Studio 54 Meets Route 66
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Date: May, 16, 2023
Role: Video Production Lead
Services: Video Director, Concept Development, Location Scout, Crew Management, Videography, Editing, Coloring, Production Design
Location: Tulsa Artist Fellowship
Talent: Studio 66 - Chris VanDenhende and Karl Jones
Crew: Benji Osborne – Director of Photography
To close the conversation series, Tulsa Creative Engine turned to our friends at Studio 66 — a collective rooted in LGBTQ+ artistry, advocacy, and celebration. Filming at the Tulsa Artist Fellowship gave us access to an exhibit that challenged traditional depictions of masculinity, with large-scale oil paintings of queer men styled in Renaissance fashion. It created a meaningful backdrop for a final Ascension St. John video centered on identity, community, and mental health.
Chris and Karl welcomed me and Benji Osbourne into their studio, a brilliant mosaic of art prints, fashion sketches, digital pieces, and pop-culture icons taped to the walls. Their joint interview unfolded like a dialogue between two mirrors — each reflecting their personal histories, their community, and the challenges LGBTQ+ people navigate when seeking mental health support. It was one of the most vulnerable interviews I’ve ever facilitated, and I felt a deep responsibility to hold that space with care.
There was one moment I knew had to stay in the final cut. After cameras had wrapped, Chris mentioned that hearing Jolene sung by a man was the first time he felt permission to express himself differently. That revelation stayed with me, so I wove Lil Nas X’s version of Jolene into the official sound design. It was a small nod of appreciation towards their lived experience that aimed to illustrate finally being heard. Not only did the song choice evoke emotion and a symbolize a perfect collision of southern/gay culture, but it ultimately captured the soul of the project: true representation can shift the way someone sees themselves and make healing possible.
