Welcome to another episode of the Willoughby Hills podcast!
On today’s episode, I speak with two LGBTQ+ filmmakers. Director Melinda Maerker and producer David Clayton Miller are the duo behind the new Hulu documentary We Live Here: The Midwest, which looks at how Midwestern LGBTQ+ families are faring after increased discrimination in the Heartland. Here’s the trailer for the film:
The documentary takes a personal look at the lives of several families living in urban, suburban, and rural areas throughout the Midwest. It is told through a series of personal interviews, which does nothing more than present their stories in an objective way. There is no narration, no facts and figures, and no major policy discussions. It’s simply the story of what it means to love and to raise children.
Melinda, David, and I discussed some of the behind the scenes stories from the film, including the origins of the project, the challenges of finding families that were willing to speak on the record, working on a small film crew, and how the crew was received when on location.
We Live Here: The Midwest is streaming now on Hulu.
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117. Filmmakers Melinda Maerker and David Clayton Miller on the LBGTQ+ Experience in the Midwest