Isolation disproved that for me. My goal as a filmmaker and storyteller is to tell stories by and for queer and transgender people of colour, and the production crew on Queer Isolation was composed entirely of women and non-binary people, most of us people of colour. Ultimately, when it comes to making a movie, I don’t think any of us quite ever end up being “ready,” as there’s always something that goes wrong, there’s always some sort of unexpected challenge in the process, but having a team of people who share and support your vision makes it so much easier to overcome those challenges and produce something you’re proud of. Just find the right people and try telling your story!
The Youth Virtual Media Arts Program is a project of the Barrie Film Festival and supported by the Government of Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund and Barrie Community Foundation. This initiative is presented in partnership with Talk Is Free Theatre.
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