Bringing LGBT Stories to Life: Filmmaking Journey

What does it take to bring authentic LGBT stories to life on the big screen? 

Join Alan Greenstein on the Support Our #creatives podcast as we sit down with Shelbe Chang and Daniel Stone to uncover the heart and soul behind their anthology film "LGBT Love Stories." Shelbe, fueled by her passion for Asian cinema, and Daniel, transitioning from modeling and acting to screenwriting, share their unique journeys and the inspirations that led to this inclusive project. 

Discover the compelling narratives and diverse representation showcased in this anthology, each segment poignantly representing a letter from LGBT.

Subscribe to https://www.youtube.com/@supportourcreatives/streams
LGBT Love Stories FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/LGBTLoveStoriesMovie
Daniel Stone’s IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6117334/ 

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Chapters

• 0:00 LGBT Love Stories
• 13:55 Indie Film Casting and Production Challenges
• 23:56 Acting Challenges and Location Struggles
• 34:29 Inclusive Filmmaking and Diversity Message
• 41:04 Distribution and LGBT Film Reflections
• 51:02 Future Plans in Entertainment

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

This is the Transparency Podcast Show.

Speaker 2: 0:13

Okay, hello everybody. This is the Borda Hesha Creatives Show and tonight I guess our Shelby Chang and Danielle Stone. They're from the film LGBT Love Stories. Before I get started, let me introduce myself. So my name is Alan Greenstein. I'm the founder and producer supporter of Hashtag Creatives. We level the playing field for underrepresented creatives and artists so that they have the same opportunities as everyone else to get their works created, distributed and seen. I'm also on the board of directors of the Bella Levy Foundation, and the goal of the Bella Levy Foundation is to fight human trafficking and provide a safe haven for its warriors. So hello, shelby and Daniel. I'm so glad that you're both here tonight and let's see Shelby. Why don't you briefly introduce yourself and then we'll have Daniel follow and then we'll start with some questions.

Speaker 3: 1:17

Okay, Thank you for having me on the show. My name is Shelby Chang. I am a filmmaker, director, producer and I also have my own podcast shows and besides the entertainment side, I do a lot of business, real estate, digital marketing and so many bunch of different business adventures. So I'm here to talk about LGBT Love Stories, which we filmed it 10 years ago, and we are starting to revisit this project and we're going to try to dispute onto the streaming platforms.

Speaker 2: 2:04

Okay.

Speaker 3: 2:04

Thank you, Shelby.

Speaker 2: 2:05

Daniel.

Speaker 1: 2:07

Hey guys, first of all, thank you so much, adam, for your support and for having us on the show. I am a model slash actor. I started off with modeling and I transitioned to acting and then currently, from there, I transitioning to screenwriting. So I'm currently practicing with that. So, um, I'm trying to, uh, at the moment I'm trying to see if I can get any of my screenwriting actually like sold or like used, you know, anything like that. So that's that's how I'm currently staying active in the entertainment field.

Speaker 2: 2:42

um, in to that, besides, you know, being doing like podcasts and other than that, yeah, oh, okay, Very good, Okay, so we'll start talking now about LGBT love stories and tell us about the concept and the and and the special nature of this particular film, taking advantage of the four letters LGBT Shelby.

Speaker 3: 3:13

Yes, lgbt stands for lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender, and this concept was, these ideas came to my mind around 10 years ago and because when I grow up, I'm very influenced into Asian cinemas, asian films, and one of the biggest, my personal favorite genre is art film, artistry films. Genre is art film, artistry films, and the artistry film there's a particular type of kind, is like different segment, different story, of bunching together and we call it etnology films. So if you can maybe like think of, uh, pulp fiction, it's like something like Pulp Fiction. It has about three to four stories linked together, intertwined together and then they brought into a big story storyline. So LGBT is four story, it breaks down to LGBT. So, and we have four directors, we have four writers and we have four writers and we have all the actors and crews are in the community. I would say 95% of the crews and actors are in the community and it's very diverse. We have Asian, you know myself, we have Black, brown, white, you know all you can think of and we have also different ages. We have very seasonal actors.

Speaker 3: 4:55

When we had to all the way to a little girl little girl, I believe she was 10 at the time, yeah, 10 at the time, yeah, so so I the reason I want to do this film, it was my passion, my dream. When I grow up, I always have a dream to be, uh, in the entertainment industry, and I never find a way. Yet, you know, I studied film, I studied communication art in college and and this happened to, to, to, to be the first, you know, independent film that I that I get involved with after I transition, you know, um, and it's very, it's very interesting experience. And this idea came about one day I was driving home from work and all of a sudden it just came to my mind oh, I can do something like this. Four stories, four different styles.

Speaker 3: 5:52

And there's a fun fact on the T-segment. I call it T-segment, it's transgender story. I was going to have other director or other actress to come in to play the role and direct the film, but after two, two director that I approach, they somehow show interest and then they back out, so there's two. So so at the time I said, okay, might as well, I just do him on my own, because I also was a big fan of jackie chen and, as you, many people know, he does the same thing write his own stories, direct and do his own stunt and act his own movie. So so that's why I thought, okay, maybe I'll just take on this, this opportunity, you know. So that's yeah. That's how the uh film come film came about in the beginning.

