A DEEPER LOVE
The Story of Miss Peppermint
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WHAT IS A DEEPER LOVE?
A DEEPER LOVE is a documentary following eight years of 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
The documentary follows Miss Peppermint's raw and 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.
Who is Peppermint
PEPPERMINT IS A trailblazing Artist, performer, actress, singer and activist
Rising to national prominence as the first out trans woman to compete on RuPaul’s Drag Race, she broke barriers and opened doors for countless others. With a career spanning Broadway (Head Over Heels), television, music, and advocacy, Peppermint brings heart, authenticity, and a deep commitment to justice to everything she does. Her voice—both as a performer and as a changemaker—continues to inspire and uplift communities around the world.
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.
STILLS from the film
The team
Oriel Pe’er
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.”
MARC SMOLOWITZ
Producer
Marc Smolowitz is a multi-award-winning director, producer,executive producer, and consulting producer who has been significantly involved in over 50 successful independent films.
The combined footprint of his works has touched 250+ film festivals & markets on 5 continents, yielding substantial worldwide sales to theatrical, television, and VOD outlets, notable box office receipts, and numerous awards and nominations. His credits include films that have screened at top-tier festivals such as Sundance, Berlin, Venice,Tribeca, Locarno, SXSW, Chicago, Palm Springs, SF FILM, AFI DOCS, IDFA, DOC NYC, CPH: DOX, Tokyo, Melbourne, Viennale, and the Jerusalem Film Festival, among others.
World PREMIEre
coming soon
Written, directed and produced by
Oriel Pe’er
Producer
Marc Smolowitz
starring
Miss Peppermint
Featuring
Laverne Cox
MJ Rodriguez
Sherry Vine
Sasha Velour
Bob The Drag Queen
Vivacious
Shea Couleé
and many others…
Produced by
in association with
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 1,300 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 Tribeca, Frameline, Hot Docs and others while aiming for a world premiere in 2025.
SUPPORT us
HELP US FINISH THE FILM
We have $50,000 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 ($10,000)
- Completing color grading ($10,000)
- Third-party content license ($25,000)
- Festival submissions & EPK ($5,000)
* We are 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.
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