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.
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.
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,
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