Speaker 2: 6:46

Okay, oh, very good. Yeah, a little bit later we'll have each of you talk about your experiences while making the film, but for now, what I want to do, if you have permission, is I want to show the trailer. Okay, yes, right now. Yeah, so hang on for a second. I've got to push some buttons to make it happen. Hopefully it'll work out OK.

Speaker 3: 7:17

I just want to talk. What do you want to talk about you? I lost everything my family, my friends, my job. What have you been doing? Have you been with another man?

Speaker 2: 7:41

I want you to get out of that house. Get out.

Speaker 1: 7:45

I'm married with a child. My wife doesn't understand me, you and Thomas were great together on stage and off. I broke up with you, you broke up with me.

Speaker 3: 7:57

Who the hell cares, what's the?

Speaker 2: 7:58

difference. The problem with the two of you is your egos.

Speaker 1: 8:02

You became a drag queen from hell. My new boyfriend, ernesto, is coming to pick me up?

Speaker 3: 8:08

Why is Tomas just like a gay?

Speaker 1: 8:10

thug. I gotta say the dude looks shady.

Speaker 2: 8:14

I bet he's wearing one of those parole GPS ankle bracelets.

Speaker 1: 8:19

You got an invitation for Tomas' birthday party. Oh wow, you didn't Happy birthday boy. Happy birthday to my girlfriend Amber.

Speaker 3: 9:01

Not really girlfriend, that's just a bad idea.

Speaker 1: 9:05

Yeah, it's like a bad idea, but Is she straight yeah?

Speaker 2: 9:09

I mean she has a boyfriend. She has a boyfriend but he's a jerk.

Speaker 3: 9:13

It's in the lesbian handbook. Trust me, I've been there and don't tell me we have to share the same bathroom with her. You mean with him.

Speaker 1: 9:23

Do you know this could damage our company's image and reputation they just put those in dresses, right no, no, it's not that. It's burlesque, it's dance, it's it's singing, it's making people laugh, it's art. Who are you fighting jack?

Speaker 2: 9:40

society prejudice look, I live my life trying to be true to who I am. I'm not afraid to kiss someone who I love in public. This is gonna go viral Monetizing bitches. Okay, we're back. Okay, so now we'll start digging into more details. First, daniel, I'd like to ask you how did you become a part of this project?

Speaker 1: 10:14

Good question, so you know what I I'd like to ask you how did you become a part of this project? Good question. So you know, when I was hearing Shelby tell her story, I actually have similarities to her about how it came about and how it worked out for her when she ended up doing it herself. I have a similar story in regards to that. It sort of worked out for me in that favor too, because originally in the film I was going to um play a very small part, like a cameo part. It was like in the the house party scene. It was like literally only for a few seconds. But, um, what happened was that I had already befriended shelby from a previous project that we had um did together kind of journey with us. Uh, carrie cecil it was a short film, I believe it was. I won, I think, two or three awards which I'm very proud of, at festivals and everything, and so you know, me and Shervin already had a following in social media and everything.

Speaker 1: 11:08

And during the casting process for the film for LGBT Love Stories, we were like were, like you know, just posting various things on social media to promote it, and I remember I did this one post, which was quite personal. It didn't really have to do with the film. It was more about me. But at the same time, you know, simultaneously I was discussing a film as well. So, um, touch brandon, who was the director for the G-segment, the gay segment, for the film, saw that post because I had also friended him on, I think, facebook at the time and he had saw the post and he thought that, you know this, he sounds a lot like this character, poochie for the film. So you know, what would you like? Would you like to do it? I'm like, of course, because you know it like uh, would you like to do it? I'm like, of course, because you know it was already an upgrade as it was.

Speaker 1: 11:58

It was like a support role. So it was a major upgrade for me and I and so I sort of agreed with him. It did sound like me a lot at the time what it was at the time. So I thought if I do this role I won't really have to prepare much. I'm just basically acting like myself. So, honestly, I didn't audition or anything for that role, I just went in, I just did it and it was very easy for me because at the time I was you know.

Speaker 1: 12:22

Obviously I can't say much now because I can't spoil the film, the role, but like, yeah, maybe post once it's out on streaming and we do something like this again, I'll gladly discuss, like, the elements of how it's similar. But, yeah, so that role, it just really came to me just by by by. I won't even say luck, I won't even say chance. I think it was just, um, destiny, it was just pure, just. I think it was just meant for me and for me to just land the road, just like, just like, just because, like, just how it happened.

Speaker 1: 12:51

I, yeah, I think, was meant to be. So I'm just, I'm very, yeah, I'm very glad to tell this story and, um, I'm this, I'm happy how it happened. I think it was meant to be. So I'm very glad to tell this story and I'm happy how it sort of contributes to Shelby, how she did it herself. Yeah, so it's very similar. Now I'm very happy for it. So, pretty much, yeah, that's how it happened. It just happened from a previous engagement with Shelby and then it carried on into what it just turned into.

Speaker 2: 13:15

Yeah, well, that's very, that's very common. You know, when you work on a project together, your bands end up working on other projects together. Yeah, but at first, the first project you mentioned, though, shelby, was Shelby. Were you at the head of that project or you were?

Speaker 3: 13:32

I was just kind of. I also play in that short film, but it's a small part. It was more like a friendship support to the director. Yeah, so that's how I met Daniel and another actress, yeah, Fantastic, so Shelby.

