Queering Yoga
Queering Yoga tells stories of personal transformation and healing through yoga in the Queer, Trans, and QTPOC communities through the lens of decolonizing yoga.
Interview with Director/Producer Ewan Duarte
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thank you, kindly. I began making the documentary Queering Yoga during 2015. It took 5 years to make. I was inspired to create this film when I noticed in many yoga classes there was a lack of representation and inclusion. This is from my perspective as a person living in the West and specifically in California in the United States. Participant Skeeter Barker's yoga classes were the first yoga classes where I experienced a variety of diverse representation. From different body sizes, abilities, ages, races, ethnicities, gender expressions, gender identities, a diverse array of the LGBTQIA spectrum. The classes were inclusive and very queer and trans friendly. I really, really appreciated that.
One goal/intention of making Queering Yoga the documentary was to focus on the aspect of honoring the roots, history, and lineage of yoga through decolonizing the yoga practice. To know where it comes from and to honor the practice and to strive to understand the effects of colonization and how that has impacted the history, culture, and lineage of yoga. Another intention was to highlight the voices, experiences, and perspectives of queer, trans, and QTPOC yoga teachers and to hear their stories of how yoga was healing and transformative to them and their communities.
Showcasing voices and people who are not typically represented in media is powerful. It is my aim that more queer, trans, and QTPOC individuals and community will have inclusive access to yoga as a powerful form of healing, transformation, and connection. In essence, it is my intention with this documentary to increase the conscious awareness of viewers through engaging stories from the participants, plant seeds of healing, and to educate viewers through touching their hearts and minds with these stories.
I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
There is not a documentary like Queering Yoga! I have yet to come across a documentary that focuses on the intersectionality of decolonization, queer/trans/qtpoc themes, yoga, representation, etc. It's a unique documentary and a part of a larger conversation. It's a valuable and timely documentary for all viewers to watch. You don't even have to have an interest in yoga to get something from watching this film. Maybe you learn about decolonization or hear a new/different perspective from someone who has a world view completely different from your own. There is much to discover and insights to gain from this documentary. The visuals in the documentary are stunning and the music is beautiful. The documentary is overall very well done when it comes to craft as well as content.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The personal is political and vice versa. Universal themes of the human experience such as connection, acceptance, belonging, community, representation, honoring/respecting the roots of yoga and lineage, etc. are all interwoven in this documentary. Personal themes such as lgbtq identities, lgbtq expression, representation, community, belonging, honoring the lineage, tradition, and roots of yoga are explored in the documentary. These themes are very clear and a part of the documentary as a whole.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Well, I would not say script, I would say overall story. The project continually changed. With any documentary or story, you want to allow it to emerge. Changes and shifts will happen and that was certainly the case with the Queering Yoga process. It was my goal to steward the story along. I had an idea at the beginning of this process in 2015, of the vision of the film. That vision and essence remained throughout the duration of the process to create the documentary. Which was to focus on decolonizing the yoga practice in this documentary and to highlight stories of healing and personal transformation through yoga in the queer, trans, QTPOC communities from the perspective of queer, trans, and QTPOC identified yoga teachers. It was my role as the director to steward the story along while the essence and vision remained as the foundation for the documentary.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
All feedback on the completed and final version of the documentary has been unwaveringly positive. People have loved the documentary. I have heard that it is powerful, empowering, wonderful, amazing, incredible, well-crafted, educational, people have loved the music in the documentary, and have found the participants, and the message of the documentary to be wonderful and inspiring. Conversations around decolonization are important and I have heard that viewers really appreciated the focus of decolonization in this documentary and honoring the roots of the yoga practice.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I am grateful that viewers have been receptive to the documentary and that they have really enjoyed it! I am grateful that I have heard it is a brilliant film! Truly, this documentary was a labor of love on my end as the Director/Producer. I am elated and very grateful that viewers are touched and appreciate the documentary.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
It is my intention to get the word out about Queering Yoga so that more people will see the film! I am also looking for distribution as well as ways to stream the documentary to continue to get it out into the world!
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
All of the above, please! I am open to receiving all support possible to get the film out into the world and seen by many viewers! The documentary brings healing and an important message.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
My aim is for the film to make a splash. To positively impact viewers through touching their hearts and minds through the engaging stories interwoven in the documentary. It is also a joy to watch from the visuals and music to hear.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Why is representation important? Why is language important? Why is the awareness and practice of decolonization important? What are your thoughts, feelings, and insights on the above questions?
Would you like to add anything else?
Thank you for including Queering Yoga the documentary on your platform. It is greatly appreciated.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Myself as the Director/Producer of Queering Yoga am currently working on academic research about the transgender and gender expansive communities in Sri Lanka. Theses communities in Sri Lanka are hidden. I was recently in Sri Lanka on a Fulbright. I aim to continue this research and also focus on writing. I am also working on exhibition and distribution of Queering Yoga the documentary.
Interview: June 2022
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
Queering Yoga
Length:
45:20
Participants:
Skeeter Barker, Richelle Donigan, Deontre Martin, Roshan Sukumar, Chani Nicholas, and Jacoby Ballard
Director/Producer
Filmmaker Ewan Duarte holds his MFA in Cinema from SF State University and his MSW from Fresno State University. Ewan is a published writer, award-winning filmmaker, and artist. Ewan’s previous award-winning films, Spiral Transition (2010) and Change Over Time (2013) have screened in more than 150 film festivals worldwide. For more information check out the filmmaker’s website at: www.ewanduarteproductions.com and www.queeringyoga.com
Looking for:
film festival directors, journalists, distributors, sales agents, buyers
Twitter:
@ewanduarte
@queering_yoga
https://www.instagram.com/ewanduarte/
@queeringyoga
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/queeringyoga.org
Instagram:
Hashtags used:
#queeringyoga #queeryoga #yogay
More info:
Where can I watch it now?
San Francisco Documentary Festival from now until June 12th.
Melbourne Documentary Festival. July 1st-July 31st online.