Carly Usdin: Difference between revisions

'''Carly Usdin''' (born 1982)<ref name="Farris-Aug2017">{{cite web |last1=Farris |first1=Annalise |title=Interview: Talking Hi-Fi Fight Club with Writer Carly Usdin |url=http://www.roguesportal.com/interview-talking-hi-fi-fight-club-writer-carly-usdin/ |website=Rogues Portal |accessdate=12 June 2019}}</ref> is an American director, writer, and producer. Usdin is best known for directing the 2016 film ''Suicide Kale'' and co-creating the comic book series ''Heavy Vinyl'' with Nina Vakueva. In 2019, she received the Jury Prize for Best Director for the short film ''Misdirection'' at the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival.<ref name="Hogan">{{Cite web |title=Carly Usdin Is Making Hollywood Gayer Every Day (And You Can Help) |last=Hogan |first=Heather |work=Autostraddle |date=March 2, 2018 |access-date=October 20, 2020 |url= https://www.autostraddle.com/carly-usdin-is-making-hollywood-gayer-every-day-and-you-can-help-412822/}}</ref>

Usdin was raised in Monmouth County, New Jersey.<ref name="Edgar2017">{{Cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/05/exclusive-boom-announces-new-comic-about-vinyl-lov.html|title=Exclusive: BOOM! Announces Comic About Vinyl-Loving Teen Vigilantes, Hi-Fi Fight Club by Carly Usdin & Nina Vakueva|website=pastemagazine.com|language=en|access-date=2019-06-14}}</ref> Their feature film directorial debut, ''Suicide Kale'', was released in 2016. Written by and starring Brittani Nichols, it also starred Jasika Nicole, Brianna Baker, and Lindsay Hicks. Usdin received the Audience Award for Best First Dramatic Feature at 2016 Outfest.<ref name="CurveKale">{{Cite web|author=Staff|url=http://www.curvemag.com/Cinema/Dark-Comedy-Suicide-Kale-Is-The-Must-See-Indie-Film--1550/|title=Dark Comedy ‘Suicide Kale’ Is A Must See Indie Film|website=Curve|date=October 24, 2016|accessdate=12 June 2019}}</ref>

In 2017, Usdin was the showrunner and director for a digital web series called ''Threads'', which was distributed through Verizon's Go90 platform. The show was an anthology series that dramatized stories "inspired by real events." It was hosted by Milana Vayntrub and ran for 20 episodes.<ref name="Gutelle-July2017">{{cite web |last1=Gutelle |first1=Sam |title=New Form’s Newest Addition To Go90 Catalog Explores The Mysteries Of The Internet |url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2017/07/25/new-form-go90-threads/ |website=Tubefilter |accessdate=12 June 2019}}</ref>

Usdin co-created and wrote the comic book series ''Hi-Fi Fight Club'' in August 2017, published by Boom! Studios and illustrated by Nina Vakueva.<ref name="Arrant">{{Cite web|last1=Arrant|first1=Chris|url=https://www.newsarama.com/37262-behind-hi-fi-fight-club-s-name-change-to-heavy-inyl.html|title=Behind HI-FI FIGHT CLUB's Name Change to HEAVY VINYL|website=Newsarama|date=November 8, 2017|accessdate=12 June 2019}}</ref> The series centers on a queer teenage girl who begins working at a record store where the employees have a clandestine, all-female vigilante fight club. In November 2017, it was announced that the series' name had been changed to ''Heavy Vinyl''.<ref name=Arrant /> Thrillist named it one of the 25 best comic books of 2018;<ref name=Khan2018>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/best-comics-graphic-novels-2018|title=The 25 Best Comic Books and Graphic Novels of 2018|last=Khan|first=Joshua|date=2019-01-03|website=Thrillist|access-date=2019-06-14}}</ref> SyfyWire selected Usdin as one of the 30 best writers for comics in September 2017 for their work on ''Heavy Vinyl''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/power-report-the-30-best-comic-book-writers-for-september-2017|title=Power Report: The 30 best comic book writers for September 2017|last=Dorville|first=Matt|date=2017-09-01|website=SYFY WIRE|language=en|access-date=2019-06-14}}</ref> The series was nominated for a 2018 Prism Award.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prismcomics.org/2018-prism-award-winners-announced/|title=2018 PRISM AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED|website=Prism Comics|date=July 21, 2018|accessdate=12 June 2019}}</ref> A follow-up called ''Heavy Vinyl:Y-2KO'' was released in March 2020.<ref name="Hogan-July2019-Y2KO">{{cite web |last1=Hogan |first1=Heather |title=Exclusive: Carly Usdin’s "Heavy Vinyl" Is Getting a New Original Graphic Novel! |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/exclusive-announcement-carly-usdins-heavy-vinyl-is-getting-a-new-original-graphic-novel/ |website=www.autostraddle.com |accessdate=5 July 2019}}</ref>

The first issue of Usdin's second comic book series, ''The Avant-Guards'', was released in January 2019.<ref name=Pulliam2019>{{Cite web|last1=Pulliam-Moore|first1=Charles|url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/twins-are-demonic-and-jocks-are-theater-geeks-in-this-w-1832021454|title=Twins Are Demonic and Jocks Are Theater Geeks in This Week's Best New Comics|website=io9|date=January 25, 2019|accessdate=12 June 2019}}</ref> The series had 12 issues in total. Written by Usdin and illustrated by Noah Hayes, it tells the story of a transfer student at an all-girls performing arts college who joins the school's fledgling basketball team.<ref name="Foxe2018">{{Cite web|last1=Foxe|first1=Steve|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2018/09/exclusive-boom-studios-hits-the-basketball-court-i.html|title=Exclusive: BOOM! Studios Hits the Basketball Court in The Avant-Guards|website=Paste|date=September 28, 2018|accessdate=12 June 2019}}</ref>

{{quote|I love being [[queer]]. I love being [[non-binary]], to be everything and nothing at the same time. I love that some days I feel like a [[dyke]] and others I feel like a fag and then there are days that I feel like a little robot. I love how expansive the word “queer” feels. I love that I’ve been surprised by my own identity over the years and how it’s changed and evolved. I love that I’m in my late 30s and I’m still learning new things about myself and I hope that process of discovery never ends. I love queer people and queer community and all the intersections therein. I love how complicated and confusing and messy it can all be. We are magic and infinite and I would honestly be really bummed to be anyone other than exactly who I am.<ref name="auto_Happ">{{Cite web |title=Happy 2nd Annual “It’s Great to Be Gay” Day — We Sure Do Love Being Gay, And We Also Love You! |work=Autostraddle |date=August 20, 2020 |access-date=October 20, 2020 |url= https://www.autostraddle.com/happy-2nd-annual-its-great-to-be-gay-day-we-sure-do-love-being-gay-and-we-also-love-you/ }}</ref>}}