Speaker 2: 13:55

so how did you go about um casting in general? How did you find the people for the different um elements of the story?

Speaker 3: 14:03

okay, um, I actually for the g segment, the gay story. It's focusing on drag queens and at time I know a few drag queens and so I kind of just reach out to them and see if they're interested. And then one drag queen, her name is Nikki and she referred me to another person to come together to play the opposite role. So that's, I kind of mainly cast the main character, first, so myself, and then two drag queens, and then I do casting calls. I forgot there's a platform that we can put out for casting calls and then we have I don't remember how many like 50 different people come show up to to audition.

Speaker 3: 14:59

And for the for the, for the um lesbian segment, which is daniel oro is the director and writer, um, the two girls, one, one came in and and we her, but somehow she dropped off. And then the second one which is played Amber character. She has very unique talent, she plays a lot of music because we're casting her. So I kind of twist the story around more catered to her individual, twist the story around more catered to her individual. So basically the entire casting. It's kind of like trying to find the actor or the friends or the people who, let's say, drag queens already in their character, just like Daniel was saying that when he played a role, he doesn't feel like he's playing the role.

Speaker 1: 15:59

I didn't have to prepare really at all for that role, not really Even the costume, like what I wore. That's how I dressed at that time. It was very yeah, I felt really good to do that role. I was very proud.

Speaker 3: 16:13

He was perfect for it, thank you. I do that, rob. I was very proud of you. He was perfect for it, thank you.

Speaker 1: 16:17

I do, I do, I do think that, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2: 16:22

So I guess I want to ask the both of you what challenges did you face in getting it made Shelby? Why don't you talk first about since you know about getting it all to come together, you know, in pre-production and such and regular production, post-production. Did you run into any challenges?

Speaker 3: 16:44

In the post-production, which is pretty much I kind of do all myself behind the scenes, I didn't announce too much. So I was able to reach out to Patrick Freeman. He is the director writer for the Big Salmon Backside Show and I know him previous from this project and he was actually a writer for novels as well and screenwriter. So he has different, he wrote different screenplays and he was. I met him at a Hamburger Mary in Long Beach and then he came to me prior to this project and I'm wanting to see if I'm interested to play one of his film, one of his screenwriting stories. So that's how I met him. And as far as Touch Brandon, I already also know him previous from this project. I saw his casting for a photo shoot I believe it's a gender bender photo shoot. So I reached out to him and I got able to do that gender bender project for his project at the time and then throughout the process I learned that he also did films. He also did theater, live play theater. So pre-post-production I reached out to these people and Danielle Earl is the last person that I came across actually online. She has she posts. Yeah, she posts. A at the time was like a how do you call it Web series? You know, like a TV series Back in the day it's called web series. So it's like a small series of like a, a tv show. So I watch some of them and I it's very close to what I uh envision of of, uh, the lesbian segment. So I reach out to her and she say yes, and we just uh head it off right away. So so in the post-production I don't have much challenge.

Speaker 3: 18:57

And when it comes to the production, because it's an indie film and it's a very limited budget, so we do it. It's called a guerrilla style, right? Guerrilla style, yeah, guerrilla style. We shot it like two weeks, yeah. And then, very luckily, we shot it like two weeks, wow, yeah. And then, very luckily, I know some people around town in Long Beach, so we were able to get, let's say, the club Shout out to Executive Suite in Long Beach. We were able to shoot there. And the Hunt Brick and Marry we also shoot in Long Beach. It was all. These location were provided to us without you know putting a budget, so so it's pretty smoothly. And then we have, you know, shout out to my friend Don, we use his house as a party scene, house party scene, and so that wasn't really running into any project challenge.

Speaker 3: 20:00

So the challenge really comes along was in the post production, because I was very anxious I want to get it out, you know short time, because I just feel I need to because the film itself has a lot of message within the story. So my purpose was I want to get the message out, I wanted people to know our stories. You know, at that time this is back in 2014. And we came, you know, I ran into some funding, wasn't able to go forward and I have to find editors, you know. And then so I kind of outsourced to actually overseas for the sound effect and sound mixer and sound editing for that part. And then I was able to find a local trans editor in Los Angeles and she helped us to kind of do most of the editing for the film. I did some editing myself as well, but yeah, so that took a little bit while to finish that part on the post. It wasn't as fast as I was I wanted to.

Speaker 1: 21:13

So yeah, I still think at the time it was released, though, how long it took, wasn't that bad for independent film. It was completely independent. We actually got it that. It was like a year and a half, two, two years. I don't think that's bad at all. Some people take much longer. I once knew somebody took them eight years to get a pendant.

Speaker 2: 21:34

That's only understandable, yeah.

Speaker 1: 21:37

I mean Shelby. You should be proud of the duration. Thank you, it is pretty good.

Speaker 3: 21:41

Thank you. Yeah, so we kind of we shot it summer 2014, 2015, was finished, and then my personal life had a hiccup, so we did submit to, I believe, four or five festivals and we got it all in. Actually, we were in one of them. It's called Online Film Festival. During that time, there's no Netflix streaming streaming yet there's no streaming at all. So we're kind of like you know the the very ahead of the time for doing online, online streaming, online film festival. And then I believe we had one in canada, we had one have in germany and a few other ones. There's one in LA too. Yeah, so about four or five, yeah.

