A Q&A With Non-Binary Filmmaker Donta Storey

photo courtesy of @dontastorey Instagram

Born just outside the dazzling city of Las Angeles, Donta Storey has had their eyes on the stars from a very young age. Now, they have finally joined them.

Their new short film LiME, which was released to Amazon Prime in late March, has boosted the debut director to the big leagues. But Storey doesn’t only direct. Storey identifies as a queer, non-binary emerging director, actor, writer, and producer. And they are damn good at it, too. 

LiME is an ode to Storey’s former self — uncovering the startling truth behind growing up black as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. The story follows the life of black, queer high schooler DeShawn (played by Urian Ross) as he auditions for the stereotypically feminine majorettes team. DeShawn’s journey of success in the face of oppression from his cisgender peers promotes the message of hope and love, even in a society with a history of proliferating hate. 

We had the wonderful opportunity to sit down with the talented Donta Storey ourselves! Well, at least hear their cheerful voice through the socially distant cell phone… They were more than willing to answer our Q’s with some amazing A’s:

When did you become interested in film?

As a kid, literally, I could walk to Paramount Pictures. I was living in this apartment with my mom, dreaming to be an actor and a filmmaker while I was looking at the water tower… So I felt like it was destiny... Growing up both as black and as queer, I looked at the media and I am nowhere to be found… It was really important to me to center black and brown people, women, disabled people to help show diversity [in film]... and to expand this “image of perfection.” It’s more than a [diversity] quota. It is setting the tone to change the world.

Was it difficult to begin your work with film? Were you nervous?

It was hard; I was very afraid… I had to make a decision as a filmmaker, eventually, to take a chance on myself and on my abilities to do something I really care about. I needed to find the courage… because I don’t really think you can be a filmmaker if you aren’t living in your truth. No matter what story you tell, films and movies are about humanity. In order to tell those stories, you have to be able to connect. I felt like I was living a facade; I felt like I was hiding my true self for so long, I was afraid to take a stab at being a film director because I knew it would cost me my closet. So, it was actually more of a personal dilemma for me.

What is your film LiME inspired by? Is this based on a true story?

It is [based on my experience in childhood]... It was really important to me to showcase the people in my life who really inspired me to be myself, and despite my differences they never let up, and those were the women in my life. Whether it was my mother, or my grandmother, or my best friends who were girls they… always had my back. I grew up on a street called Lime Avenue, and if you watch the film, one of the opening shots is the street corner… LiME is like a love letter to that community, the faith in that community.

When your fans watch LiME, what do you hope they come away with?

I hope people walk away from LiME feeling like they too can overcome adversity. DeShawn’s story is very specific to him, but every single person on this planet has faced adversity or pain, and I just hope, especially the youth because that is really who this film is for, it gives people the courage to face that [trauma] too.

Have you experienced any pushback from your film, considering it is one of the first to delve into these topics? How did you respond?

Well, no, at least not that I know of. Because I wanted to start a discourse about homophobia in the black and brown communities especially, I was looking for the pushback… I was ready for people to be like “Mmmmm, no.” But if I can be completely honest with you, the only pushback I ever got was from the queer film festivals. I will go on record and say that if you are not blatantly having sex or, like, a love story, a lot of the queer spaces don’t feel like you are an LGBTQ film… Which is unfortunate.

How was your experience coming out as non-binary and queer in a predominantly black community? 

I want to be completely honest with you, I don’t think I had a “coming out” moment… and I appreciate that because I don’t think it’s something that should be a show. Hollywood makes us all think that “coming out” is a thing, but it’s not… My truest “coming out” moment, sounds a little cliché but it’s true, is when LiME came out. No publicist, no agent, no manager could protect me from sitting in that vulnerability ‘cuz I was telling the world: This is what happened to me and this is who I am.

Is there any advice you would give to someone struggling with coming out?

Be patient. Be kind to yourself. It is a difficult thing to explore… We are all so different; yet, we are all so alike in that we want to belong and we want to feel whole. But life is a journey and we, myself included, get so caught up in feeling like we need to know everything… But all you need to do is find people who love and who support you… that is what is important.

Do you think the film industry still classifies topics like sexuality and queerness as “taboo”? 

Yes, yes I do. It’s still very new. We all like to say it’s very inclusive, but it’s been a slow merge. It’s still very taboo… We still have male actors who won’t play queer [characters] because they are afraid of being “type-cast” or perceived as gay. We also still have the Emmys, and other award ceremonies, excluding trans actors… even though they do amazing work and tell amazing stories that people care about. But, I think in a few years things will be different. It’s baby steps.

Do you have any plans for what you are going to do next?

I am in post [production] for a film called Doolee Does Murder, which is a short where I am actually acting as the main character, Doolee, who is a vintage perfume salesman… and has a sexual attraction to the human neck, and after a little self-exploration, he decides murder is the answer. So, it is a dark comedy with what I like to call horror elements. [I am also] working on my feature film, which we hope to start filming early next year… It’s called Boys Like Us and it’s an exploration of trauma, mental health, and love. 

Do you have any advice for young filmmakers like me, eager to begin their experience in show business?

Take chances. Write stories only you can tell. No one has your voice! Believe in your craft, you know what you’re doing and you’ve got this. Honestly, there are going to be so many no’s, HELLA no’s, but that just makes the yes’s even better. 

Stay tuned to hear more about Storey’s journey with film once Doolee Does Murder is finished!!