Filmmaking, Identity & Resistance: El on Crafting Safe Spaces
Episode 7 El
In this episode of Beyond the Walled Garden, Joel Austin sits down with El, a non-binary filmmaker from Atlanta, Georgia, to discuss creativity, identity, and resistance during politically turbulent times.
Shifting
Our perspective on sex work and sex workers
Exploring
What sanctuary looks like in the modern age
More about this Episode
In this episode of Beyond the Walled Garden, Joel Austin sits down with El, a non-binary filmmaker from Atlanta, Georgia, to discuss creativity, identity, and resistance during politically turbulent times. El shares insights about their film projects including “Cam Girl” and “Going Native,” while offering wisdom on how to create art with limited resources. The conversation explores how marginalized creators can carve out safe spaces, build community, and maintain artistic practices despite feeling under attack from multiple fronts.
El provides valuable perspective on the thriving underground art scene in Atlanta, the realities of sex work portrayed in their project “Cam Girl,” and how creators can start small while pursuing ambitious creative goals. This insightful discussion offers both practical filmmaking advice and philosophical reflections on finding joy and purpose through creativity during challenging times.
⭐ More about El:
– El’s Website: https://www.iantrutt.com/
– Cam Girl: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAwFZtFKqliZA8fhu1OiOjVGRS4e1zFvL
– Going Native: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COb4HNCzq1g
– El’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ian.the.writer
– El’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ian.the.writer
⭐ More Resources from this Episode:
– FOSTA-SESTA Legislation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FOSTA-SESTA
– Yellow Tinted Glasses: https://www.instagram.com/yellowtintedglasses/
– The Harvester: https://youtu.be/GbbprRV-2-s?si=J0k9Vxlr5WHfg623
– Sara and the Animals: https://youtu.be/OChmMxNb7WM?si=TE89Z-rwrnyTYz8I
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🎭 Joel Austin is an actor, writer, filmmaker, and podcaster living in Los Angeles, CA. He teaches at UCLA Ext. and produces Beyond the Walled Garden with Joel Austin. He releases multiple videos and shorts every week. Find more about him below. 🎭
⭐ More about Joel Austin:
– YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@joel_austin?sub_confirmation=1
– Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/joelaustin.bsky.social
– IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1792430/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_3_tt_0_nm_8_in_0_q_joel%2520austin
– Site: https://joel-austin.com
⭐ More about Beyond the Walled Garden: https://joel-austin.com/beyond-walled-garden-podcast/
– All Other Links: https://linktr.ee/beyondthewalledgarden
0:00 Intro
1:34 What Atlanta is Like as an Artist Today
7:06 What is Cam Girl?
9:36 What’s Surprising about Sex Work?
16:26 Unpacking FOSTA and SESTA
19:10 Hands Off Protests
20:12 How El Feels in this Environment
23:49 What a Sanctuary Looks Like
26:08 How to Feel Better Right Now
30:20 Creation Cures A Lot
31:48 Emotional Guidance for Young Filmmakers
37:06 The Process is the Point
41:29 What El’s Working On
43:50 What Appeals about Improv
48:22 How to Expand Beyond Binary Modernity
52:58 Perfection is the Enemy of Creativity
59:18 Find More about El