Speaker 2: 22:32

Okay, so this is around the 2016 timeframe you're talking about 2016?

Speaker 3: 22:39

2015.

Speaker 2: 22:41

Yeah, Okay, got it, yeah, wow, 15. When it comes to independent, sometimes it just takes a long time to get from point A to point B because, well, you know, financing is always the big challenge.

Speaker 1: 22:53

Obviously, yeah, so, yeah so financing, sometimes like you still need to find someone to do the process for it. So, yeah, sometimes, yeah. So yeah, sometimes, yeah, it's not always money, yeah, so either way, there's always going to be some sort of something blocking the road, you know, to progress. So, yeah, it's very hard, but it's always rewarding. You know, once you get it done out there, it feels very rewarding and that's why, when it was, yeah, finally out there, yeah, I'm very proud of it.

Speaker 3: 23:21

Thank you, and I was. I'm not sure these those platforms are still out there. It was, it was on GoFundMe, it was a Kickstarter and I forgot Indiegogo, right, I think I believe that was the. So I used Indiegogo and Kickstarter to fund the project in the beginning. Oh, at the time, Okay yeah at the time and then again the Exactly Suite in Long Beach. I was able to kind of host a small event within our community and people kind of just donate, yeah. So I did both.

Speaker 2: 23:57

Yeah, so, daniel, did you have any particular roadblocks or problems along the way in your participation in this project?

Speaker 1: 24:05

Oh, the complications Not really. The only thing was, way you know, in your participation in this project, or the complication not really. Um, the only thing was it was a new experience for me because it was my first feature film. All the work I had done before was our short films that before, before this, and they were all like school related, so we would either shoot like at school, at the literal school, like indoors in the school, or like on the block or two after nearby the school, whatever. And really you know, this is my first film, even though it was all in california just different areas around california, different cities, areas still, it still felt like traveling to me because I yeah, which is like I think from the scenes that we did I think I went to four different locations, so that was pretty new to me, even though it was still local.

Speaker 1: 24:50

Then I had transportation, my own transportation. I don't think Uber and Lyft was really a thing then. I think it was out then but it wasn't popular like it is now. I did Uber and Lyft. I had to ask people are they going to give me a ride? So it was very. That was challenging. Um, and then, other than that, the only challenge I could remember was just with one individual particular, but I can really can't mention it for the podcast I'm talking about. But there was one individual during filming that I didn't have an issue with but shelby did take she. She took it very well, she handed a very professional, but yeah, that was pretty much just that one personal thing. And then, just like, get into location, that's pretty much all for me, like the, like the anything else related to the film, like remembering lines, and now that it was very easy for me because I'm very good at that stuff, like so that wasn't a problem for me at all. Yeah, including in the remembering lines, I loved that. I aced it, yeah.

Speaker 3: 25:50

Yeah, touch Brandon, which is the gay segment, gay story. He really wrote long lines, I can see, and the dialogue is pretty funny, you know, but it's very long. And I want to just piggyback on the location that you mentioned. We didn't have any permits, right, but interior, of course, the interior scene is easy because as long as the owner allows, then there's no problem. But there's some street scenes especially I was on the street scene a lot. So the street scene, we don't have permits and I think there's one time that I think there's a cop show or some sort, because it was more a little bit of an argument scene. Right, you were there. I believe it's right next to Wasn't that the beach scene?

Speaker 3: 26:48

No, it's the alley next to the club.

Speaker 1: 26:56

I don't think we actually got confronted about it, but I think people were noticing that we were shooting there the top will show up, so we will have to be very careful. Yes.

Speaker 2: 27:08

I've always wondered about that. Who's getting permits? It'd be the time-consuming process.

Speaker 3: 27:15

Yes, and then I'm sure there's a lot of fees as well, right, right, right.

Speaker 2: 27:24

Yeah, shelby, tell me, there was one segment that you actually did a live theater presentation on at the time. Do you recall that?

Speaker 3: 27:35

Which one? Oh yeah, you're talking about the theater, right yeah?

Speaker 2: 27:42

yeah.

Speaker 3: 27:42

Yes, it was.

Speaker 2: 27:43

Yeah, and how was that? Which segment was that?

Speaker 3: 27:45

again, I don't remember it was yeah, and how was that? Which segment?

Speaker 2: 27:48

was that again?

Speaker 3: 27:48

I don't remember it was a G. It's directed by Touch Brandon. Like I mentioned earlier, he's the gay stories director writer and he took his part of the story and bring it to the theater, the theater-like play it was. I don't know if you guys heard of Hollywood French. It's like a festival, but it's for the plays Theater plays oh. Fringe.

Speaker 2: 28:19

Oh, yeah, yeah, Fringe, yes, fringe, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 3: 28:21

Yeah, yeah. So we were, yeah, we got elected and we were playing I don't know I forgot how much like a month right Every week. I believe it was a week, four weekends, I believe.

Speaker 1: 28:36

Oh, okay, yeah, I think that's what somebody said.

Speaker 3: 28:38

Yeah, yeah, so we were selected to be part of it and then we played, I believe, a different location for four weeks. So that was awesome. Yeah, it's very interesting. And, of course, the actors are changed because, as some people might know, the live actress is different from film acting, so people have to be familiar with the life acting, because myself I can never do live acting because the dialogue I cannot remember.

