The Red Pill Is Not the Only Option with Rayviation

Ep 152: The Red Pill Is Not the Only Option with Rayviation A room full of men, four cameras, one boom pole, and a conversation most of them had never had out loud. This week I'm talking with Rayviation , a Chicago based producer, filmmaker, playwright and teaching artist, about Loving Men, the film he made with the Boston Ujima Project, the vintage store documentary he's making now, and why he thinks we are living in a golden age of indie filmmaking.

Recorded live at Lumpen Radio, no edits, no retakes. What We Talk About Why mothers turned out to be the biggest audience for a film about men, and the ones who told him they were gifting it to their sons immediately How you get people to be vulnerable on camera, and the turtle metaphor that explains why most men won't Why Loving Men has never played in a traditional movie theater, and why that's on purpose The distribution platform every indie filmmaker should know about, and why an RSVP email is worth more than a follower What a vintage store on North Avenue has to do with risk, segregation, and a ten year anniversary nobody saw coming The honest conversation about content creation, algorithms, and where you put your validation when the app won't even show your work to your own followers The no sew Sesame Street puppet he built for his girlfriend, and the weeks of hiding green fur in an apartment If you love hearing how a film actually gets made and gets seen, this episode is for you.

Chapters: • 01:36 - Introducing Rayviation— community culture, film & social change • 06:49 - Loving Men — the Film and Its Community • 20:42 - Introducing the Melvin Project • 26:41 - Discovering Harper Studio: Vintage, Community, and Melvin • 33:18 - Teaching Artists, Creativity, and Social Media • 50:36 - A Practical Assignment: Make a 5‑Minute Documentary • 53:26 - TV & Media Favorites — Real Housewives, One Piece, and Public Access • 58:48 - Fair Pay and Building Respectful Production Teams All about Rayviation You're gonna love Rayviation. He's a Chicago based producer, filmmaker, playwright and teaching artist whose work sits at the intersection of community, culture and social change.

He got his start at his local public access station in Lowell, Massachusetts at thirteen years old. His first documentary, Days of Division, covered the fight over his hometown's high school.

He produced and edited Loving Men with the Boston Ujima Project, and he's currently in pre production on The Call to Harper Studio, a feature documentary about Harper Studio Vintage and its owner, Melvin Thompson. He teaches with Free Spirit Media, where he's currently running a class called Puppets for Positivity.

Things We Mentioned Loving Men , available through Kinema with a watch guide for hosting your own screening Days of Division , his first documentary My Call with Melvin , the short film, and The Call to Harper Studio , the feature in pre production The Boston Ujima Project Harper Studio Vintage and its owner, Melvin Thompson, celebrating ten years on the block Kinema , the screening and distribution platform Free Spirit Media and its Creative Pathways earn and learn program The Chicago Tool Library Trisha Hersey , Rest Is Resistance **affiliate link** What he's watching: One Piece , Mr. SOUL! about Ellis Haizlip and the show SOUL!, and Sherman's Showcase Connect with Rayviation Instagram: @rayviation.rocks Website: rayviation.

YouTube: search Rayviation Sponsor Shoutout 💖 This episode features Artist Admin Hour. Every Wednesday, 7 to 9pm Central, artists get on Zoom and knock out the applications, grants, budgets and invoices we've all been avoiding.

Two hours of body doubling with structure, no shame, and real community. $25 to $45 a month. If that's not doable, email me and we'll make it work.

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More ways to connect stephanie@ | @stephaniegraham | Support & Feedback Rate and review the show , and send this one to a man in your life. Episode Credits Produced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie Graham Lyrics: Queen Lex | Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam | Cover Art: Emma McGoldrick