DIRECTING MY FIRST SEX SCENE | A Conversation With Sammy Kim !

WATCH CHELLA'S FILM: https://www.nowness.com/story/the-dev...

Growing up without representation, I never felt intimately desired.
…let alone beautiful in my trans, disabled, multiracial form.

Partially due to my desire to be validated by those who did not care to expand the standards of beauty they were conditioned to believe. Many of them may never be courageous enough to question.

The liberating news is:
I don’t need others to feel beautiful.

I feel the most connected and gorgeous when I am at home with myself.m in my mind and body. Allowing others into my house, now, only accentuates the love and care I am able to deliver - especially when the other is at home within themselves too.

For the sexual liberation scene, I wanted it to represent this continuous journey toward self-pleasure by having me appear to have sex with myself.

Working with @sammysinsss , a queer sex worker/liberator, for this scene felt so warm. They are present with the priority of safety within spaces of sexual vulnerability. I admire how Sammy holds encouragement and care in their work 🫶🏼

“ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴠɪᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴄʏʙᴏʀɢ ᴡᴀꜱ ʙᴏʀɴ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴀᴍᴇ ʏᴇᴀʀ ɪ ᴡᴀꜱ” at its core, is an anthem on self-love and exploration, paralleling many lessons intimacy has granted me.

Premiering internationally at the New York City at the Leslie-Lohman Museum.
Sydney, Australia at @powerhousemuseum.
London with @nowness.

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Thank you to the videographer and editor for this video: Yaz Josiah !
And photographer, Tau Lucas !