Speaker 2: 29:15

So, yeah, yeah, okay, um, um, let's see. Um, what the daniel, can you tell us about some of the previous things that you've worked on before? Lgbt?

Speaker 1: 29:28

love stories. So, in regards to film, as I mentioned previously, I did do four short films. My very first one it was called let me see. If I remember it was called the Box. It was a transgender short film. It was a transgendered short film and that's when I actually met Carrie Cecil, who directed her next project, the Journey, which is how I met Shelby.

Speaker 1: 30:03

So how that film came about the Box, my very first project, my debut in anything acting-wise, it actually came by luck. That actually came by luck too, because even though I was going to, like open cast cars and you know, audition and stuff like that in LA, um, how I got booked for that one, it didn't have anything to do with like that, like purposely trying to get in, that I was just taking the subway one afternoon with a friend and there was this guy on there and he was just staring at me like up and down, and you know, at that, you know, at that time I was very mature, so I didn't know what to think about that. Maybe he was trying to start something. I just, you know, now we're just handling it very much more maturely, but yeah, at that time I was like, you know, like what are you staring at dude like what?

Speaker 1: 30:40

you know, is there a problem? And then, um, he was like no, I'm sorry, like I didn't mean to, you know, offend you, it's just that I like your look because I dress. Well, I dress more bizarre than I do now, but anyway, that's how he noticed me because of how I was dressed. And he says you know, are you like in entertainment or anything? And I'm like, well, yeah, coincidentally, yeah, I said, um, I was modeling at that time and trying to break into acting, but I wasn't having any luck yet, but I, I already did her job, um, um, with modeling. And then he's like well, are you interested in a film? I'm like, of course, and that's what I'm actually trying to do. So it was just very much, just very, it was just a coincidence, just all worked out, but yeah, so he gave me his um, I believe. He gave me his phone number, email and social media and I think I emailed him. Out of the three options, I chose to email him, and then he had emailed me back, like this project that he was doing, and he said it was going to be at school. It was going to be Actually, no, no, no, no. That was Carrie's no, this one was going to be at the LGBT Center in WeHo, west Hollywood. He said they were going to shoot it there. So, of course, I was already familiar with this. I went there and, you know, we shot it. We shot it like just a little over maybe three hours and that's what I meant. That's how I met um carrie, through this other director guy, jimbo bowen. I still remember his name, jimbo bowen. Uh, yeah, and I met uh carrie, and then, from that, um, she told me if I, you know, if I was interested in anything else to you know, I said, of course, and then so we kept in touch. I think we add each other social media, facebook or whatever and then, I think, a few months later, maybe like three or maybe four or five months later, um, she had told me about the journey and um, she told me it was going to be shot around um LACC, los Angeles City College, and I was attending there at the time, um, so you know, it was very convenient for me, location wise, and yeah, and then Shelby was there support role, and that's how we met. Yeah, and again the same thing happened. We, we exchanged information, we kept in touch, and then she told me she was doing a film as well, lgbt Love Stories and yeah, then that's how it got started, so it pretty much was just.

Speaker 1: 32:55

That was a very good year for me. All of these four bookings happened to me all in the same year. It was in 2014. That was like my best year ever for acting-wise and yeah, best year ever for acting wise. And yeah, and I just came back to back just by pure luck. I really felt like that's probably one of the best my life. Really. They've been joyful time, so I'm very grateful for that year and, yeah, I just thank everybody for the opportunities you show being carrie and then jimbo all you guys just think of opportunity, because I really, um, it gave me the experience that I was, that I was um, thriving for I because, you know, I I seen it done all the time and, of course, I had active friends and all that, but I just didn't have a taste for it for myself. But that year I got to get that taste and it's something I will never forget and it's just, you know, it's amazing. So I'm just thankful for all that you know, given opportunity.

Speaker 2: 33:48

Thank you yeah fantastic pleasure and and so shelby, um, yeah, what, what? What did you do um entertainment wise before? Um lgbt? I mean, you mentioned working, of course, in journey with, uh, you know, yeah, did you do anything before that?

Speaker 3: 34:07

Sort of because, as I mentioned, I studied communication art in college so that's including film, TV and radio and I focused on film and TV and I didn't take any radio classes back then because I was uncomfortable of speaking English at the time. So during that time, besides studying that in school, I also signed up to be an extra on the different type of projects. I remember I was in one of the movies called Father. It was starring from what was his name, Robin Williams.

Speaker 3: 34:52

Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. So I was in one of the concerts in the Hollywood Ball and then I was in the Power Rangers, if you guys remember Power Rangers.

Speaker 2: 35:05

You did Power Rangers yeah sure Power Ranger.

Speaker 3: 35:09

And then I was also in one of the music video from Cranberry.

Speaker 1: 35:15

Oh, I know that one.

Speaker 3: 35:16

Yeah, you told me yeah, cranberry, yeah, so Cranberry she's no longer around. No, right, yeah, so I was just having fun. At the same time I just tried to same thing as what Daniel said try to get myself my feet wet and try to experience. So I did that during my early 20s and then I kind of just my life just dripped off of different direction. And then I really came back to do entertainment again in my early 30s. I started doing some modeling, photo shoots, and then I was in a similar story to Daniel I was doing modeling and doing some extra gigs again. And then I came about this casting call, for they were casting for a transsexual assassin.

