Changing the world begins with changing hearts and minds – one person at a time. There are many ways to do this, and one of the most powerful is through filmmaking and storytelling. The entertainment industry is not just about creating entertainment for the masses, it is also a medium that allows artists, activists, teachers, creators and storytellers to enlighten audiences through the narratives we see and hear on screen.
One filmmaker who has made it her mission in life to combine entertainment with messages that impact hearts and minds is Rachel Leyco, whose digital content and work both in front of the camera and behind has her reaching into the lives of many, including us!
The award-winning queer filmmaker and actress is the founder of a production company called Empowerhouse, through which she created her AAPI web series, ‘CRAZY’ – a dramedy web series about two queer Asian American frenemies navigating their early twenties while battling mental illnesses that teach them they’re more alike than they realize. The series mines comedy from some of the darker parts of our own personal mental health journeys as filmmakers. It helps tell an empowering story around seeking help and self-care. Rachel and her team made this project with the aim to change what is too often a tragic narrative for LGBTQ+ characters of color.
The show is an authentic story of young queer women of color coming to terms with their mental health and setting boundaries around their needs. It’s triumphant, powerful and it’s quite a crazy rollercoaster ride of a series, which premiered at Outfest LA’s 40th anniversary.
Up next, Rachel is also set to star in the Tubi original ‘What Happens in Miami’, and she has partnered with award-winning filmmaker Rain Valdez for the highly-anticipated film “Re-live: A Tale of an American Island Cheerleader.” The project will be executive produced by Rosario Dawson and was placed on GLAAD’s The Black List for Best Un-produced LGBTQ Screenplays of 2022. The film follows a transgender woman who returns to her estranged home island of Guam for her High School reunion’s “Do Over Week,” to live out her childhood dream of becoming a cheerleader.
Rachel has appeared in numerous TV shows including NBC’s ‘Chicago Fire’, BET’s ‘Games People Play’, and the upcoming season three of Netflix’s ‘Atypical’. She has many writing/directing/producing credits, ranging from short films and web series to TV pilots and features, where some of her short films have screened at festivals around the United States and internationally. Rachel is clearly leaving no media space untouched and is ensuring she is in the driver’s seat of her own career.
As an activist, Rachel strongly advocates for many social justice issues, such as LGBTQ+ equality and mental health. Having been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder II, she made it her mission to break stigma, create a dialogue, and bring awareness to communities all over the world through art and activism. Rachel believes strongly in the power of words. She wants to elevate and inspire lives through the magic of storytelling, and we had the chance to dig deeper about her message through a one-on-one. Scroll down to get inspired!
Where did your filmmaking career begin, and what or who inspired you to become a filmmaker and actress?
I caught the acting bug in middle school and fell in love with theatre. But I always knew I wanted to star in films and television shows. Growing up as an immigrant kid in America, I was really shy; theatre helped me break out of my shell and allowed me to express myself in ways I never knew I could. For college, I transferred to film school, which began my multi-hyphenate filmmaking journey! My inspirations were Issa Rae and Mindy Kaling because they were two badass multi-hyphenate female filmmakers/actresses carving their own paths!
Can you tell us about your production company Empowerhouse and what kinds of projects you are working on through it?
I started Empowerhouse to create impactful and empowering stories from underrepresented and underserved voices like my own. There is still a large gap of authentic stories and voices for and from queer women of color. My mission is to change the landscape of Hollywood that embraces honesty, inclusivity, and equality.
We are excited to see you in the new film ‘What happens in Miami’! Can you share more about your character, and how the audience reaction has been since its release?
Thank you! It was such a fun and special experience to film the movie. I play Taylor, who is a closeted queer college student and the more reserved shy one of the friend group. I resonated with Taylor’s experiences of being afraid of coming out and the quintessential queer experience of having a mad crush on your best friend!
It was actually a deeply healing moment for me when Taylor finds the courage to put herself out there (no spoilers lol) because it was something I wasn’t able to do when I was a young closeted queer girl. I’m very proud to be able to represent my queer and Filipino American communities through this role. The audience reactions have been SO sweet and fun to witness – many folks don’t expect the big twist at the end so that’s been fun to receive!
