Wicked Queer - SHE
SHE follows Tanesh Nutall, black Transgender woman from Rahway, NJ, who was dismissed from using a woman's restroom in downtown San Francisco. In addition, Tanesh revisits her family after not seeing them for 20+ years as a transgender woman.
Interview with Director/Producer Anthonia Onyejekwe
Main image: Tanesh is sitting with her lawyer and she is ready to start the court case process.
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I produced SHE for several reasons; one of them is the lack of positive representation of black transgender women in media. In addition, I produced this documentary because of the importance of developing gender neutral restrooms for folks to feel comfortable using a bathroom.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
As an audience member, I highly suggest viewing SHE with an open mind and heart. I hope audiences are able to seek understanding and perspective of what it means to be a black transgender woman in the Bay Area.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Being a black woman, I feel that it is important to tell stories from within the black community because it is so complex and layered. Producing SHE was rewarding because most folks within the black community are blinded by the realities of being a transgender person in the Bay Area. This documentary allowed them to get a glimpse of their struggles and the fight for justice they continually seek. In addition, it was important to produce this documentary because of the alarming rates of black transgender women who are being murdered without full media coverage.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Initially the film was going to be about Tanesh being a transgender minister at her church, but when the case occurred we had to switch gears.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The type of feedback I've received from the film thus far has been positive and encouraging. Most viewers are shocked that injustice among the LGBTQ community exists in San Francisco. Therefore, this documentary gives them a glimpse into the realities of being a black transgender person living in the Bay Area.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The feedback from straight viewers about SHE has surprised me the most. I was surprised that they resonated so well with her story and even connected with Tanesh too.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I want readers to be curious and interested in knowing more about Tanesh's story and how they can get involved to become an ally for the transgender community.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I want film festival directors and journalists to come on board with the documentary, so we can continue to shed light on the issues surrounding the transgender community.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I want viewers to understand that black transgender women suffer from all sorts of discrimination that goes under the radar. I want viewers to relate to Tanesh's desire to be accepted and loved by her family regardless of gender, sexuality and identity.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
SHE sparks several debates about queer folks in urban spaces, identity within the family structure, family acceptance, and issues surrounding the gender specific restrooms.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Currently, I am working on a documentary about a missing young woman from the St. Louis, MO Area who vanished over 5 years ago. This young woman is among the many black women who go missing with little to no media attention. This documentary highlights the importance of media attention for missing black men and women and the search for the subject's whereabouts.
Interview: March 2018
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTIAQ+, scifi, 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
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SHE
SHE follows Tanesh Nutall, black Transgender woman from Rahway, NJ, who was dismissed from using a woman's restroom in downtown San Francisco. In addition, Tanesh revisits her family after not seeing them for 20+ years as a transgender woman.
Length: 14mins 35sec
Director: Anthonia Onyejekwe
Producer: Anthonia Onyejekwe
Cinematographer: Anthonia Onyejekwe & Alexander Zane Irwin
About the writer, director and producer:
Anthonia Onyejekwe is a Nigerian-American filmmaker from the Bay Area. She has produced content for small and large scale production studios across the Bay Area and directed documentaries that are being screened globally. Anthonia obtained her B.A in Media and Cultural Studies at UC Riverside and M.F.A. in Cinema at San Francisco State University. Aside from production, she is the founder of a youth film program called Reel Oakland for high schoolers in the Bay Area.
Key cast: Tanesh Watson-Nutall and Pierre Nutall
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists):
Instagram: ahhtonia
Funders: San Francisco State University (In-Kind film equipment)
Made in association with: Onyeproductions & San Francisco State University