Roxanne, the Movie.
No one will deny that we live within a patriarchal society that is still struggling to recognise that just over 50% of its community hold the same value as the rest.
Men inform every aspect of the social order, holding more wealth, more economic power, more seats in government and are the primary lawmakers.
Since the mid
nineteenth century, women have fought to gain equal recognition, both on
societal and personal levels, but for some, this battle is even greater, one
that is being fought within their own bodies.
These are a group of women who
not only live within a male dominated world, but whose own bodies inform our
society that they are primarily male.
The Trans or gender queer community are
marginalised on every level, being seen as a travesty of nature, being neither
male nor female. They are viewed by many as a sight of conflict, threatening
male dominance by subjugating to the female form and deconstructing male
supremacy.
These women have a deep inner consciousness that is female
in origin, an inner knowledge of their female sexuality and gender, with their
bodies being a surface on which they crave to write their identities. Our
so-called liberal society still focuses on the male loss, that of the
all-important phallus, never seeing the feminine gain, the complete and whole
woman.
This struggle for identity, acceptance and recognition is a
constant battle for the Trans woman, leading to isolation, misogynistic taunts
and rejection from the very communities and families they strive to be a part
off. It is this personal battle that leads many to misery and financial
hardship, with the only work they can find being within the sex industry, where
they still suffer the taunts of freakdom.
Depression and isolation are the major focus of a new short
film by acclaimed writer and director Paul Frankl, with the script
focusing on a M2F Trans sex worker. The film, whose title is the name of the
woman whose story it follows, Roxanne, shines the spotlight on the
depression, marginalisation and exclusion of a woman forced to occupy a place
in an unforgiving and prejudiced society. Following a chance meeting with a
young abandoned girl, we get a glimpse of the woman Roxanne could become,
breaking down the walls she has built around her.
A movie partially funded by the
public, Roxanne is set to challenge the de humanising of both the Trans
communities and those who suffer from the inner turmoil that isolation leads
to.
The lead role has been given to a young actor, Miss Cairo,
a performer on the cabaret and gender queer circuit, who I had the pleasure to
chat to about the project and his involvement. I was also fortunate to ask
director and writer Paul Frankl a few questions about his motives into
delving into this area of human nature and the people who he is giving a voice
to.
Paul
Frankl
You are known for shining the spotlight on ethically
focused issues, so what was it that made you point the lens towards the M2F
transgender sex industry at this moment in time?
There aren't a huge amount of films that follow trans characters,
and when they do, trans people are often represented as being defined by their
gender. I know that a large percentage of trans women end up in sex work
because of the stigma that surrounds changing gender in mainstream society, and
felt that it was a significantly true enough story that it was worth telling.
Because of these two facts, I wanted to make a film that
followed a trans sex worker, but wasn't ABOUT the fact that she is trans, or
the fact that she is a sex worker.
The story is basically about a woman who is
depressed - she is cold and cut off from the world around her, and learns to
open up when she meets a young girl who has been abandoned, and they form a
bond. The fact that she is trans, and the fact that she is a sex worker, in
reality have little to do with the plot.
Who do you see as your target audience?
I hope trans women. Also I suppose the more liberal
audiences who are somewhat knowledgable
about, or interested in transgender and genderqueer issues. Also those who are
interested in art film. Though the fact that the film focuses on Roxanne's
relationship with a young girl I hope opens it out to a wider audience as well.
Have you had any negative feedback about the project from
women in the industry or those going through the transition?
No, quite the opposite. I made a very conscious effort to
attempt to include trans women in the process of making the film. I cast from
within the trans community, I interviewed several trans women and ex-sex
workers, and also reached out to organisations that work with trans sex workers
including the Terrence Higgins Trust.
I wanted to make the film from an informed and respectful
perspective. This film is not supposed to objectify or scandilise trans sex
workers - the purpose, as I mentioned above, is to give a new voice to trans
women in film - one that does not define them by their gender alone.
I have
made several trans sex worker, and ex-sex worker friends throughout the
process, and have received positive feedback and support from all. This support
has meant a lot to me, and given me the drive to keep going.
On a financial note, were you convinced you would get the
public support with your Kick-starter campaign?
I was hopeful! We had already received 2/3rds of our funding
from a popular alcohol brand, and I believed this fact, plus the extent of mine
and my producer's networks, as well as the support of Cairo and others
involved, would help spread the word about the project.
