Web Series on Being HIV-Positive Created by Alumnus

The cast and crew of Unsure/Positive shoot scenes in Boston.

World AIDS Day will be marked by one alumnus who has created a web series about a young man who has just learned that he is HIV-positive.  

The first season of Unsure/Positive will be released on December 1 (World AIDS Day) by independent producer Christian Kiley, MFA ’15.

The series tells the story of Kieran and the stigma that plagues him in light of his diagnosis. Kieran’s personal journey toward self-acceptance is a difficult one—mostly because he cannot find the courage to tell anyone about his status.

“Most AIDS narratives in media traditionally tend to treat HIV positive people as the ‘other,’ and usually include the inevitable death of poz characters,” said Kiley. “My story is about

Christian Kiley, MFA '15

what it is like to be diagnosed, what it is like to deal with that information today. Recently, celebrities like Charlie Sheen and Danny Pintuaro have come out of the HIV closet, but this story is different. It’s not about bravery and honesty in the limelight, but rather the phenomenal courage and confidence it takes to come out for the vast majority of HIV positive people. They deal with problems like getting a job, keeping a job, finding health coverage, dating, disclosure, and explaining what ‘undetectable’ means to a friend or family member.”

The producing team behind Unsure/Positive is Kiley, Amy DePaola of Greenview Entertainment, and Rose Ellen McCaig of Pretty Strong Girl Productions.

Unsure/Positive was produced in cooperation with the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, and a feature-length version originally fulfilled the requirements of Kiley’s MFA in Media Art at Emerson College.

On Tuesday, December 8, Kiley will attend the 33rd Annual Caucus Awards in Hollywood, where Unsure/Positive is nominated for the Golden Circle Award, which celebrates and supports underrepresented minority voices in the entertainment industry.