#MoreCarmilla – A Movement

By:  Paige Zinaman

What makes something so special it creates a movement? Is it the number of likes for the latest trend? Could it be the love, compassion and authenticity of character portrayals? That is what happened with the series “Carmilla.” What once was a small little web series shot in Toronto, Canada is now a global phenomenon. This little web series that’s based off J. Sheridan Le Fanu’s novella set the internet ablaze when it first premiered in August of 2014 on YouTube. “Carmilla” pushed the boundaries of social norms, embracing things that society would deem unacceptable and shone a light on the beauty that is slapped away with words of hate. It is love that has persisted and continues to push fans to hashtag and chant “More Carmilla!”

As fans know, “Carmilla” follows an unlikely love story between lesbian vampire Carmilla Karnstein (Natasha Negovanlis) and Laura Hollis (Elise Bauman) who is a college journalism major. When I say unlikely, it’s because one is a vampire and the other is a human, not because they are both women. Fans took a chance on a series that stayed true to their beliefs and never faltered. They stood their ground and it’s because of this that “Carmilla” became a safe haven for many people who are a part of the LGBTQ community – a community that has time and time again fought for positive representation and has time and time again been let down by injustices to many of their beloved characters. The “Carmilla” fandom, called the Creampuffs, has taken this little web series and spread the word about it like crazy. In fact, as of 2017 the series “Carmilla” has garnered over seventy million views on YouTube and has since become a motion feature film. But it has also done something not many shows have managed to do…it created a much sought-after haven.

One such safe haven happened just this year in Toronto called CarmillaCon. CarmillaCon is a fan convention that reunited cast members and fans for a weekend of laughter and memories. Creampuffs had the opportunity to sit in during panels from cast members and creators, participate in photo ops and take the time to just make new friends. This convention surpassed expectations! It brought hope to some fans who needed it the most. It gave them a family to hold on to. In fact, it’s from this convention that the movement #MoreCarmilla was created. It was been five years since “Carmilla” first arrived onto the scene and two years since The Carmilla Movie was brought to fans everywhere. During CarmillaCon, fans had one common question in mind, “What can we do to get more ‘Carmilla’ content?” The answer came in the idea to tweet and write to Shaftesbury TV, the company that produces the series, to let them know that fans are just as passionate today as they were five years ago.

Since the convention ended several fans have made it their mission to form and motivate the #MoreCarmilla movement. It has also become one of the best parts of being on Twitter and become a gift that keeps on giving. When asked why they started this movement and the individuals that inspired the momentum noted, “The dedication shown by the cast and crew to their fans has inspired us to want to give back and reciprocate that dedication to other Creampuffs, new and old. As a result, we started this movement to express how this show matters to so much of us – having such positive LGBTQ+ representation and being so inclusive and accepting of a show can have such a massive impact on people and their lives. The movement is also a means of keeping our community alive and keeping the beautiful media and people that brought us all together, in our lives. The hope is that we can continue to support these amazing people by expanding the fandom while also furthering inclusivity and openness in an age of apparent regression.”

Since CarmillaCon the #MoreCarmilla Twitter account gathered more than nine hundred followers and counting and has been met with passionate fans who tweet daily about how much “Carmilla,” both show and cast, meant and means to them. Fans answered the call with a fire that was lit the moment CarmillaCon ended and has since been a topic of multiple discussions. As I look through the hashtag one message is clear, fan’s love and devotion “Carmilla” has not dwindled. In fact, it has been rejuvenated! Their loyalty to the cast and crew behind the series is just as strong and every tweet brings a newly found respect for fellow fans. These fans have fought hard and their love is apparent in every tweet and every photo posted. It has also shown me that this is more than just a show – it has created a family. It’s not every day that people can find their chosen family, one that doesn’t judge them because of who they love or what their life styles maybe. I asked some Creampuffs what “Carmilla” meant to them and one response I received summed the feeling up perfectly, “To me, ‘Carmilla’ is what the world could someday be. It’s a home for all of us who feel under repressed. Through ‘Carmilla’ I’ve not only discovered an amazing show with tons of real representation, I’ve discovered a group of people who share the same hopes and dreams as me.”

“Carmilla” is one show that has left a lasting legacy of love, compassion and hope. It’s not just because of a show, it’s because of the realness of the cast and how passionate they are about the LGBTQ+ community and how they listen to their fans. It’s about how things in the world can be better if only the people around us can open their eyes to such a beautiful group of humans who have so much more to offer. A movement never comes without its struggles and even moments of darkness. That darkness started when “Carmilla” ended and when fans were met with so many more questions than they had answers. So, they did the only thing that many fandoms can do, they persevered sharing art, writing and spreading the word about this amazing little web series that could. In fact, they’ve brought in new fans and reconnected old fans with each other! They’ve kept the love alive and they’ve done so with grace and compassion. They have smile on their faces as they talk about how a show brought them to their families and to their partners. Creampuffs are some special people and I’m thankful to be a part of their fandom and to call a lot of them friends.

Despite “Carmilla” coming to an end, it has taken one convention and one group of people with a common goal – the hope of continuing a message of optimism and love – to push for a continuation. #MoreCarmilla is a mission to gather fans together reminding everyone that they’re not alone and that if you have to have the determination and the fight to keep something you love from fading away. #MoreCarmilla is a statement that everyone has something worth fighting for and that even if the battle is just encouragement to fellow fans then they’ve done something truly special. It also shows that if you truly care about what you’re fighting for then nothing truly ends.