Filmmaker aims to capture Denver’s vibrant drag scene in a new documentary

Kristin Ziegler

Keith Garcia has watched a ton of films. Previously heading up programming at the Denver Film Society and the Alamo Drafthouse, Garcia has probably watched more films than you, me, and every Coloradan combined. His passions transcend genre, and he’s brought the best of the best films to Denver audiences for more than a decade. Now, Garcia is ready to try his own hand at documentary filmmaking, crafting a compelling, creative, and intimate look into Denver’s vibrant and burgeoning drag scene. We caught up with Garcia to talk about his independent film project, Denver drag, and his own drag debut (we even got him to reveal his drag name!).

You’re working on a film about Denver drag, awesomely called The Heels Have Eyes: A Denver Dragumentary. Tell us a little bit about where this project idea came from.

Seven years ago, I walked into Charlie’s on a cold November night. I knew there was a drag show going on, which was all right; drag has always been a part of my life as an out gay man. But drag was always just there, and I had my perceptions of it. I didn’t really give it a second thought in terms of its history, its roots, and whatnot. But I walked into Charlie’s, and Michael Vrooman was the announcer for a show called Vivid. He announced a performer, a young, feisty girl named Nina Flowers, and Nina came out and totally blew my mind. I had literally never seen anyone like her. It was that experience that made me just want more drag. She brought it, the rest of the cast brought it. I kept going every week to Vivid, and became obsessed. I started following the news that Nina had already been cast in RuPaul’s Drag Race, and I started to see this excitement build in the community for drag. That’s when I said, “You know what, I have a story. Let me tell this.”

Nina really revolutionized drag, and we do have such a vibrant and diverse drag scene here in Denver. In what other ways does Denver’s drag scene stand out from the rest of the country? Why Denver?

I’ve seen drag in New York, I’ve seen drag in L.A., and I’ve seen drag in Austin. There’s nothing wrong with any of those cities. But there’s something about my roots from Denver, and being very proud of what comes out of here. What I have always loved about this city is it’s so great, but it’s always been viewed in this kind of “underdog” sense … like Denver always ends with a question mark. ‘Denver has awesome drag?’ As Nina and her visibility grew, she was able to show her big-name connections that Denver is a great place to do this. And as it became more popular and positive, it was great to start watching young babies come up and give it a shot. I have a feeling that’s a very Denver thing. We went from 20 drag queens you can name to needing to see a list.

The queens you chose for your Diva Dozen feature in Westword last year, which includes Victoria Sexton, Scarlett Red, Yazmeen Staxxx, Nina Montaldo, Felony Misdemeanor, Janessa Befierce, Daniella DeCoteau, Bootzy Edwards Collinz, Mariah Spanic, Ginger Douglas, Khryst’aaal, and Nina Flowers, are the queens that will be featured in your film.

I’m going to start with those 12, and share their stories. None of them are the same, they all represent something different. If you look at a map of Denver, there are so many neighborhoods and histories. That’s what they represent.

One of the people on that list is Bootzy, a drag king. Certainly, drag kings haven’t gotten as much love as drag queens, who have exploded in popularity. Why was it important to you to feature a king?

I fell in love with Bootzy because Bootzy embodies what being a drag king is, to me. When I met Bootzy and saw him perform, I was like, “This is it.” I could feel the electricity, and what it was doing to each person in the room. Gay men see Bootzy, and they get attracted. Straight women see Bootzy, and they’re attracted. Lesbians see him, and they are like, “Go on!”

You’re taking a really cool approach to making this film. Of course, you’ll feature performances and interviews, but you are also going to punctuate the film with different, fun, film genre inspired trailers. How’d you come up with the idea?

I had to think about what will make this film stand out. I have always loved every genre of movie. And I wanted to show the performative nature of the queens and king, and I wanted to take them off the stage. We’re going to test and see how good of actresses they can be. The trailers will break up the film, and hopefully be really cool trailers for something you’d want to see that doesn’t exist.

see that doesn’t exist.

Maybe possible future projects?

You never know!

You’re running a campaign on Kickstarter, and you’re 30 percent funded– 

32 percent, now!

Thirty-two percent — that is amazing. How are you feeling about all this support pouring in?

It feels amazing. I was never very political, but this is a true campaign. I have to be out there meeting people, and, well, I like to say, “shaking babies and kissing hands.” It’s going great. I don’t want people seeing me and closing their ears because all I talk about is the campaign, but all I’m asking for is 35 days of people listening to me and reaching in their pockets for $20.

What message are you hoping audiences, both local and beyond, will take away from your film?

Denver is not a cow town. We’re more than the stock show and we’re more than pot. We have a lot of talent that comes out of this place. And when it comes to drag, it’s not everything it’s cracked up to be. It’s not even everything RuPaul’s Drag Race cracks it up to be. All these performers are doing really fun, amazing things, and it’s great to see someone be themselves by being someone else on a stage. It takes balls to do what they do. I want to capture that, and make sure it’s never forgotten.

You’re going to be trying your hand at drag in the film. Will Keith Garcia become a staple in Denver drag shows?

That’s the hope! I’m doing a little training, both physically and skill-wise. I think it’ll go great. I have a lot of great teachers.

I think you’ll do great. Do you have a drag name picked out? Can we reveal it?

When I was little gay boy growing up up in the 80s, I was always very attached to Jem and the Holograms. That’s ultimately a drag queen story. I didn’t love Jem as a name, but I frickin’ love Jerrica Benton as a name. I plan to adopt that as my drag name. I’ll tug on my earring, talk to Synergy, and see what happens!

Help Keith Garcia share Denver’s incredible drag community with the rest of the world by making a donation and/or participating in the action! Facebook.com/TheHeelsHaveEyes