Speaker 3: 36:15

So I went to Willie right, huh, yes, so the movie is called LA Willie Neely and it's very interesting story. It also has a very diverse cast and I play an assassin in the film. There's not many speaking parts, which is good, and there's a lot of physical parts Not fighting but just running around. It's my first time holding a prop gun. It's a real heavy gun but it's not loaded.

Speaker 1: 36:55

But that's a very interesting experience.

Speaker 3: 36:58

Was it a real gun? Yeah, it's heavy and anyway. So that kind of gave me the eye opening to see oh okay, this is how a film can be done. So they did a similar way. They do a guerrilla style, shot very fast, location to location, without pyramids, and yeah so same.

Speaker 3: 37:22

So I kind of learned a lot from that project, from that movie that I'm involved in, learned a lot from that project from that movie that I'm involved in. So that's pretty much lead me to doing my own film by watching what they have done. Yeah.

Speaker 2: 37:35

Well, that's the perfect way of learning.

Speaker 3: 37:38

It's great, yeah, thank you.

Speaker 2: 37:40

So, okay, let's talk about the cultural ramifications of what you did. What were you? What message were you trying to get out there by making LGBT love stories?

Speaker 3: 37:52

Okay, actually 2014,. The purpose is because I kind of started coming out and started experiencing the community. People, especially trans community, I'm familiar. I'm not sure about the gay, but people from different walks of life come together into one community. It's very unique. You can find that anywhere else. You cannot even find a work, okay, and and everyone has their own stories and yeah, and and it just so interesting, you know, just by me talking about, I got goosebumps right now because everybody's story is very unique and every and and I at the time I just felt people from LGBT, their voice, their story has not been heard.

Speaker 3: 38:46

Their voice, their story has not been heard. And even if someone played the part or played the story on the mainstream films, they are not told the right way. You know what I mean. So that's why I wanted the purpose, the goal here is to have ourselves to tell our own stories, our own visions, our own feelings, emotions and like, dislike, right. So I feel the reason I say love stories, meaning all human beings. We are one, someone to love, right? Even though we have different gender identity or different sexuality, we are still one to have somebody love us. So that's how the story concept came about and underneath the storyline there's that message, within that we want to tell our story.

Speaker 3: 39:48

We want to show love and receive love, and people should love everybody else you know, and and and I also show that behind the crew and then the act acting actress as well, because, like I mentioned earlier, it's very diverse. Everyone is different, everyone is different background, all came together. So the the the core value of this film is everyone is one. You know, everyone is the same, no matter who you are, what color you are, where you came from, what background, what gender, what sexuality, we are all one.

Speaker 2: 40:30

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So if you were to make this film today, would it be? Would you approach it in any different way? Would the message be different? You know, basically, 2024 versus 2014?.

Speaker 3: 40:44

Actually no, because I actually feel 2024, right now, is actually more aligned to the storyline, the purpose, the message, because of what's going on right now, 2014,. Yes, it's still very fresh. Some people say we are ahead of our time and you know there's not many trans film, transgender film. This is prior to Transparent on Amazon. This is prior to Caitlyn Jenner came out. You know this is prior to Caitlyn Jenner came out. You know this is our prior to all that. So today I will not change a thing. The story will be the same, the concept, the message, the core value still the same, because 10 years later, we're still. Our story is not still being told the right way. I'm sure daniel agreed to that right, all right.

Speaker 1: 41:46

I think the only difference will be that it might even get received even better now yeah and now that things have occurred uh, that didn't occur 10 years ago, that will add even more audience and, you know, therefore, more views and success and all that. So I, yeah, I think it's the perfect pre-release, especially on streaming, now that has become much more convenient and popular amongst you know, target audiences. Like, yeah, I think it could do even much better than it did, you know, 10 years ago. Yeah, that's pretty much the only difference.

Speaker 1: 42:16

But but, like film wise, like how it's, um, like like just the general story of it, I think, yeah, I think shelby's right, that's that's. That's not gonna change. I don't think it's ever gonna change at all, because I think, in time, the lgbt community is just gonna, just gonna grow more and more and more and people are just gonna want to ask more questions about it, want answers, even more so in time, and this film is one of those things where it can give you those answers. So the story will just always be good. I think it will just get better in time, especially since it's an anthology. Like Shelby says, there has been more LGBT films since then, especially mainstream ones, but I think ours is still like the only anthology, though anthology style, right, I think so.

Speaker 3: 42:59

Yeah, I think so.

Speaker 1: 43:02

So that is genius and I think that's something. Thank you, legacy, I think for shelby, because nobody still has stopped to do that yet. You know what I mean, especially who wants to do anthology style. So that that's great. That's the best part about it. My opinion that the way it was shot and the way it was portrayed, I think that's always going to be timeless. It's's going to be awesome, yeah.

Speaker 2: 43:20

Thank you, yeah, yeah, definitely, definitely, yeah. So, which brings us once again to the present the plan to distribute the film. Now let's talk about that. And that's actually where I come in, because, you know, daniel reached out to me and told me about the plan to have a release of LGBT love stories. I'm an executive producer now of the film, so please talk about your current plans to get it distributed.

