Cream Magec
Chasing a dream not made for him, Stevie Dixon's obsession to be Elvis leads him into a personal crisis -- one that teeters on his own racial makeup. How far will he go to be The King?
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer/Editor Nikki Milan Houston
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
An avid Elvis fan myself, I wanted to create a tribute that both questioned the impact of his fame and admired his daunting presence. Cream Magec works to show the underbelly of the impersonator - what about themselves are they trying to hide?
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
What do you do when you're left alone? I wanted to show in a dramatic and fantastical way, the experience of a mixed-race identity crisis. Stevie doesn't know who he is - something I feel we can all relate to - but his specific choices when dealing with his persona lead him into a complex mixture of emotions he can't quite handle.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Themes of isolation, confusion, self-searching, and self-proclaiming... are all topics that intertwine the two worlds for me. I created this story with my brother (who is also the lead role), so the production of this film felt extremely personal from the beginning. The way we interact with each other and the idols we choose to follow, informed how to position this film into a universal lens.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The script never changed! We started off with 3 pages, and got a full short out of it. Christian and I never rehearsed the performance, just danced around to a bunch of Elvis songs to prep for the shoot day. His execution of the character was so spot-on and shocking, that the film naturally formed around it in the edit.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
It's so great being able to watch your work in a dark room with a group of strangers. I like my films to beg for a second watch, so I've had a lot of people asking to see it again to catch hidden symbols and signs. All the feedback has been great, and it's been so rewarding to share it!
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Creating a film with little to no dialogue always creates an interesting audience reaction. People have come to me with completely different interpretations, but I find them all to be relevant to the film's main themes. I love letting a viewer's mind run wild with their own fantasies regarding what a character could be thinking and how they end up. Also, love hearing an occasional laugh.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I am happy to be showing the film on any platform! It's a story I find to be important for right now, and I hope others that come across it find a piece of themselves in it too.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Open to all! Let's get the ball rolling.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
For one, it's an honor to add to the plethora of Elvis history. I'm glad to have made my small mark in that world. I hope it gives people room to question the validity of their idols, and what impact worshiping these people can have.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Following in suit to someone who has long passed. You are using your own brain and body to pay homage to a thing you’ll never know, and maybe that’s why you chose it in the first place — you are only able to understand the people you can never meet. To feel less alone, I mimic. And when the person I’ve picked doesn’t look like me, sound like me, or act like me, then who do I become?
Would you like to add anything else?
In an attempt to feel less alone, I copy the actions of those around me. I create a mockup of a person, a combination of odds and ends superimposed onto myself. I try my best to keep it simple. I try to get it in one take. A coiled spine, bending and breaking quietly to fit the altar of personhood I keep on my bedside table.
When I examine this altar what do I find?
Parts of songs, memories of family, the icons that have studded my personality and pinned me into who I appear to be today. When picking someone to look up to, what qualities must they hold? Confidence? Talent? Charisma? I’ve found that truth cracks the veneer of these traits.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Currently in pre-production on a new short film. Can someone say Cowboy Gigolo Musical? I'll always be busy creating new worlds!
Interview: April 2023
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
Cream Magec
Chasing a dream not made for him, Stevie Dixon's obsession to be Elvis leads him into a personal crisis -- one that teeters on his own racial makeup. How far will he go to be The King?
Length: 10:05
Director: Nikki Milan Houston
Producer: Nikki Milan Houston
Writer: Nikki Milan Houston
About the writer, director and producer:
The mixing of culture and feeling displaced within it has propelled NIKKI MILAN HOUSTON to make work with characters searching for a home, a person, a place where they don’t feel as alone. Born into a particularly charged world and experiencing it from a mixed perspective, her fight with identity and validity has been projected into her films. Art aids the journey to finding one's self while uncovering others. A person ought to feel unified.
Key cast: Christian Houston (Stevie Dixon, Lead Role); Robert "Elvis" Hund (Elvis #1); Matt J. Way (Elvis #2)
Looking for: distributors, film festival directors, producers and sales agents
Instagram: @clear_image
Hashtags used: #creammagec #elvis # elvisimpersonator #kodak #shotonfilm #16mm #kodakfilm
Website: nikkimilanhouston.com
Other: Vimeo
Funders: Self-funded & GoFundMe
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
La's Rich & Successful Film Festival/Los Angeles/April 1st
In the works for a hotel gallery/film screening takeover in May... stay tuned. It will be in Los Angeles