We Are On Our Way To The Oscars!

How many times have you heard me say it is about time that trans people have parts of trans people in the media, but not only play parts for trans people but parts for cis-gender roles. Well it is happening,

Oscars 2018: Transgender Artists and Stories Earn Historic Nominations for ‘Strong Island’ and ‘A Fantastic Woman’
In a watershed year for representation, Yance Ford is the first transgender director of an Oscar-nominated film.
Indie Wire
By Jude Dry
January 23, 2018

Tuesday morning’s Academy Award nominations included several historic nomination for women and people of color, including Rachel Morrison, Jordan Peele, and Greta Gerwig. However, the biggest victory may belong to the transgender representation of two smaller films, Best Documentary nominee “Strong Island” and Best Foreign Film nominee “A Fantastic Woman.”

With Yance Ford’s “Strong Island,” a powerful and deeply personal film about the murder of Ford’s brother, he became the first transgender director of an Oscar-nominated film. After many years producing documentaries, “Strong Island” is Ford’s first feature-length film.

“A Fantastic Woman” stars Chilean transgender actress Daniela Vega, and the significance of her casting cannot be overstated; playing trans has long been a one-way ticket to Oscar glory for cisgender actors like Jared Leto and Hillary Swank. Transgender advocates decry such performances as treating trans identity as nothing more than a good makeup job, contributing to the discrimination and violence trans people regularly experience. Vega is the heart and soul of the film, and even though she was not nominated for her performance, her work is recognized with the movie’s nomination.

The article goes on to point out that there have been other trans people who have been nominated for Oscars, song writers, producers, and other behind the scenes personnel have been up for an Oscar. The first trans people that comes to mind are Wachowski sisters.

“A Fantastic Woman” is entirely about transgender narratives, but transcends cliché as effortlessly as Marina (Vega) serenades her lover Orlando (Francisco Reyes). The second in a trifecta of films about women from “Gloria” director Sebastian Lelio, “A Fantastic Woman” places Marina at the center of her narrative. The first act delivers a touching romance between Marina and Orlando, making it all the more heartbreaking when he dies in her arms. As Marina contends with Orlando’s family, most of whom would like her to quietly go away, she must fight for her right to mourn the man she loved.

We are starting to get our foot in the door, but there is still a long, long way to go. But we have the talent out there just waiting to be picked.

One hot talent that is starting to get recognized is Rachel Crowl because of her part in the acclaimed independent movie “And Then There Was Eve.” Then there are actors such as Candis Cayne, Laverne Cox, Alexandra Billings, Rebecca Root, and Michelle Hendley who have already stared in independent movies that are just waiting for more roles.

Let’s stop transface.