Beautiful Boi - The Documentary Film Series©

A simple question for you:

Ever feel like you don’t quite fit in - like you don’t fit neatly “into the box?”

Well, boxes are for shoes! Not fitting neatly into “boxes” has been a struggle my whole life until I did a tremendous amount of emotional work, much of which was about releasing my responsibility to please others. So, in 2020, I decided to choose my own adventure like those books from our youth, and did a ton of therapy which led to my decision to transition.

“Undoubtedly, we become what we envision.” ~ Claude M. Bristol, The Magic of Believing

Introduction

Hello! My name is, Atlas Oggún Phoenix, and I am an award-winning filmmaker, drag performer, and essayist currently creating a documentary film series called, “Beautiful Boi.”

“We’re all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” ~ Oscar Wilde

The Project

Beautiful Boi has been grant-funded by the Minnesota State Arts Board, the Jerome Foundation, the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, and a small honorarium from the Sundance Institute.

When I began my transition at 50, in 2020, there was precious little to be found in terms of other stories about older people of color, especially African-Americans who have transitioned later in life. So I thought, as an award-winning filmmaker, I would turn the camera on myself and tell my story of transitioning including my mental health journey of 40+ years which began with a suicide attempt at age 13, in 1984. My journey to self-love began with a broken heart. You can read more about me here:

Voyage Minnesota Interview, October 31, 2024:

Shortly, I will begin the process of logging three and a half years of footage before I start putting together each short film in the series. Every episode is a short documentary film. I need additional financial support right now to complete additional shooting, purchase archival footage, conduct interviews, editing, musical scoring, and promotions to complete the first season by the end of 2025.

Shot mostly in black and white digital video, each film examines the question, “Do I Qualify for Love?” As an experimental documentary, Beautiful Boi, examines what life is like on the outside looking in: societal, communal, and self. I’m finding that the only place I truly belong is where I place myself, usually outside of everyone’s expectations.

Contributing to The Future

As a long-term goal, I want to create sustainable artwork that lives beyond my time here - beyond the future. Utilizing basic technology: digital video, digital editing, animation, archival, and documentary footage, I will share my story from my heart which might not always be the “popular” opinion but it is the truth of my lived experience. This isn’t social media. It’s relevant. This series suggests that, “This is my story, but it’s your story, too. Right?” This sentiment is reflected throughout my body of work.

While this is an intensely, personal story, it speaks to the broader human experiences of identity, love, and the search for belonging. The tone of this groundbreaking, innovative, and pedagogical artwork is affirmation, encouraging viewers to reflect on their own narratives and the truths that shape their lives.

Asking for Help

I’m terrible at asking for help, but I’m here doing it anyway, because I believe anything is possible with the right support. Please consider making a donation to my GoFundMe, becoming a member on Patreon, and a subscriber to my YouTube channel. These are some of the best ways to bring the series to fruition by late 2025. In the meantime, you can watch my award-winning short film, Little Men, and see other work that I’ve done through my Patreon.

 Do David Bowie, Prince, Jimi Hendrix, Hiatus Kaiyote, films, literature, music, and other forms of art mean something special to you? What is life for, if not to dream? Do you believe in dreamers who “do” things you “believe” you cannot? Or you can’t dream due to life’s pressures and commitments? Do you want to have some fun dreaming vicariously through an artist who aligns with your values? Then, please, join me, and I’ll be your host in this crazy thing called life as we share, create, and dream up a better world together!

Thank you so much for dreaming with me and for your consideration.

Take care and be well,

Atlas

Director, Writer, Editor & 1st DP:

Atlas Oggún Phoenix

Producers:

Atlas Oggún Phoenix & Senay Matewos

Executive Producers:

Celeste Grant

Consulting Producer:

David Finch of Picture This Productions.

Music Composer:

Simon M. Sperl

#beautifulboidoc