Speaker 3: 43:59

Yes, as I mentioned earlier. Uh, we finished the post-production around 2016 and I have a. You know, my personal life had a hiccup, so I stopped right there and then over the year, again, life drift me from somewhere else. However, however, 2020 COVID hit and there's a lot of people that involved in this project. Somehow they just pass away, okay, and that kind of really woke me up, because I've been holding on to this project and I feel that it's not fair.

Speaker 3: 44:50

The project is for everybody, everyone and it's not just for me personally, so I want to put it out for everyone who is involved, or everyone who is interested to listen to the story or watch the story. And you know, I have a very close friend, like I mentioned, don, who is my very, very, very close friend. He provides a house party, his own house to film and he has and also another gentleman his name is Curve and he's more behind the scenes. He did some funding as well and then he passed. And then just last weekend, one of our friends, his name is Richard yeah, richard is participating, he helped us. His name is Richard. Richard is is participate. He help us in the clip scene. He also play a little cameo in the outside of the exactly suite. So, and he passed as well.

Speaker 3: 45:57

It was shocking, and so I just feel, you know, it's feel, you know, it's time, you know, and there's few, like I said, there's few actors that I haven't heard from them. I don't know if they're still, you know, still around. Besides this reason, another major reason is because what's going on today you, today, we all talk about EDI, the division, equality and 2014,. 10 years ago, we already hire or cast everybody, every individual, every background, every color, every gender, every sexuality that we can put on the list. So I believe this is going to change people's perception and by telling our own story without the mainstream, it's more authentic, it's more real, it's more, yeah, because some of the people that are playing in the story, they come through that story themselves. That's the unique part, right, including myself, including Daniel, including a few other cast members, yeah, so that's why I want to put it out and what we have in the political climax right now, I really believe this will, you know, come in more like a soft way to tell the story, to change people's concept of other people.

Speaker 2: 47:44

Yeah, yeah, okay. So what platform are you planning to do? You want to distribute what's? What are you going to? What are you going to do now?

Speaker 3: 47:52

Okay, it's going to be through FilmHub. Filmhub is is a distribution platform. It's like Amazon for film channels to see which one they want to distribute onto their platform. Yeah, so the goal is, you know, we never know Maybe we'll get onto Netflix or Amazon Prime, who knows? Yeah, yeah, yeah, and you know, or the more independent, more like 2B or what is the other one called? There's Pluto Hulu. I think Hulu is like the next biggest one, yeah, so there's a few big ones and there's a few independent ones.

Speaker 2: 48:40

Yeah, there's also Pluto. Another one Pluto and Tubi.

Speaker 1: 48:45

Yeah, those are like the major independent ones.

Speaker 2: 48:48

Yeah, yeah, I mean, I know a lot of people that I've worked with on their projects they have distributed on Tubi, for example. Yeah, so it's just a matter of seeing what happens once you get it out, once you apply to FilmHub. Yeah, we'll see what happens. Yeah, okay.

Speaker 1: 49:08

It's already guaranteed. I mean, the contracts have already been done and you know processing the funding is complete, so it's just the amount of time. Oh, shelby, you should mention the editing. That would be a good thing to mention about why it's taking a while.

Speaker 3: 49:31

Oh okay, mention the editing. That would be a good thing to mention. About the why it's taking a while. Oh okay, yeah, because um, I kind of there's not a lot of change, just very, very tiny bit change through the film. Um, I don't want to put it, I don't want to do any spoiler alert, but just some things that I have to make it shorter or move around a bit, yeah, and that's what I'm prolonging the process for it to be released on the streaming, but it will get done.

Speaker 1: 49:51

That's already guaranteed because we already have everything signed and everything.

Speaker 3: 49:54

So that's the good part, it's going to get done and I really appreciate Alan to come in to be part of our team as an executive producer to help us to bring this it was great.

Speaker 2: 50:07

I mean, I remember from you know from 2014 and 15-16. You know that time frame and, yeah, it's good to be back that is yeah working with all you guys, working with the two of you. It's really nice, yeah. So, shelby, it's now time for you to talk about your podcasts.

Speaker 3: 50:29

Okay, sure, sure, I have two podcasts. The first one is called Transparency Podcast. Transparency Podcast and same thing. The idea behind it is also want to bring the community out, and originally my idea was to help the community member to be able to find a job or start a business. That was the original concept. But after two years, right now, we kind of shift the show a little bit. So right now we have three different hosts on the show. So the show has become like a platform, like a network.

Speaker 3: 51:20

So I have my friend, shane Ivanash, and he was partnering up with Blossom. So they do a lot of trans men stories and they did a lot of current events and sometimes there's some drama, gossip, stuff. Yeah, and I think that's good in a good way, because it brings a lot of different layers, different colors into this show. And recently we had Jessie McGrath. She's a DA in LA. She comes in touching on the legal side and more the political side. She's in the DNC as we speak right now. So she's been sending a lot of behind the scenes and stuff. So I'm very happy to see this podcast came to this point. And my second show it's more of a personal branding show. I talk about business marketing. I talk about spiritual, manifesting mindset, so it's two different type of category. Shows yeah Okay, yeah Okay.

Speaker 2: 52:42

Yeah. So yeah, the Transparency and the Shelby Podcast show Very good, and are these available both on YouTube or is it a separate website or what?

