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Miles Christian Daniels - Bringing The Truth Out

August 10th, 2007

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by Bambi Weavil

Bambi Weavil: The obvious question is, why did you create Dixie Queen?

Miles Christian Daniels: When I first moved to Wilmington in 1999, one of the first people I met after coming out was Tara Nicole. I had never seen a drag show and someone had told me about a show at a club called Mickey Ratz. And Tara Nicole was the first person I met when I walked in the door,” The first night we met, I thought she was a biological female. I was entirely unexposed to drag queens much less transgender individuals. But I found something mysterious about her. Here she is, 300 pounds and she has this sexual aura. I sensed she had a story but was caged and getting it out of her was going to be a challenge.

Over the course of about two years, we would periodically meet and talk about her life. Often, these conversations took place in the comfortable atmosphere of the dark nightclub. And, in time, she would open up to me, telling me about her days as a boy named Eddie on a farm in Beulaville. How she “came out” after moving to Wilmington. And the concerns over health, religion, internal conflict and family that she’s experienced during her life. ?

As a general rule, I like to look for people who don’t want to lay it all out on the table. It took a while, but I eventually convinced her to participate in the movie.

Being a former newspaperman who often wrote profile stories, I was certainly intrigued and believed others would feel just as fascinated by her life. Then, in November 2002, while working on a documentary in Boston about Cardinal Bernard Law’s resignation as archbishop, I pitched the idea to Hal Rifken, who owns HM Rifken Productions in New York.

The idea was to make a documentary about drag queens without a lot of sensationalism. Most movies about drag queens portray their lives as infested with drugs and alcohol. None humanized who these people are and tried to explore their true feelings.

I wanted to change that.

BW: Tara Nicole has a amazing story and is a amazing person. How did you meet Tara and how did you come to know Tara better during the movie?

MCD: Before filming, I had only known the wig, make-up and fingernails wearing Tara Nicole. Through the filming process I came to know the side of her few in Wilmington ever see, the Tara who has overcome huge obstacles, is resilient, has a healthy dose of tenacity, would give you the shirt off of her back and is – first and foremost — painfully human.

BW: What was the reason to include Lady Bunny, not being a regular in Wilmington’s drag scene, and mostly known for living in New York instead of the Southern scene which was captured in this film?

MCD: During the interview process, many – if not most – of the drag queens compared their style of drag and their lives outside of the bars to queens like Rupaul and Lady Bunny who live in larger cities. In fact, so much so we added a segment called “That’s Why I’m Not in New York, Honey.” I wanted to see what a “city” queen had to say about her counterparts down south. I tried to score an interview with Rupaul but she was living in Los Angeles at the time. Her manager recommended Lady Bunny. It worked out perfectly as in an unforeseen twist, Lady Bunny was actually born in Wilmington and is still at heart a southern queen.

BW: What was the most surprising thing you learned about the drag community?

MCD: I was surprised by the ostracism they often feel from within their own community. Taking dating, for example, many gay men are apprehensive about dating drag queens due to their career choice. This is even more difficult for transgender female-to-male and is the reason many pursue heterosexual men.

BW: What was the buzz like for this movie and is there any further distribution future in the works? I remember once there were talks with HBO…

MCD: We had contacted HBO prior to filming and they showed an interest. We couldn’t work out a deal so decided to go the film festival and distribution route. The film was picked up early last year by National Film Network and is now available for both individual and public purchase. It was a sell-out at New York’s Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and also played several other festivals including those in Nashville and Atlanta. It has also received favorable reviews from critics, including one from Michael Musto at “Village Voice.” I still periodically receive e-mails from viewers who have purchased the film and are kind enough to send over their thoughts. And, it still has legs. For example, last summer it was featured as part of the New York Public Library Art and Activism Series and the turnout was wonderful.

BW: Any plans for a follow up? I really want to see a film about Scarlett Dailey myself.

MCD: No follow-ups in the near future. I’ve pitched drag queen ideas to LOGO (the Viacom gay channel) but no bites. And, I’ve worked recently with RuPaul on her “Starbooty” movie and “Supermodel 2006” video remix. I’m always open, but have to also consider the “making a living” aspect of what I do. Dixie Queen is my baby, the first film I directed. It will always hold a special place in my heart.

BW: What other films are in the works that you are currently involved with?

MCD: I’m currently producing a documentary about Jesuit priests and am in pre-production on a film I’m directing about Civil Rights’ icon, Ruby Bridges. Between these, I stay busy by working fulltime with HM Rifken Productions where I produce, write and direct both commercial and corporate projects.

BW: Thank you for your time! For more information on Miles and his work, please visit HM Rifken Productions at http://www.hmrifken.com/.

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