Nicole Lipp talks ‘Mistakes You Make Before You Die’ and how this was a “dreamed idea.”

Today, HOLR is sitting down to chat with Award-Winning, Queer Filmmaker and Co-Founder of Not Your Daddy’s Films, Nicole Lipp, to discuss a new and exciting project- ‘Mistakes You Make Before You Die.’

Keep reading to learn all about how Nicole got started in the music and filmmaking industry, as well as Nicole’s passion for showcasing a queer relationship on screen that isn’t centered around sexual identity- but rather the dynamic between two compelling and unique characters. Plus, we talk all about how ‘Mistakes You Make Before You Die’ was a “little proof of concept” that became such a “special experience” for Nicole.

Talk to us about how you got started in the music and filmmaking industry. 

Well, I’m a girl from LA… so obviously I was a child actor. I peeked at age 9 with a nonspeaking role in a McDonald’s commercial. I really think I popped out of the womb and was like I WANNA BE AN ACTRESS! So I went to college to study acting in a BFA conservatory program and then came back home to LA to do the LA thang. Less than a year in, I got really depressed. I felt like I had no agency over my life and my art. And I’m so sensitive… that audition/rejection spin-cycle was NOT good for my mental health. So I quit in a huff and wound up working in marketing. I spent like 6 years being a professional business lady doing marketing/social media/branding stuff and running a marketing agency. Surprise surprise, that did not give me the sense of fulfillment I hoped for. However, through my marketing work, I often found myself on set, producing or supervising branded shoots for my clients. Those days on set were my favorite days. Eventually, I picked up film photography as a hobby… and I wound up shooting for a handful of clients and musician friends, which was so much fun! But my day-to-day was still running a marketing agency…    

I woke up one day and randomly had this spontaneous moment of delusional self-confidence; I bet I could direct music videos. Complete audacity. I called my friend Disco Shrine and asked her if I could direct a music video for her… and she said yes! 

In April 2019, I stood on set directing my first music video and my whole life changed. I looked at the monitor and saw what was once in my head on that little screen and I KNEW I was right where I was meant to be. When you know, you know, right? I found my calling baby! I spent the next two years running my marketing agency while directing as many music videos as I could on the side. In 2021, I directed my first narrative project, a short film called MESSY. And there was no turning back. So my partner and I evolved the marketing agency into a production company, AYF Media, and now I’m a full-time director/writer/producer/CREATIVE and it feels SO good.  

What was it like to transfer over to the film space and create your narrative short films after having directed music videos for notable artists such as St. Lucia, Quinn XCII ft Big Sean, and Vacations?

I LOVE directing music videos. They’re so much fun, so fast paced, so creative and boundless. I love working with artists and collaborating on a shared vision. I plan on directing music videos forever and ever… but we contain multitudes, right? I’m not leaving music videos behind but I am adding narratives to my repertoire because, though a lot can happen in a music video, some stories need a little more than 3 minutes. 

I think my childhood dream of being an actress was coming from a deep desire to see myself in the movies/shows I was obsessed with. But being a 90s kid meant the majority of leading ladies I was exposed to perpetuated a super rigid archetype of beauty and romance. I was OBSESSED with Grease… but I knew I didn’t look like Olivia Newton-John… or (young) John Travolta… and also I think I was in love with them both… How confusing! 

The movies and shows I grew up watching inspired me and entertained me and gave me SO much. But they also instilled in me a deep insecurity that I could never be the leading lady type. I (subconsciously at the time) internalized this notion that my truest self would never be worthy of the spotlight. And I know that I was not alone in adopting this self-belief – It’s hit almost every woman in the biz I’ve talked to, and definitely most ruthlessly for my peers with more marginalized identities.

So yeah, I don’t think I was ever actually in love with acting. I was in love with movies and TV. And I so desperately wanted to watch something and feel “normal” and “acceptable” and worthy of love and respect like all the leading ladies I loved so much. Things are SO much better now than they were back then… but we’ve still got some work to do, Hollywood! 

I want to make the movies and shows that I wish I could have watched when I was a confused and depressed teenager… and 20-something. Now that I’m in my 30s, I might still be depressed, but at least I’m (a little) less confused.

What can you tell us all about your latest project, ‘Mistakes You Make Before You Die’ which will be premiering at Out on Film Festival in September? What can we expect to see from this short film?