Speaker 3: 52:56

Both are on two separate YouTube channels. Okay for two separate YouTube channels. And then the audio experience. You can find it on Apple Podcasts. I think Google is down, but Spotify and Amazon, iheart all those major ones.

Speaker 2: 53:16

Okay, yes, wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

Speaker 3: 53:20

Yes, that's right, very good.

Speaker 2: 53:23

So we're getting close to finishing up. Now Can you, Daniel, can you tell us about your plans for the future?

Speaker 1: 53:34

If you mean entertainment-wise, I would like to do more acting, but it's just that, since so much time has passed in between you know it was 10 years ago, so a lot has changed. Really, personally, it's something that I don't want to make primary anymore, because I do have other interests and I feel like if I just make acting my primary interest, it's gonna hold me back from all the things that I want to do. So I'm just trying like I'm on the back burner. I'm not like completely away from the field, but I'm just doing like different aspects and elements within the entertainment field now. So now I'm just interested in writing. So you know, I think I mentioned in the beginning of the podcast yeah, I am interested in writing. Um, I do have a couple of scripts. One is completely done, another is like half done, and then there's one that I just started, like maybe a few months ago. But, um, even though I do have things ready like script wise, writing wise, it's something that I just can't just get done. Like you know, it's a whole process. You know you need somebody to take interest in it and then want to shoot it and cast it. I mean, you guys know how it is, how difficult filmmaking is. So it's just one of those things where I just do it for a hobby, really just to stay active for my love for it, but like to like officially release it. I I don't know. Honestly, I don't see that anytime in the near future, but I don't know at this moment. I'm just going to just continue to do what I love. Whatever opportunities come my way, like this opportunity that I got, for example, with the podcast, you know I'll take it. Um, if anybody is one of my friends offering me a role, I'll do it. You know, just you know.

Speaker 1: 55:19

But in terms of me putting myself out there like I did 10 years ago, I think I'm past that. Like you know, there's just so many other things I want to do and that I haven't done yet. I just want to be held back. So you know, like I said, I'm just going to be in the back burner. That's what I see myself now. And another 10 years from now, who knows? But I just, you know, as of now, I just see myself. I don't see myself gone from the field, completely gone, but I'm not in the front lines either. You know what I mean. So, in terms of entertainment, I'm just as neutral for me right now, you know. So that's just how I can pretty much describe it. It's just a neutral thing for me right now, like I really can't say for sure. Yeah, I'm definitely interested, I know that much. Yeah, and I always will be, because it is a love, of love and passion of mine.

Speaker 2: 56:03

Definitely yeah okay, yeah, thanks, okay, shelby. What about you? What's coming up?

Speaker 3: 56:09

uh, I well, there's a documentary story, more like a true crime documentary, that it's in the talk. So that might be the next project for for me and throughout the 10 years, um, of course, we all have more experience now, more, um, you know what to do, and I always have this vision about what's next from the LGBT love story I have thought about like a spin-off or made it into like a series. So I don't know. So we'll see. We'll see what happens, but then the podcast is still going to continue and I might be, like Danielle says, more behind the scene as well. So the documentary will not be me showing my face, but more like in the production side.

Speaker 2: 57:08

Yeah, yeah, wow, that's great. We're looking forward to the documentary. Keep us all posted on how that's going.

Speaker 3: 57:16

Yes, definitely, definitely yes.

Speaker 2: 57:18

Thank you, that'd be great. Yeah, well, okay then. Yes, definitely, definitely, yes, thank you, that'd be great. Yeah, well, okay then. Um, yeah, we're getting close to uh, to wrapping up now and, matter of fact, I'm going to thank um shelby and danielle for being on. Um shelby, what's the best way for people to get in touch with you?

Speaker 3: 57:35

okay, you, uh, I have, I have all the social media platforms. So the handle for IG is I am Shelby S-H-E-L-B-E, and you can find me on Facebook Shelby Chang, instagram, youtube, what else? Tiktok yeah.

Speaker 2: 57:56

Okay, wow, okay. So they search for Shelby Chang, then you'll pop up Fantastic. Okay, and how about you, chang? Then you'll pop up Fantastic. And how about you, daniel? Where can people reach you best?

Speaker 1: 58:06

Me, the best way would be through email, so it would be dancyn, so that's D-A-N-C-Y-N. Dancyn at gmailcom. My email is pretty much frequently all the time, so I'm very much more responsive on that and that's more preferred that method. So yeah, my email, your email.

Speaker 2: 58:26

Yeah, d-a-n-c-y-n at gmailcom.

Speaker 1: 58:29

Right. Just to be clear D as in Daniel, a as in Ashley, n as in Nick, c as in Cindy, y as in Yvette, n as in Nancy. So this is d-a-n-C-Y-N. Dancing at gmailcom.

Speaker 2: 58:42

Okay, very good, thank you. So once again, thanks both of you. It was a great show tonight. Thanks for being on, so for folks out there, thanks also for tuning in, and I hope that you will watch some of my previous shows on Spotify and also be on the alert for my future shows. So now what I'm going to say? I'll just say good night everybody Good night Bye.

Speaker 1: 59:12

Thank you so much. All right, bye guys, bye-bye, bye-bye you.