@rachel.leyco 🎥 Watch “What Happens in Miami” only on @Tubi !!! #bts #behindthescenes #trailertour #onset #vlog #comewithme ♬ original sound – Rachel Leyco
You also premiered your queer AAPI web series, CRAZY, at Outfest LA’s 40th anniversary. How did this series come about, and what has been the reaction from viewers so far?
CRAZY was a huge passionate project that I co-created with one of my good friends, Sheena Midori Brevig. We had similar experiences as queer AAPI women dealing with various mental health struggles and realized that there weren’t many stories in the media that authentically portrayed these topics in an honest light.
We crowdfunded the project, hired mostly queer and/or BIPOC folks, and premiered at Outfest! It made me proud when audiences expressed that they resonated with our characters and that they learned so much about mental health watching the series. We are actually planning our online worldwide release of the series this year! Stay tuned!
Why is it important to see queer stories told not just from a predominantly white lens?
The more we are able to see and hear queer stories told by BIPOC folks the more empathy permeates throughout our society on a conscious and subconscious level. Growing up, I never saw a specifically queer Filipina American on-screen. If I saw someone like me in the mainstream media, I’d feel so seen, heard, and empowered to live my most authentic life.
That’s the power of media and storytelling. What we see informs what we believe. We’ve grown up seeing white folks at the center of many narratives, including queer ones. Now, we need to put a spotlight on BIPOC folks in queer narratives because we, too, deserve to be the main character! We deserve to be the romantic leads! The heroes! We deserve to be seen, heard, and loved, too.
Mental health is also a main topic in CRAZY. Why was it important to weave in this issue throughout the storylines?
I’m a huge mental health advocate. And it’s been my mission to explore the intersectionalities of mental health, queerness, and the AAPI identity in my stories. Within the Asian American community, mental health has been a taboo topic for many decades, especially with our immigrant parents. I had firsthand experience attempting to break the stigma with my own family.
We wanted to showcase those experiences within our storylines to highlight the nuances of the effects of mental health through a queer AAPI lens. For change to occur, the first step is to talk candidly out loud about it. CRAZY is our attempt to start conversations with our friends and families.
What kinds of changes are you seeing in Hollywood in terms of representation of queer stories, and stories led by people of color? And why is this diversity important on screen?
I believe we’re at a turning point in Hollywood with queer representation BUT there is still a long way to go! We have yet to see stories by queer BIPOC folks greenlit on the mainstream stage. We have yet to see more nuanced representations of bisexual, demisexual, asexual, and Trans stories beyond the tired tropes of the past. Where are the big flashy queer romcoms?! Where are the epic superhero queer blockbusters?! Where are the femmes and non-binary folks in all of this?! Diversity is important. Inclusivity is necessary.
@rachel.leyco It’s not easy to have these convos with loved ones but starting the convo is the first step to intergenerational healing 💫 #queer #filipino #faith #filipinotiktok ♬ original sound – Rachel Leyco
We are seeing a terrifying backlash toward the queer community, and no surprise given it is an election year where many topics become weaponized by candidates for attention. In response to this trend, can you tell us why films and art can become a healing source for communities who are tired of tropes and stereotypes?
It’s absolutely terrifying and sad that we continue to be targeted in this day and age. Art is inherently healing. Whether it’s film, dance, music, art is a safe space – especially for the queer community because this is where we get to truly be ourselves and express our authenticity. Art is power, as well. We have the power to create art that represents who we truly are — eradicating those tired tropes and stereotypes that no longer serve us. Art is so vital to our humanity and is a source of empowerment for our community.
You are a strong believer in the power of words and storytelling to create change. What kind of changes do you want your projects to create in the world, and what changes have you perhaps already seen?
I would love to see more queer BIPOC films by queer BIPOC filmmakers get greenlit! I’d love to see my communities of color flourish in every genre films, receive opportunities that we deserve, and be allowed to fail! I’d also love to see more Filipino-American representation across the board in film and tv, as well as in front and behind the camera.
What are you working on next, and where can readers follow you?
I’m working on my directorial debut feature film, ‘Thank You for Breaking My Heart’. I’m currently in pre-production for the short film proof-of-concept version of the film, which is exciting. Stay tuned. Salamat! (Thank you!)
Follow Rachel on Instagram and TikTok @rachel.leyco to keep up to date with all her work in front of and behind the camera. You can see more of what Empowerhouse is doing via the website.
