A DEEPER LOVE:

The Story of Miss Peppermint

(WOrk in progress)

ABOUT
THE Film

A documentary following eight years of Miss Peppermint's inspiring transformation from a struggling Harlem performer to a trailblazing star, as she makes history on RuPaul's Drag Race and Broadway as the first out trans woman of color, while harnessing her international fame to become a powerful voice for LGBTQ+ equality.

SYNOPSIS

A DEEPER LOVE follows Miss Peppermint's intimate journey as she evolves from performing in local bars and clubs in New York City to becoming an international star and making history on RuPaul's Drag Race and Broadway.

Living in the same apartment for 17 years, Peppermint faces a pivotal choice: continue scraping by through nightly performances or turn to survival sex work to fund her transition. When RuPaul's Drag Race offers another path forward, she seizes the opportunity to transform both her life and trans representation in entertainment.

Through intimate moments with her chosen family, including groundbreaking artists Laverne Cox (Disclosure) and MJ Rodriguez (Pose), Peppermint reveals how trans sisterhood creates spaces of authentic existence and possibility in a world that often misunderstands them. These scenes capture a unique moment in trans history sharing their love and unconditional support.

As she breaks new ground on Broadway and navigates increasing visibility, the film reveals what happens behind the scenes after making history, when a pioneering artist must find ways to sustain both her life and her career.

Through Peppermint's journey, we witness how success isn't just about breaking barriers but also staying authentic to your true self. Her story challenges us to look beyond historic breakthroughs as we witness the ongoing work and advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights.

The film's intimate vérité style captures the complex life of an artist navigating multiple realities. In the drag scene, Peppermint must balance her trans identity with an art form often misunderstood by mainstream society. In her private life, she grapples with the universal challenges of finding love, acceptance, and economic security. Through unprecedented access, we witness her groundbreaking achievements and the true cost of sustaining success.

World PREMIERe
2025 TBD

Who is miss peppermint?

A trailblazing Artist, performer, actress, singer and activist

First Runner up OF Season 9 Rupual's Drag Race
First Out Trans Woman TO ORIGINATE A ROLE on Broadway
Actress, Singer & Independent Artist
LGBTQ+ Activist fighting for equality

Meet The Supporting Characters

Sherry Vine

Sherry Vine is Peppermint's drag sister. Their conversations touch on deeply personal subjects - Peppermint's medical transition, her relationship with her mother, and the looming anxiety of Trump's election during Thanksgiving. As a fellow drag performer and longtime friend, Sherry provides a safe space for Peppermint to discuss her concerns about transitioning while maintaining her drag career.

CHOSEN FAMILY

The COTS is an acronym of “The Council of Trans Sister”, Peppermint’s chosen family, a group of loving and supportive trans friends that includes celebrated stars Laverne Cox and MJ Rodriguez, filmed prior to her breakout role on POSE. Together, Peppermint’s chosen family creates a sanctuary during holidays and life events where they can exist authentically, kiki, and celebrate camaraderie, scenes that offer deep moments of reflection, solace, and acceptance in a world that often misunderstands and marginalizes them.

Sasha Velour

Sasha Velour emerges as both close friend and ultimate competitor in season 9 of RuPaul's Drag Race. The film captures their genuine friendship during a photoshoot, creating a complex emotional dynamic as they compete for the crown. The footage reveals their bonding over shared views on drag and gender expression, making their lipsync for the crown especially poignant.

A documentary following 8 years in the life of Miss Peppermint: A groundbreaking trans woman, drag performer, actress and LGBTQ+ Activist

watch the trailer

A film by
Oriel Pe’er

starring
Miss Peppermint

Featuring
Laverne Cox
MJ Rodriguez
Sherry Vine

and
Sasha Velour
Bob The Drag Queen
Vivacious
Shea Couleé
and many others…

Produced by

ABOUT THE FILMMAKER

Oriel Pe’er

Writer/director/producer

Oriel is a New York-based director, producer, and visual artist whose work spans documentary, dance, and multimedia production. His work has been featured in leading publications including TIME Magazine, The Guardian, Pitchfork, Nowness, Billboard, and The Washington Post.

He became the first multimedia artist for the world-renowned dance company Pilobolus, where he documented the troupe for several years. Oriel is the founder of The Llama Studio, a New York-based production company specializing in film and video production and post-production. Since 2016 he has been working non-stop on his debut documentary, “A Deeper Love: The Story of Miss Peppermint”.

Learn More

CURRENT STAGE

• Since we started production in 2016, we have filmed over 100 days in New York City, Los Angeles and Berlin.

• We have accessed over 1,356 hours of footage, including archives and interviews.

• The documentary is in the final stages of post-production, with a refined rough cut ready for the last steps of the process. We are currently seeking finishing funds to cover the costs of color grading, sound mixing, and third-party licensing and festival submissions.

• We are currently submitting the film to festivals such as SXSW, Tribeca, Frameline, Hot Docs and others while aiming for a world premiere in 2025.

make a donation

2024 YeaR end Giving

We have $29,500 left to raise to cover post-production and festival release costs.

Please consider making a charitable, tax-deductible donation through our fiscal sponsor (Independent Arts & Media using the fundraising platform Flipcause) to help us finalize the documentary in time for festivals and make it available to as many people as possible.

Your donation will go towards:

- Finalizing sound mixing ($7,000)
- Completing color grading ($5,000)
- Third-party content license ($16,000)
- Film festival submissions ($1,500)

Make a donation today

* We are also offering Executive Producer and Associate Producer credits for meaningful financial contributions to help bring this important story to audiences worldwide. Contact us below for details.