Private Project

Kings & Queens

A lesbian down on her luck finds solace in a local drag community while searching to find her authentic self.

  • Elmer J. Howard
    Director
    Loving Martin, It Stops Here Now, Momma Knows Best
  • Melissa Martin
    Writer
  • Elmer J. Howard
    Producer
    Loving Martin, It Stops Here Now, Momma Knows Best
  • Brett Bays
    Producer
  • Melissa Martin
    Producer
  • Emily Kokidko
    Key Cast
    "Lucy"
    Altar Rock, You Still Have Time, Professor Marston & the Wonder Women, Take Me Home, Tumbledown, Two Rings
  • Sara Brophy
    Key Cast
    "Harper"
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, In The Night, Disney Royals
  • Thomas Smallwood
    Key Cast
    "Eric"
  • Melissa Martin
    Key Cast
    "Nikki"
  • Michelle Martin
    Key Cast
    "Maya"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, LGBTQIA+, Romance
  • Runtime:
    28 minutes 42 seconds
  • Production Budget:
    12,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    ProRes 422
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Elmer J. Howard

Award-winning filmmaker Elmer J. Howard is a Maine native. Changing the world one production at a time is his motto and how he chooses which films to bring to life.

Entertaining has been his passion since he was a teenager making short films wowing and exciting family and friends.

Elmer got his baptism by fire into the entertainment world by landing his first job and first exposure by being a craft services assistant on the Disney film "Flubber" with Robin Williams. After taking a 12-year detour, Elmer returned to filmmaking in 2010 when he got introduced to the independent filmmaking community in Phoenix, starting his production company Thrive Productions that year as well.

In July 2019, Elmer moved Thrive Productions to Maine with "Kings & Queens" their first Maine production.

Elmer has a passion and a gift for telling stories through a visual medium and making a positive impact on his audience by getting them to think and challenging their beliefs while entertaining them, which fuels his passion.

Elmer's films have won 57 awards.

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Director Statement

After the success of "Loving Martin," I wanted to continue to make films for the LGBTQIA+ community. "Kings & Queens" follows Lucy's journey of self-discovery. Finding one's authentic self can have many layers, as Lucy finds out.

"Kings & Queens" is my first film in my home state of Maine. I enjoyed the opportunity to work with the Maine film community.

When planning on my next project, I reached out to my friend and cinematographer, Brett Bays. We searched for a short LGBTQIA+ script to no avail. We both had recently read a feature film script by my friend Melissa Martin and reached out to her about writing a short film for us. She was excited too. We gave her a few ideas, and she suggested, "What if we combined all of those and did a woman trying to be a drag king living with her ex because she's too poor to move out." The rest, as they say, is history.

The cast and crew stepped up to make this the best movie possible. Everyone gave their creative feedback, and many wore multiple hats.

I hope you enjoy watching "Kings & Queens" as much as I enjoyed creating it.

~ Elmer J. Howard