Panel to Look at Hollywood’s Relationship with Trans Community

Student Engagement and Leadership (SEAL) and the Visual and Media Arts Department are bringing to Emerson (by way of Zoom) the director of a documentary that addresses the issue of trans representation in Hollywood.

Distinguished Artist-in-Residence P. Carl is moderating a virtual talkback about the Netflix documentary, Disclosure, on Monday, November 2, at 7:00 pm. Carl, is the author of Becoming a Man: The Story of a Transition, and he will be joined by Sam Feder, who directed Disclosure, and Jen Richards, a writer and actress featured in the documentary. 

“The documentary is a very important intervention into the conversation about transgender lives focusing on the history of trans representation in TV and film and engages a discussion around the importance of representation, the complexity of the history of depicting trans people. Impressively it included 120 trans people both behind and in front of the camera in the making of the film,” said Carl. 

Laverne Cox, Lilly Wachowski, Yance Ford, Mj Rodriguez, Jamie Clayton, and Chaz Bono, are among the featured leading trans creatives and thinkers, who shared their reactions and resistance to some of Hollywood’s most beloved moments. Movies like Dog Day Afternoon, The Crying Game, and Boys Don’t Cry, and television shows like The Jeffersons, The L-Word, and Pose, are used to follow a history that is dehumanizing, evolving, complex, and sometimes funny.

Carl said he wants to talk with Feder and Richards about the film has been received, and what conversations have ensued while touring in promotion of it.

“I want to talk about fundraising for the film, and I want to talk about the work of making more space for trans people in the arts,” said Carl. “And as it will be the night before the election, what does this election mean for the country and in this case for trans lives and how will trans voices become part of our public discourse in more powerful and visible ways.”

“SEAL is excited to be partnering with the Visual and Media Arts department and Intercultural Student Affairs to be able to provide this exciting opportunity not just for students, but the entire Emerson community,” said Jenna Coviello, SEAL program coordinator. “Representation is a very important aspect of television and film. Having this talkback gives our community an opportunity to learn more and continue to grow in making our own community inclusive of all, no matter their gender identity, race, and sexuality.

The event will be on Zoom at 7:00 pm ET. This event is opened to the Emerson community only.

If those interested in attending the talkback have not yet watched the documentary and do not have access to a Netflix account, they can email SEAL@emerson.edu for access to watch the documentary.