Mistakes You Make Before You Die is a short proof of concept for a full-length feature. Making this little proof of concept was such a special experience… I literally dreamed the idea… like, I watched the whole movie in my sleep. It’s so wild putting a dream on the screen! Especially since I got to do this with some of my favorite creative collaborators and dear friends. And Jetta Juriansz (my dear friend, writing partner, and lead in the film) literally played the role of Dora in my dream. Writing the film with her and then getting to direct her was unbelievable. Jetta is such a brilliant, hilarious, beautiful powerhouse. One of the most talented actors and writers in the whole wide world. I still pinch myself every time I get to work with her! Terry Hu brought the most delicious humanity to their character, Lennon. Terry is just such a naturally gifted and stunning actor, so honest and subtle, such a freaking star. And our cinematographer Kelsey Talton is just SO talented. I mean, Kelsey took this simple film that is largely just a couple talking… and she made it beautiful and cinematic. I could write a novel with lengthy chapters about why I love and cherish each of these people (and the rest of the cast and crew) but this is probably enough fangirling over my friends for one interview! 

But oh yeah… the question… what can you expect from the film? In Mistakes You Make Before You Die, Lennon (they/them) is dying from terminal cancer so their girlfriend, Dora (she/her) convinces them to create a bucket list. But Lennon puts some wild shit on that list. The film follows Lennon and Dora as they attempt to complete the weirdest bucket list ever, beginning with item #1: participate in an orgy. The short proof of concept is actually quite sweet! But the feature is going to be… insane. Dora and Lennon are gonna do some really demented shit… meth, violence, fraud… and so much more. I like to think of it as a dark comedy tearjerker. Kinda like The Fault In Our Stars meets Bottoms. I hope anyone who watches the short film will laugh a lot and cry a little and be left wanting more from Dora and Lennon and their really weird bucket list. 

You’re passionate about showcasing a queer relationship on screen that isn’t centered around sexual identity, but rather the dynamic between two compelling and unique characters. Tell us about how this came to life on screen for ‘Mistakes You Make Before You Die.’ 

I feel like some of the most impactful representation is actually in stories that are not ABOUT representation. Mistakes You Make Before You Die isn’t ABOUT being queer… It’s a deeply human (and funny) story about two people who are in love. The fact that they’re queer colors the characters’ experiences, but it doesn’t dictate the plot. Cancer doesn’t care if you’re gay or straight, right? This movie is about love and grief and adventure, and yes, a queer couple is at the center of it. Not every queer character needs to be discovering their sexual identity or fighting homophobia… I like to think that if we have more widely and universally relatable and entertaining movies/shows featuring queer people, maybe we could soften some hearts and help folks everywhere realize we’re all just humans who deserve love and respect, and equal rights. I know that if I had more queer characters to learn from and look up to when I was a teenager, my mental health journey could have looked a bit different.

Talk to us about being the co-founder of Not Your Daddy’s Films, which is a social impact organization dedicated to empowering and educating women and nonbinary filmmakers through networking events and educational panels. 

I’m so proud to be one of the co-founders of Not Your Daddy’s Films and part of the beautiful community we’ve built together. My co-founders (Carlye Tamaren, Kourtney Bell, Vika Stubblebine, and Katherine Hughes) and I came together to screen our short films as well as a few other short films by other women directors… but what started as 50ish people watching shorts in a bar, grew up to become the social impact organization we are running today. Now, our screenings bring in an audience of 300+ and our community stretches far beyond LA. We’re working really hard to expand the educational wing of NYDF – we host regular panels and we’re producing a podcast! 

Networking has a kinda icky connotation to it… but what is networking? I believe it’s just meeting people who like the same things as you! Connecting with like-minded folks who become friends and maybe they eventually become creative collaborators. We don’t actually call our events networking events or mixers… our events aren’t stuffy or formal at all. IT’S NOT THAT SERIOUS!! We’re all just hanging out and talking about movies. And when you’re connecting with people in an organic and positive way, magic happens. I’ve learned SO much from the NYDF community and my co-founders… Being a Daddy has changed my life. And we’ve only just begun!

What’s next for you?

I’m directing my first feature, Influenced, with producer Chad Burris! I’m excited to finally direct something long-form… and the script (written by Alix Lerner) is SO good. 

Also! A TV series I wrote/created is in development with Daryl Taja! It’s called Eternal Flame and I can’t share too much just yet but fingers crossed it gets greenlit and I get to direct some episodes.

Also, I’m currently in pre-production for my next short film, The Toe. The Toe is a body horror about an ingrown toenail. It’s gonna be really gross and weird…

Lots of exciting stuff in the pipeline. I love making things!

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Published by HOLR Magazine