Interview with ‘Out’ director Steven Clay Hunter
Out is the newest film from the Pixar SparkShorts program that creatively combines wonderful, colourful animation with a poignant and loving message. The SparkShorts program is Pixar’s latest effort to allow more directing voices within the company and help prepare the latest animation talent within the studio. Directed by Steven Clay Hunter, Out premiered just in time for Pride month as it portrays the story of Greg and the difficult secret that is keeping him distant from his own parents.
We were extremely lucky to get some time with Steven to discuss how the story came about and what it was like directing his first project with the studio.
Out tells the story of a queer man who is struggling to come out to his parents. It’s the first Pixar short film to feature an LGBTQ+ lead character. Did you feel it was important to give a voice to this specific community?
Well, I didn’t come out to my parents until I was 27 years old. Don’t tell anyone but I’m 51 now, and I’m amazed by how much that whole process can linger in your mind. I mean, you can’t hide who you are for half your life and just expect to move on. It leaves a mark.
So I felt like this was something I needed to explore. In a funny and emotional way, in order to help me process it. Making Out really took on a form of therapy for me, to be perfectly honest.
The film starts by saying “based on a true story”. I truly hope you didn’t have to switch bodies with a dog! Why did you choose this as the powerful metaphor to get across this message? During the writing process were there any sensitivities you felt you needed to be wary of?
Yeah, that started mostly as a joke. We thought it was hilarious to solemnly start the film with “Based On A True Story” and then immediately show a pink dog and a purple cat fly out of a rainbow bridge.
But after a while we started to realise the truth, that it really is based on a true story. Not my story, and not ‘THE’ coming out story. But ‘A’ coming out story that felt true to most LGBTQ friends that I spoke with and what they went through.
Some of our stories end up with happy ending and some of them don’t. I guess that’s why I really wanted to create the fairy tale version of a coming out story that felt true to our experiences.
What was Pixar’s response to the initial pitch? How has the story evolved over time?
We showed an early story reel of the film to Pixar’s Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter and he just smiled and nodded and said to keep going. That was it. I won’t say I wasn’t holding my breath, but there was no real drama about the kind of story we were telling.
The character designs are really thought-provoking. Greg and his father have very stereotypically masculine traits. Did gender roles play an important role when it came to the character design?
Yeah, I think that comes from my experience. I’m cis-gender and pretty masculine except for my nail colour (I’m Not Really A Waitress). So I wanted to show a character whose identity reflected all of my own insecurities and contradictions. I remember that meaning a lot to me when I was closeted, the need to fit in.
At one point we had the Mom wearing flannel like Greg and Dad, but it felt a bit too much. Greg’s Mom is aware of his truth, so we decided to give her the pink shirt to hint at that and move away from the plaid.
Character design played a crucial role in presenting Clay Hunter’s personal experiences
The style of the film is a gorgeous painterly style. Why did you choose this style? What was it about that, that you felt worked specifically for Out? Were there visual influences that inspired you?
A main reason for me to tell this story was to create something that my young, closeted gay self could see himself in and feel validated. That led us to the Little Golden series of children’s books and especially Mary Blair’s painting for Alice in Wonderland. There’s a gorgeous simplicity to those paintings that we wanted to play with and see if we could recreate in the computer.
After so much apprehension, Out ends on a really beautiful moment of love and acceptance. Forgive me if this question is too personal, but did you have any particular moment of acceptance this was inspired by?
I was fortunate enough to have very loving parents who accepted me for who I am when I came out to them. But I’ve also had very close friends who had horrible coming out stories and haven’t spoken with their families since.
I just felt that I wanted to create a fairy tale version of a coming out story, as a way of showing people how families can talk this out and for them to see that it is possible to come together and love each other.
Obviously, we’re currently in this period of quarantine and self-isolation – was the production of the film affected by this? In your day to day job what have you experienced working in these conditions and what advice would you give to those trying to finish a project in lockdown?
We actually finished Out in early December so our production wasn’t affected by these strange days. But we did have to finish up our other films in production at Pixar. So I jumped in and helped finish up animation on Soul, Pete Docter’s next film.
It certainly been difficult to keep the connection with my fellow artists while on lockdown, but we found a way to keep communicating and sharing our work with one another. It’s easy to find yourself locked away in your office at home and lose sight of the overall goal of your shot within the larger context of the story and the film. But that’s what your team mates and directors are there for. To help you keep your eyes on the story that you’re serving.
So I guess what I’m saying is don’t be afraid of reaching out, asking questions, seeking clarity and above all else, enjoying animating! We get to make films, how lucky are we??
This short film is part of Pixar’s SparkShorts programme, to be able to get more directing voices within the studio. How valuable an opportunity was that for a director, and what’s next for you within the company?
It was an absolutely eye-opening experience for me. I’ve helped many directors tell their stories over the years, but never had the chance to tell my own. Now that I’ve gotten a taste for it, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to do it again.
But yeah, I’ve got a couple ideas that I hope to explore someday. Wink.
What’s the response been like now that it’s out in the open and what is the one, most important thing you hope audiences take away from Out?
The response has been so overwhelming! From the gay men my own age who’d tell me how much they wish they’d had a film like this when they were kids, to the parents who tell us that they watched Out with their kids and had the most amazing conversations about love with their kids.
My favourite review is from a family friend who sent me their five year old’s review: “Is good Greg loves Manuel”. Love it!!
Out was released on Disney + on May 22nd and is available to watch now.