New Wallpapers: Catching Up With…Erin Davies & the Fag Bug

Erin & Her Rainbow Bug

Whether people agree with alternative lifestyles or not, they shouldn't commit crimes to voice their opinions. Erin Davies, producer of the documentary, Fagbug, which she made in response to her Volkswagen Beetle car being vandalized, when the words “fAg” and "Ur gay" were spray painted on it on April 18th 2007, the 11th Annual National Day of Silence, a day students annually bring attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment, because she is a lesbian is a woman who knows how to turn things around in the face of victimization. An act that would have made many others cower, has made her a passionate advocate for her cause.

Generally, hate crimes against gay people are becoming more prevalent. Many people are still astounded by the horrifying circumstances of Mathew Sheppard’s 1998 death, however, in addition to that, there have been more recent incidents, including 18 year old Tyler Clementi of Rutgers University, who jumped off a bridge last September after his sexual encounter was broadcast on the internet. With such grim incidents occurring, I was compelled to interview Erin Davies, the producer and director of the documentary, Fagbug. It is about her road trip around the country in her Volkswagen Beetle, also called the bug, that was spray painted with the words “fAg” and “u r gay" on the driver's side window and hood on April 18th 2007, the 11th Annual National Day of Silence, a day when students annually bring attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment, because she is a lesbian. Her motto, Activism On Wheels, and her mission statement, “Raising awareness about hate crimes and homophobia, giving a voice to those who are silent, inspiring others to take a stand against bullies and being an example of how to overcome obstacles by bringing a creative project to life,” shows how driven she is and that if motivated enough, anyone can promote a cause they are passionate about.

I caught up with Erin when she visited Maryland to teach an expert series class titled, Don't Get Mad, Get a Camera: An Evening with Erin Davies and the Fagbug, at Docs In Progress, a non-profit organization that inspires and educates documentary filmmakers, where she taught on how social activism can be approached with creativity and humor. In the interview, she discusses how and why she made the documentary, and the message she’s sharing with the world. Below are excerpts.

How did you feel about the vandalism?
It was initially very upsetting, but once I embraced it, I turned what happened into something positive.

Why did you decide to make the documentary?
The idea of the documentary came from the conversations the graffiti evoked.

How did you secure funding?
I raised $100,000 by selling merchandise, making public appearances, and receiving donations and corporate sponsorships from companies like Volkswagen of America and HD Radio.

Erin During The Class

How was your film making journey?
It was a labor of love which took 2 years. With film making, you must make a decision and follow through with it. I was frustrated several times, but I pushed past that. My journey is not only about the film making, it’s also about overcoming obstacles.

How did you engage interview subjects?
I didn’t approach anyone requesting an interview, but I interviewed 500 people who saw my car and naturally engaged in dialogue with me.

How was your driving experience?
It was a 58 day trip, during which I drove to several US states and Canada, during which I was asked to leave hotels, and public, school, and business parking lots, but I have always refused.

Do you have safety concerns?
Not really because I’m tough. However, other acts of vandalism have occurred to my car after the initial one.

You said there was a lot of serendipity when you were making the documentary, what do you mean?
There were many unexplainable coincidences. For example, every time I doubted what I was doing, I’d receive a note on the car telling me not to doubt myself and to keep going. I’d receive anonymous notes placed on my car and want to thank the people who left them, but I wouldn’t know how to contact them. Then I’d run into them when I least expected it. Sometimes, I’d be lost on a highway wondering why I took a wrong turn. Then I’d receive an email telling me a company wants to sponsor my project because they saw the car when I was on that road.

When it was finished what did you do to promote it?
I sent it to 100 festivals, continued to tour high schools, colleges and universities, and I did everything I could do to get someone to back it.

How did you secure distribution with Garden Thieves Pictures?
Casey Callister, the owner is an alumnus and was on the board of Docs In Progress. He knows Dean and Joe, who are also part of Docs In Progress. I met Dean and Joe, they told me about Casey, and I contacted him.

Erin Making Leaps & Bounds

What reactions have you received?
People love and hate the Fagbug film, car and project. That’s why the project has been successful. It evokes dialogue from people from both viewpoints, and reactions have been mixed. I received 102 anonymous notes that were left on my car and only 4 were negative. It was a pleasant surprise to receive more positive reactions than I thought I would.

How have you responded?
I’ve remained strong and I’ve stood up for myself when people have attempted to silence or bring me down.

How has your life changed?

I channeled my anger into promoting tolerance. I am now a filmmaker, speaker and educator, educating people through my film. Also, through making this film I’ve been able to connect with people all around the world.

What are your thoughts on stereotyping?

People stereotype others because they are afraid of what’s different, and don’t bother getting to know people outside of their bubble.

Are you promoting alternative lifestyles or tolerance?

I’m planting the idea that there’s nothing wrong with being gay. For people who believe they don’t know gay people, probably because the gay people around them aren’t out, I’m sharing myself to allow them to connect with me as a person. For people who are gay, I’m putting myself out there as an example, showing that there’s nothing wrong with the lifestyle. So they don’t hide or feel ashamed of who they are. People need to realize that being gay is not linear. Gays can be likeable, successful, friendly or anything else. But people don’t know that because they often “believe” they aren’t exposed to gay people, when in fact, they are. However, those people hide that part of who they are.

What message do you have on tolerance?

I want people to become aware that hate crimes happen in every city, everyday, and it was my goal to visually show the world an example of that.

What did you accomplish with the documentary?

I’m incredibly proud that I successfully completed a thought provoking film that educates people of all ages and creates change.

Did you ever find out who vandalized your car?

Not yet, I’m still hoping to someday.

What is your motivation?

My motivation is my cause to bring awareness of the need for tolerance and respect for people’s differences. Vandalism is a cowardly act and my motivation is to meet the person who vandalized my car, and hopefully my bravery will inspire change in him or her through what I’ve created out of that one act of vandalism.

Have you paid a price for your journey?

In life there’s a price to pay for every decision you make, and for this project I have sacrificed many things, but it was worth it to me.

What advice do you have for upcoming filmmakers?

I’m an everyday person who’s not very technical, so if I can do it, anyone can, so don’t let lack of money or fears get in the way of your ideas. Take the plunge; the rest will fall into place. Also, a movie is about who, what, where, when and why, and a film should answer those questions and choose an attention garnering title to get attention.

The Rainbow Colored Toy Bug

What have you been doing lately?

The movie is being distributed and I still tour schools. I have a new toy rainbow colored bug, an educational poster, and t-shirts that I’m promoting. Also, I’m working on a children’s book titled The Rainbow Bug, creating a gay beer line called Fagbrew, shooting a follow up documentary about the beer line and editing another documentary called Living Proof.

What’s next for you?

I plan to continue making thought provoking documentaries.

Erin’s goal is to get at least one million people regardless of sexual orientation to add rainbow bug stickers to their cars so no one will be singled out and targeted the way she was. Join in the cause by purchasing a sticker at FagbugsOnline Store.htm

More pictures of Erin, her car, the Fag Bug, Casey Callister, Owner of Garden Thieves Productions (the documentary's distribution company) and her host, Docs In Progress Executive Director, Erica Ginsberg are below. Enjoy!