Synopsis
What does it mean to feel seen by others before you’re ready to see yourself? A filmmaker travels back to 1997 to revisit a dream-like memory from second grade that centers around her queer identity, her legendary PE teacher and a mysterious large plastic fish.
Director Biography – Drew Dickler
Drew Dickler (she/her) is a documentary filmmaker and producer based in Brooklyn, New York. Much of Drew’s work explores themes of social justice, identity and resilience. Her early works include short films Dress (Best LGBT Film at the Independent Filmmakers Showcase), All It Takes (Cleveland International Film Festival) and Fife and Drum which won a regional Emmy award. Drew’s first feature Fireboys, about young incarcerated men fighting wildfires in California, is streaming on Max and was chosen for the American Film Showcase, a cultural exchange program that screens documentaries internationally. In 2022, Drew was selected to participate in the Sundance Institute Producers Intensive for her producing role in the upcoming film What Will I Become?. The film, which tells the stories of trans boys within a national landscape where suicide remains tragically prevalent, is currently being co-produced by ITVS for public media. Drew is the co-founder of Deep Dive Films, through which she produces independent films, as well as commercial and corporate content. In her spare time, Drew enjoys cooking, fostering dogs, and obsessing over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Big Bass is a tribute to queer elders who are willing to be visible, patient, and loving while expecting little in return. The intro, inspired by the late-1990s public access show Dyke TV and its segment “I Was a Gay Child,” uses an irreverent voiceover and ’90s nostalgia to draw the viewer into what becomes a tender story of intergenerational connection.
This is a deeply personal story that unearths a blurry childhood memory, a puzzle piece of my identity. Going into the production, I recalled only fragments—a giant plastic fish, my small hands brushing its scales, and the warm yet no nonsense presence of Cheryl, my P.E. teacher. Cheryl was an out lesbian, somewhat of a miracle to me as a closeted kid in 1997. Though the specifics of our interaction were mysterious, all these years later, the memory held significance to me, though I didn’t know why.
As an adult revisiting this memory, I came to understand its true meaning, and the film became less about me and more about Cheryl’s brilliance as an educator. She had the courage to show up as her authentic self and intervene for a child struggling to fit in. I imagine she did this many times for others before talking to me, and many times after.
I hope the film resonates with anyone who has grappled with self-acceptance and inspires viewers to find small ways to honor those who help us celebrate being ourselves. May we all remember and give gratitude to the “Cheryls” of the world.