Bubbles the Rainbow Trout

Set in the rural mountain town of Paonia, Colorado, Bubbles the Rainbow Trout is a vibrant and tender documentary that follows the creation of a float representing the town’s queer community for Paonia’s annual 4th of July parade, Cherry Days. Through vérité scenes, intimate interviews, and lush imagery, the film captures the hopes, fears, and joy of LGBTQ+ residents as they take up space, literally and symbolically, in a deeply traditional setting.

At the center of the story is the float itself: a massive, shimmering rainbow trout named Bubbles, envisioned by a group of locals who gather in the weeks leading up to the Cherry Days parade to design, build, and rehearse.

Unlike typical stories that focus on queer escape to urban centers, Bubbles the Rainbow Trout explores what it means to stay, and to find joy and resilience through community and visibility. The float becomes a symbol of pride and resistance, swimming through streets lined with townsfolk, some cheering and others unsure of what to make of it.

The North Fork Valley, where this film is set, is a region that creates home for a variety of political and social ideologies. The juxtaposition between liberal newcomers, long-time miners, and agricultural families creates a unique tension and richness to the backdrop.

We believe this story will resonate far beyond its local context. It's a celebration of queer life in unexpected places.

The Community Behind Bubbles

At the heart of Bubbles is a collective of queer residents and allies in Paonia, Colorado, who come together to create something joyful, visible, and deeply rooted in community.

What begins with Paul Kimpling, a longtime Paonia resident, quickly becomes a shared effort. Alongside Paul are artists, builders, friends, and neighbors, whose creativity and labor help bring the vision of the rainbow trout to life.

Together, this group transforms discarded materials into a vibrant float that reflects their collective identities and soft defiance. Some are longtime residents, others transplants; some queer, some allies. What unites them is a desire to carve out space for joy, visibility, and connection in a rural town where queerness is often unseen.

Through their collaboration, Bubbles becomes less about any one individual and more about the power of chosen community.

Why now?

In the wake of increasing hostility towards LGBTQ+ rights, particularly in rural America, this film offers a powerful counter-narrative. Bubbles the Rainbow Trout is not a film about trauma or reaction; it is about community and resilience. It's about queer people in isolated places coming together to make something beautiful, playful and healing. Rural queer communities are often left out of the conversations around viability and art. This film intends to bridge that gap, bringing rural stories in the light while giving isolated queer people a chance to see themselves reflected onscreen.

Our Goal: $10,500

We are raising $10,500 to complete production and bring Bubbles the Rainbow Trout through post-production and into the world.

These funds will support:

• Final filming and production costs
• Editing and post-production
• Original music composition
• Color correction and sound mix
• Festival submission fees and distribution preparation

Every contribution helps ensure that this story can reach audiences both in rural communities and beyond.

Community Screenings for Non-Profits

We believe this film should be a tool for conversation and connection.

Non-profit organizations that contribute $500 or more will receive a free screening link to the finished film, allowing them to host community viewings or share the film with their members.

Our hope is that Bubbles the Rainbow Trout can spark dialogue about rural queer life and the power of visibility, especially in places where queer stories are rarely seen on screen.

Our Team

Desdemona Dallas — Director
Dallas is a filmmaker and cinematographer based between Brooklyn, NY and Paonia, CO. Their work spans music videos, experimental documentaries, and social justice campaigns, with a focus on dynamic, emotionally resonant storytelling. From award-winning music videos to festival-screening documentaries, they bring a distinctive visual style and deep care to every story they tell.

Paul Kimpling — Creative Director / Producer
Paul is a community artist whose work centers on collaboration, creativity, and place-based storytelling. He has helped bring large-scale community art projects to life, including Bubbles, the Paonia Fashion Show, and the local Paonia zine The Vom. A longtime Paonia resident and community organizer, Paul serves as a producer on the film and helps guide the project from within the community it portrays.

Henna Taylor — Director of Photography
Henna Taylor is a self-taught documentary filmmaker who began making short videos while living with four rural midwives in Cambodia. Over the next decade she wrote, directed, filmed, edited, and produced six award-winning short documentaries, including “Best Mountain Short Film” at BANFF. Her first feature documentary, An Accidental Life, debuted in 2022.

Cait Hoffmaster — Composer
Cait Hoffmaster is a Paonia-based singer and composer whose music has been featured in film trailers and visual media. Her work blends emotional intimacy with cinematic scale, bringing depth and atmosphere to storytelling.

Justin Nijssen — Composer
Justin Nijssen is a musician, composer, and producer based in Paonia, Colorado. Known for his work with artists such as Alex Cameron, he brings a background in performance, recording, and production to both music and film projects, blending atmospheric sound with strong storytelling sensibility.

Bubbles The Rainbow Trout Short Film

Support storytelling that offers inclusion and visibility for the rural LGBTQ+ community