Skin
Skin is a poetic exploration of identity and self-discovery, using visual symbolism to depict a woman's transformation into a man. With the help of her inner manifestation, the ice man, she sheds her old skin and embraces her true identity.
Interview with Writer/Director Leo Behrens and Producer Ilayda Cetinkaya
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
LEO: Skin draws inspiration from my personal journey transitioning from female to male, aiming to capture the internal emotions, struggles, and relief of going through this experience. I wanted to shed light on this topic, showing the beauty of becoming yourself. Using abstraction and symbolism, the film externalizes an internal journey, symbolized by shedding one's skin to embrace who you truly are on the inside. We humans use words to communicate what we think and feel, and purposely hold back what we don’t want to share. But there’s a whole world that goes on inside of us. With Skin I could show, instead of tell, how it felt like. Taking on the role of the writer, director, and cinematographer was crucial for ensuring the clarity and continuity of the vision from inception to completion. Taking on multiple roles was a deliberate choice to maintain the vision, especially since this was such a personal story.
ILAYDA: When Leo pitched the idea, it immediately resonated with me, portraying gender transition while tapping into the theme of shedding layers to embrace one's true self. We'd been together for over a year, and I understood the emotional weight behind this film. Despite the ambitious scope and demanding preparation, I believed Leo was the perfect storyteller for this film and I aimed to create a supportive space for him.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
LEO: I aspire to evoke introspective questions from the audience while offering a perspective that fosters compassion for this journey. The main character confronts a neglected aspect of themselves, a universal struggle I believe resonates with each of us to some degree. With Skin, I aim to stir deeper emotions, inviting viewers to listen to the subtle whispers within themselves, and encouraging a more introspective dialogue. Through the narrative, the film seeks to captivate not only on a surface level but also to prompt a deeper exploration of the self. The visuals and symbolism contribute to the film's overall richness, creating a wholesome journey that takes the audience on a unique experience, all without dialogue.
ILAYDA: There are several movies addressing coming out and transitioning, yet Skin provides an emotionally evocative perspective on this transformative journey. I aspire for audiences to feel liberated from societal expectations, breaking free from predefined identity notions. Having been born and raised in the Middle East, I've witnessed many older individuals who regret authentically living their truth, choosing to conform for the sake of societal acceptance instead.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
LEO: Skin is, in many ways, a deeply personal narrative rooted in my transitioning journey. However, its thematic resonance extends universally. The film explores the familiar experience of suppressing aspects of ourselves, either to conform or out of fear of the unknown. Instead of embracing these facets of our identity, we often push them away, constraining ourselves to avoid self-confrontation. Skin confronts these internal struggles, as well as showing us that letting go of control will set us free.
ILAYDA: Beyond its external journey, Skin explores the core of the human experience, making it more than just a story about gender transition; it becomes a relatable exploration of identity. The absence of dialogue in our film, combined with visual elements crafting an intentional world amplifies Skin's universality. Unlike realistic films that lean on existing understanding to interpret the world, we invite the audience to explore and discover. Skin doesn't tether itself to a particular time, place, age, or culture; rather, its essence lies in the universal theme of authenticity and self-realization.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
LEO: I didn't impose any restrictions on the writing process; I aimed to create freely and then evaluate the feasibility of my ideas in real life, considering the constraints of our limited time and budget. We encountered numerous challenges, such as creating the ice and snow, the ice case, the mirror scenes, makeup and fake skin, as well as managing a body double (Lio Mehiel played both characters) and the limitations of shooting on 35mm film. Although the plan seemed straightforward on paper, execution was far from easy. While I anticipated adjustments to some elements during prep, thanks to my dedicated core team and my producer and partner Ilayda, we overcame these challenges and successfully pulled it off. Our talented production designer, Mojo Wen, and makeup artist Shy Elizabeth played a crucial role in bringing the vision to life, doing an extraordinary job.
ILAYDA: What's intriguing is that the moment Leo conceived this idea, he had a solid grasp of the story and its world. The final movie remains 99% faithful to the script. Throughout the development process, our emphasis was on refining the details, ensuring that the world we crafted mirrors the characters' inner experiences, with each scene offering a fresh insight and the narrative unfolding seamlessly for viewers.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
LEO: We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with people appreciating various aspects of the film. Some are captivated by the visuals, while others are moved to tears by the deeply touching story. There are those who admire the music, and some are drawn to the world-building, production design, and cinematography. For others, it's the combination of all these elements. While I knew I was creating something unique and special, I couldn't have anticipated the profound impact our film would have on so many. I have had young queer filmmakers thanking me for inspiring them and providing representation, as well as 80-90-year-old filmmakers shedding a tear on my shoulder, moved by the universality of the human experience portrayed. It's truly rewarding for a filmmaker to witness how many people resonate with such a personal story.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
LEO: We received a lot of feedback after our film won the Gold Medal at The Student Academy Awards, was an AFI Grand Jury Awards Nominee, and screened at GLAFF. It's always interesting to hear others' perspectives and perceptions of the film, as everyone brings their unique understanding and journey to watching it. However, what's fascinating is that despite the nuances, everyone we've talked to has arrived at the same conclusion regarding the film's theme and story. While there are some subtleties, the core message is consistently perceived. You never really know if people will grasp the underlying message or what you intend to convey with your film, so this has been a pleasant surprise. Winning a Student Oscar indicates that we did something right, touching the hearts of Academy members. It also signifies a place for trans stories in today's film industry.
