Passion of X Profiles: Camille Ora-Nicole (Director & Producer)

There are many artistic collectives in Los Angeles, but none are quite as inclusive nor inspiring as The Queer 26. And the Q26 wouldn’t be the powerhouse that it is without Camille Ora-Nicole: founder, board president, and an immensely talented artist in their own right. 

Camille (she/they) has always been a creative person, starting their journey as a writer and musician, and eventually going on to dabble in multiple mediums. They discovered scriptwriting while in undergrad at Pomona, and upon graduating was able to find work as a photographer back in Los Angeles. They felt lucky enough to be able to work with queer businesses right from the jump, yet they also saw how much early-career success depended on luck, versus skill. As well as this, much of Camille’s earliest gigs as an artist were unpaid, and depended on how often they were willing to say ‘Yes.’ Though they’re grateful for all they learned during this period, they ultimately came away from it believing that it shouldn’t be this hard for early-career queer creatives to be able to work in the industries they want to work in. 

As a result, they founded the Queer 26 as a communal hub, a place where fellow QTBIPOC in SoCal could access resources in the early stages of their careers (and beyond!). In a place like Los Angeles, where so much hinges on your “marketability” as a person, it was only natural that Q26 would begin to grow as a welcome respite from that kind of environment. As a fairly introverted person themself, Camille always wanted Q26 to be more focused on who you are and what you can do, versus what you can sell to people. They have many fond memories of helping cohort members come out of their shells during workshops and go on to thrive within various community projects. 

One such project is, of course, Passion of X. This project was initially conceived when Camille was talking to Mo McFadden, another core member of the Q26, about the transphobic legislation surrounding bathroom laws in the United States. Camille and the team wanted to be able to produce a piece of work that proves that there is joy and abundance to be had within trans and nonbinary bodies, thereby reclaiming their own narratives. This project truly resonated with the community, as a whopping 90 people applied to be a part of it! 

Passion of X truly proved to be a learning experience, both for the team and for Camille as a producer. Even with so much experience already under their belt, Camille has learned that there’s never a point in which you “can’t” return to an old medium, and that there’s always new ways to grow as a creative. As well as this, they’re truly proud of what the Q26 was able to achieve with Passion of X, and they’re excited about all the possibilities that will arise from this massive milestone. 

Already, there are many projects they have in mind down the road: along with co-founder Soleil Burgess, they’re currently working on producing a pilot surrounding vampires and consent. Eventually, they’d also like to raise a capital campaign for Q26, so they can afford storage for cameras that community members can rent out. And, as a creator themself, Camille’s been industrious in their own pursuits, posting gorgeous photographs on their social media as well as publishing their very first written work: a book of poems titled Macro Micro Atomic. 

Truly, things are just getting started for the Q26, and after talking to Camille I am more proud than ever to be part of such a special community. Camille’s talent, humility, and wisdom in cultivating such a space is something rare and worth celebrating, and I plan to keep celebrating for many years to come!