Markie in Milwaukee follows transgender woman Markie Wenzel over a number of years through her struggles with transitioning and its impact on her life. We first meet Markie Wenzel in 2013. This is when she had decided to put off transitioning and go back to living as a man. The reason for doing so is the toll that it’s taken on her. She lost her family as a result. Not only this but her marriage…
"Slamdance 2019: Markie in Milwaukee"Tag: Transgender
In a bootleg recording of a recent Louis CK stand-up performance, it was revealed that the stand-up comedian has resorted to telling transphobic jokes. It’s been just over a year since the comedian fell out of good grace with the public following a NY Times report. He started making his comeback earlier this year at the Comedy Cellar with surprise performances. With venues such as the Cellar booking the comedian, they’re sending the message that…
"Louis CK resorts to Transphobic Humor in Bootlegged Upload"
The Real Thing is about a soldier father and a transgender daughter but it may very well be the best short film that anyone will see all year long. I’ve seen a lot of short films this year starting with my coverage of the 2018 Sundance Film Festival in January. Some are important in their own ways and some of them will never have their cinematic shots recreated without the use of CGI. When it comes…
"The Real Thing: Transgender Short Has Me In Tears"
Denial tells the story of Christine Hallquist on two different fronts as she becomes the first transgender CEO to transition in America. Life has a funny way of happening. When Derek Hallquist started to direct this film, he was covering his father’s battle in transforming the Energy Industry. While following his father around, the biggest bombshell was dropped that nobody would have foreseen. When Christine Hallquist comes out as transgender, it changes the direction of…
"Denial tells Christine Hallquist’s story"
Family in Transition profiles the Tzuk family’s experience in northern Israel as Amit Tzuk undergoes a gender transition. Transitioning is not a decision that is made lightly. Some of us transition at a young age while others hold out for as long as possible. Transitioning isn’t without risks. There’s the people we care about and transitioning means possibly losing them. Losing her wife is a risk that Amit makes by coming out as a woman. …
"DOC NYC 2018: Family in Transition"
Little Miss Westie profiles the McCarthy family during one of the most troubling times for families with transgender children. Chris and Shelley McCarthy are parents to not one but two transgender children, Ren and Luca. The film takes its title from the Little Miss Westie pageant, where Ren hopes to compete as the first transgender girl. Besides this, the film focuses on the family at a time when they are dealing with so many changes. …
"DOC NYC 2018: Little Miss Westie profiles Trans Siblings"
Here are some thoughts after attending a pair of Thursday night screenings during the 2018 Reeling Film Festival last night. I was there to watch Funny Story on the big screen for the first time since this year’s Slamdance Film Festival as well as the Transcending Gender shorts program. I was curious how Funny Story would play not only with an audience but watching on a screen larger than my laptop. It played especially well upon…
"Reeling 2018: Funny Story, Transcending Gender Shorts"
The Transtastic shorts program screened during Frameline on June 18, 2018, with a focus on people who are transgender and gender-nonconforming. A few prominent transgender people were front and center during the program, including actress Trace Lysette and Transparent producer Zachary Drucker. Happy Birthday, Marsha!: Written and directed by Reina Gossett and Sasha Wortzel, the narrative-documentary hybrid stars Tangerine’s Mya Taylor in the role of Marsha “Pay It No Mind” Johnson. The bulk of the short takes…
"Frameline 2018: The Transtastic Shorts"
Writer-director Marc-Antoine Lemire and actress Pascale Drevillon took the time this week to speak to Solzy at the Movies about the short film, Pre-Drink. The film will screen on Friday during the 42nd San Francisco International LGBTQ Film Festival. Thanks for joining us and congrats on Pre-Drink being selected for Frameline. Marc-Antoine Lemire: Thank you for having us! Pascale Drevillon: Thank you, we’re very happy with the film’s success so far! Where did the idea for…
"Frameline 2018: Marc-Antoine Lemire, Pascale Drevillon talk Pre-Drink"
A Kid Like Jake is a film that ought to add to the conversation about gender identity among young children. The roots of A Kid Like Jake in the theater become very clear in the final act through the performances of Claire Danes and Jim Parsons. Through Silas Howard’s direction and the camera framing of cinematographer Steven Capitano Calitri, the performances come off as theatrical rather than cinematic. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. While…
"A Kid Like Jake explores Gender Identity"