Five scrappy queer comic book artists journey from DIY work and isolation to the cover of Time Magazine and the international stage, offering a fascinating window into everything from the AIDS crisis and workplace discrimination to the search for love and a good haircut. Their work and personal stories are sure to make you laugh, but also make you think about the challenges and triumphs encountered and overcome along the way.

About the Director:

Director Vivian Kleiman is a Peabody Award-winning filmmaker whose work is noted for its cultural and stylistic diversity. A longtime producer with storied Black gay filmmaker Marlon Riggs, her credits include additional cinematography on his landmark documentary Tongues Untied. Vivian was nominated for a National Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement for her work with Riggs on Color Adjustment. Vivian’s producer/director credits include: Ein Stehaufmannchen, Families Are Forever, Always My Son, and My Body’s My Business. Her executive producer credits include the Academy Award-nominated documentary short Last Day of Freedom, First Person Plural, Maquilapolis, and Strong! Her story editor credits include Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics & Men created by Sascha Jenkins and Mass Appeal for Showtime. An educator, Vivian taught at Stanford University’s Graduate Program in Documentary Film & Video Production for nine years.

No Straight Lines: The Rise of Queer Comics is Sponsored by Bend Studio

Regal Old Mill is Sponsored by The Starview Foundation