Today we’d like to introduce you to Clay Cain.
Hi Clay, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Well first off, hi my name is Clay Cain (he/they) and I was born in Denton, TX. I’ve lived around the country – Florida, Massachusetts, SF Bay area – until the pandemic brought me back home to Dallas in 2020.
My production company, Clayborn Productions, was founded upon the vision to create films that highlight the trans lived experience in order to showcase the joy, pain, and beauty of trans identity as well as bring more of the LGBTQIA+ community onto the big screen. We believe in prioritizing equity, respect, and diversity in film production and look forward to collaborations across DFW and beyond!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No – definitely not easy. I think my life led me to film- all of the pain, transformative moments, realizations, messiness- all of it. It’s all human.
I would consider myself to be self-taught since I didn’t go to film school, and I’m still learning every day. I’ve been going to workshops, and it’s all DIY. I am grateful for the Dallas Filmmakers Alliance and Dallas Makerspace- as well as everyone I’ve met through that space. These spaces make information more accessible for aspiring filmmakers. Once we made a short film- The BIGGEST Boss- I was hooked and wanted to write my own stories.
In terms of coming to terms with my gender identity, I am so grateful for my support network because many trans people do not have people they can fully trust and ask for support from. If I didn’t have so many close people cheering me on when I started my transition, I would have continued to drive myself crazy or gone into a dark place mentally. I owe it to the role models who are out as trans in my social circles and online, who wanted to chat and answer my questions. I plan to make a short called Obsession about this moment specifically, because I know I’m not the only one.
I also have to give thanks for the love from my friends and the family members I initially came out to. My gym also made me feel welcome, and from there, so did my workplace, but it was a big push to show people how to treat me. Not everyone feels comfortable staying in the same workplace after coming out, and that’s a choice we get to make for our mental and physical safety. But the more people are aware of how much emotional stress goes into this experience, the more we can create safe spaces so people can show up as their full selves!
So anyway, if you want to be an ally, just ask someone’s name, share your pronouns, ask theirs, and ask how can I make you feel more comfortable. No one is perfect, but it means the world to someone to be seen and heard.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
Okay, I’m gonna start from the last question and work my way back. Right now, we are seeing shows that feature LGBTQIA+ characters get cancelled left and right after 1 or 2 seasons. It’s frustrating to be in a bait-and-switch with Hollywood. At the end of the day, people want this kind of representation so much.
When I went to see Bottoms, for example- it just made me so happy to see this kind of queer humor out in the world. At the same time I felt sad that I couldn’t be out in high school, which is when I realized I was attracted to women- as a woman myself who hadn’t yet had the realization I was trans. The movie was also hilarious! It was so clever, so quick, and I know that a woman wrote it, and a queer woman at that. I love these kinds of stories and I can’t wait to see more in theatres! Independent theatre is bursting with inspiration right now.
So, I am here getting involved in film because there’s an entire universe that we as a public don’t get to see – and it’s funny, it’s gorgeous, it’s emotionally deep, it’s beautiful, it’s messy, it’s coded, it’s clever, and that’s why I want to expand these stories – write them, direct them, and see them through to the big screen at festivals around the country and the world.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Finding a mentor is all about where you want to be. Honestly, I say that it’s healthy to have different mentors for different aspects of your life. Find a role model with the dream job you want, observe how they got there, and ask them how to they got there.
If you want to be a bodybuilder, find people who are stronger than you. If you want to be wealthy, find business leaders you believe in and learn how they executed on planning. If you want to be a film director, study the best and make friends at events or volunteer. Ask to get coffee, offer your time, or help in return. Reach out, be yourself, and be patient.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @claybornproductions
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/398KCV7_tJM
Image Credits
Clay Cain
Maya J. Brown