ILAYDA: It's an incredible honor to be acknowledged by the Academy, but what surprised me is how many young queer filmmakers were inspired by our achievement. While I have always identified with the LGBTQIA+ community, the more movies I create to amplify their voices, the stronger my connection becomes to the mission of providing a platform for unique perspectives!
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
LEO: As a trans filmmaker and advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community, I believe it's crucial for films like these to gain visibility. While the topic of trans experiences is on the rise, there's still progress to be made. In today's world, we often find ourselves in a superficial era, collectively focusing on external factors, comparing ourselves to others, and striving to fit in, rather than turning inward to explore and embrace our truest selves. With Skin, I hope to inspire, uplift, and raise awareness about the internal processes and the beauty of transitioning, or encourage individuals to embrace their authentic selves irrespective of gender.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
LEO: As winners of the Student Oscars, Skin is now Oscar-qualified for the 96th Academy Awards in the Live Action category, accessible on the Academy’s screening platform. Amidst our Oscars Campaign, we are actively seeking journalists and press coverage. This effort goes beyond promoting Skin; our success aims to inspire change, amplify minority voices, and offer hope to those grappling with their identity. The recognition of Skin serves a greater cause.
If we get shortlisted for an Oscar, we will be seeking a queer Executive Producer who wishes to contribute to our journey toward an Oscar nomination. As we just started our festival run, we are eager to connect with film festival directors. Looking ahead, upon completion of our festival run next year, we will be actively pursuing distribution opportunities.
ILAYDA: I truly believe that any distributor, publicist, producer, or festival programmer who understands the crucial importance of such stories and diverse voices, both on and off the screen, will support us in our mission.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
LEO: It's the first time an openly trans filmmaker has won a Student Academy Award with a trans story and a trans actor. I hope we can keep making waves with our film, our success, and our story—shaking things up a bit and creating history with our unique film and dedicated team. I aspire for the film and our team to inspire everyone to embrace authenticity and be truer to themselves and others. Additionally, I aim to encourage LGBTQ+ filmmakers to believe in themselves and dare to be ambitious, regardless of their field of work.
ILAYDA: Even though Skin is more of an alternative film with a clear narrative, I hope that filmmakers who share the same goals and passion will see our intentions. Most of our upcoming scripts are narrative screenplays with imaginative visual worlds that externalize the characters’ headspace. We’d like this film to lead us to like-minded filmmakers and creatives who aspire to make similar stories.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
LEO: Who would you be if no one could ever judge you for how you express yourself? Are there parts of yourself you are overlooking or suppressing? Are you truly honest and authentic with yourself?
ILAYDA: Are you willing to take the risk of getting to know yourself?
Would you like to add anything else?
LEO: Collaborating so closely with your partner on a film can be intimidating because you don't know if you work well together until you try. Bringing Ilayda on as my producer was the best decision I made. We worked seamlessly together, and we have decided to continue collaborating on other projects. Not only that, but being able to share the success that has come with Skin as a couple, attending festivals, and receiving the award at the Student Oscars has been invaluable.
ILAYDA: I agree. It's incredible to jointly experience such a memorable success in our careers and to draw inspiration from this journey to continue writing and producing more films together. In addition to Leo and me, our Production Designer, Mojo Wen, has been an exceptional collaborator throughout every stage of Skin. She shared the same passion with us, elevated the visual elements, and executed a 3-week-long build with such a small crew, making it appear effortless. When you create with people you love, and you share the same commitment, the energy shifts in a way that the work becomes energizing.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
LEO: Thanks to our successful collaboration, Ilayda and I are currently developing several short films, TV show concepts, and feature films that we hope to produce or secure funding for within the next year or so. Additionally, I will be working as a cinematographer on two feature films and two short films in the first half of 2024.
ILAYDA: I’m attached to two feature films and three short films as a Producer, apart from the projects I am developing with Leo.
Interview: November 2023
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
Skin
Skin is a poetic exploration of identity and self-discovery, using visual symbolism to depict a woman's transformation into a man. With the help of her inner manifestation, the ice man, she sheds her old skin and embraces her true identity.
Length: 7:01
Director: Leo Behrens
Producer: Ilayda Cetinkaya
Writer: Leo Behrens
About the writer, director and producer:
LEO BEHRENS is an award-winning trans director and cinematographer based in Los Angeles. In 2023, he earned his cinematography degree from the American Film Institute Conservatory. Leo is the writer, director, and cinematographer of the short film Skin, which won the Gold Medal at the 2023 Student Academy Awards. He was selected for The ASC Vision Mentorship Program 2023, and The Gold Alumni Mentorship through The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences 2023.
ILAYDA CETINKAYA, an award-winning producer, earned the 2023 Student Academy Gold Medal for her film Skin and is a recent Producing MFA graduate from AFI Conservatory with a Sloan grant-winning thesis film. She gained valuable industry experience through internships with companies owned by award-winning directors Oran Zegman, Alma Har'el, and Amazon's executive, Steven Prinz. Originally from Turkey, she began her journey at Idyllwild Arts Academy and completed her BFA in Film Production at Chapman.
Key cast: Lio Mehiel (Ice man/woman)
Looking for: journalists, producers, film festival directors, distributors
Instagram: @dp_leobehrens, @ilayda.cetink, @skin_shortfilm2023
Hashtags used: #skinshortfilm2023 , #skinshortfilm , #skinstudentoscars #lgbt #lgbtqfilmmakers #transfilmmaker #transfilm #trans #kodak #35mm
Website: www.leobehrens.art/skin
Other: IMDb
Funders: Self-funded, film sponsored by Kodak, equipment provided by American Film Institute
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
We are just starting our festival run. Please follow our Instagram @skin_shortfilm2023 for updates