I think it's quite clear the film is a personal passion
project that means a lot to everyone involved, and I think that helped convince
people to donate and want be a part of the journey.
Was it an easy decision to cast Pretty Miss Cairo, as
opposed to a transgender female?
I think that's a slightly misleading question. I set out to
cast from within the trans community, and everyone that I auditioned from the
role was either transsexual, transgender or gender queer. I don't believe in
defining people by their gender alone, but I wanted to find someone from within
the community I was trying to represent, for ethical reasons.
Cairo makes a career performing on the burlesque and drag
scene. S/he makes a career out of gender performance, and identifies as gender
queer rather than male or female.
He made me question my views on what
transgender is, and on gender boundaries, and I think that's only a good thing.
Just because physically he is male - why do we have to fit him into a certain
box?
I have also recently made the decision to identify as gender
queer, as I don't connect with many of the social attributes that come with the
'male' identification. In many ways, I have grown up and spent my life
identifying with what is female. As I am not physically transsexual, where does
this leave me?
I am extremely happy with the cast I have assembled
(including trans performer and activist Mzz Kimberley). Cairo is an incredible
talent and actor, and I feel is the perfect person to take on the role,
challenge our ideas about gender and deliver an emotionally rich performance.
Miss
Cairo
You are very young to take on a gritty role like that of
Roxanne, what was it about the subject matter that first drew you to the
project?
Originally when I saw the casting I rolled my eyes and
thought 'oh look, another film about a transsexual sex worker.' I then
researched the director Paul Frankl and fell in love with his work. He has such
a sensitivity which is sometimes lacking in films and although they were short
films, the depth, time and space he had achieved was phenomenal.
After speaking
with Paul about the role it was clear we were both on the same page, wanting to
humanise such a identifiable cliché. Paul's integrity, honesty and curiosity
really plays a big part in why I was drawn to this project, and also my wanting
to normalise sex work and also acknowledging that the transgender community are
real people, with real feelings and not a punch line.
Were there areas of the subject matter , for example,
marginalisation, alienation, prejudice and depression that have touched your
own life, and will therefore inform your performance?
I come from a very small town in East Anglia, and being mixed
race and gay, I really had my fair share of discrimination. I spent most of my
adolescence at secondary school being ostracised by the majority, and was
facing a lot of personal problems with family as well as my own identity.
As I
grew into a young adult, my mother, who had been diagnosed with bipolar,
committed suicide. This really brought to light my depression and self
destructive behaviour, something I've felt the character would have also been
through.
The M2F transgender sex industry isn't your run of the
mill crowd puller. What are your hopes for the reception of Roxanne? Both
within the gender queer family and general public arena?
I'm not entirely sure if I'm honest. I suppose I want it to
open people's eyes and help people understand that the transgender community go
through a lot, not only by societal pressures but also have to overcome finding
a way of feeling comfortable with them selves.
Many trans* people go in to sex
work because as it stands, there is still a lot of discrimination in the work
place. I hope that this film can really humanise the individual, creating
awareness to the viewer that they are in fact no different to trans* people.
What has been your biggest challenge in your own
preparation for the role?
To me the biggest challenge is yet to come, and that will be
when we start filming. I have some insecurities as an actor, but my challenge
will be to switch off my internal criticism and to focus fully on being within
the moment.
Although I'm fully confident in my capabilities, and I trust Paul
entirely, I still have a lot to learn about acting for screen, and it's going
to have to be something I develop on the job! It sounds more scary that it is,
but as long as I reflect on my fearlessness in my daily life, I shouldn't have
a problem!
Whilst working within the gender performance industry,
have you come across women who have direct experience of the isolation and
prejudice that haunts Roxanne?
I work within cabaret and gay circuits and they are some of
the worst breeding grounds of misogynistic attitudes.
I have had female friends
in gay clubs who have been pushed around because they don't belong in a gay
bar, even though they were queer. I see promoters and producers exploiting
women, by harassment, not paying them fairly or by using language which is
inappropriate.
So many women write on Facebook how men have harassed them on
the street, or how they have been made to feel less than human. I see
performers that unknowingly perpetuate and reinforce misogynistic attitudes.
But there is a consciousness growing amongst women at a quick rate, and I'm
ecstatic to see so many forward thinking, present women challenging these
ideas.
Roxanne was short listed for the Euroscript
competition , with Paul Frankl receiving an Honourable Mention, also
being nominated for Best Short Film Screen Play at the Norwich Film Festival
2014. Roxanne is due for release in November 2014.
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