UPDATED RESEARCH-INTERVIEWS

I interviewed queer students who gave us an insight into being queer in high school.

Alexis is genderqueer, Nate is FTM transgender, and Candice is a lesbian.

ALEXIS

Q: What is it like being genderqueer?

A: Complicated for others, easier for me. I understand myself, it's harder to deal with the lack of acceptance and understanding from others. The most frustrating part is people's lack of willingness to learn or hear me out.

Q: How do you go about your relationship with Nate?

I've been dating Nate a long time, and when I first met him I wasn't sure about my gender or sexuality. I hadn't thought about it. I was really confused, but finally realized that I liked him. I realized that gender isn't as rigid and black and white as we think it is, and that allowed me to open up and learn more about myself. Sometimes I feel more masculine, sometimes more feminine, so Nate just calls me his "goyfriend", a mixture of girl and boyfriend. It's easier that way, and it's cute and clever. 

NATE:

Q: What's the hardest part about being transgender in a high school?

A: How much my biological sex comes up on a daily basis. Having to write my name on papers, fill out forms, getting called on by unsupportive teachers who use my birth name. The weird stares I get and the whispers. Getting misgendered every day.

Q: What keeps you going?

A: Most of my friends are queer themselves, so I have a support group with me all day long. We all take care of each other. 

CANDICE

Q: How do you deal with not knowing if a girl you're interested is attracted to girls or not?

A: I am really open about my sexuality, so most girls know that I am gay already, or it comes up. Usually this leads to them opening up about their sexuality as well. It's all about communication, I speak up and the person speaks back.

Q: Have you ever had a problem with someone at school in terms of your sexuality?

A: Never directly, i'm sure people say things behind my back. I think my confidence scares them so I never receive direct abuse or bullying. The things that affect me is the general stuff, when I overhear people making homophobic remarks and stuff.

CRITICAL REFLECTION PODCAST week 6 post 3

My Podcast Site › Embed Code — Podbean

Week 6 post 2

Here is our short film.
Crooked Teeth

https://youtu.be/zRL5fCI3pFk

Week 6 post 1

We finished filming. Our project is a big step for LGBTQ+ representation because typically the lgbt+ character is the "best friend" or the stock character. However in this film, the main character is the lgbt+ character. Also, she is a lesbian and she is not hypersexualized. Through our research we learned the stereotypes that are portrayed through lgbt+ representation, so we aimed to give our character a realistic personality.
We have permission to the song used in our film, as proved here:

Filming was extremely stressful, we didn't get all the shots we needed so it made it extremely difficult to put something together. We should've prepared better. The script was way too long we had to cut so much out so it was pretty choppy and i'm pretty disappointed. Editing is painful and also very stressful. I think our film covered a topic that's not much covered in media; the struggle of wondering if the person a gay person likes is straight or not. People don't usually wear signs around their necks stating their sexuality, and some people aren't even sure of their sexuality, so it's a difficult thing. It can be awkward or even dangerous. So this is a serious situation that is made into a humorous and light hearted short film in order to display a real experience for lgbt+ teens in a playful way. It definitely challenges the conventional media. It also shows a healthy lgbt+ teen who is not depressed. It's unconventional to see a confident queer teen in media. 

Week 5 post 2

I've been finalizing all the plans and making sure everything is confirmed and finalized and perfect. I am a little nervous that we are behind. The actor I want to play Wes isn't comfortable wearing lipstick which bums me out, but I don't know who else to ask to be in the film and I really want this actor. It's frustrating. So, I had to rewrite the script to take that part out. I am beginning to work on the reflection assignment in the form of a prezi.

Week 5 Post 1

 I AM VERY EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE FINALLY FINISHED THE SCRIPT. It was scary to tell my partner that I pulled a jerk-move and changed the plot, characters, and basically everything without her permission. BUT, I cannot write about an abusive relationship. I have no motivation to do so. SO, I wrote about something I am VERY passionate about! LGBTQ+ stuff! And, I am really proud of what I came up with. I found the actors to play the roles and I will be playing Julia. I got permission to use a song that fits perfectly with what we want to do, and we have filming dates planned and everything planned out and i'm very excited.






 THIS IS THE FINAL SCRIPT:


opening: pulling teeth song while she is in her pajamas waking up getting out of bed, she sits at her desk and writes our names and stuff on a letter,

monologue internally while kit is getting dressed: Julia Edwards, her teeth are crooked,   her breath always smells like soup, and the size of her backpack makes 6th graders look normal. I’m totally into it.   She isn’t completely horrible.
There are some things I like about Julia, for instance, she’s a girl. And one time she touched my arm by accident in fifth period and I peed my pants a little but it didn't even bother me. And if that isn’t romance, I don’t know what is.

You see, i'm gay. You know, queer. A lipstick lesbian. And Julia, she's straight. You know, hetero. You know, plays for the other team? I mentioned that her breath smelled like soup, right? Well, Her hair smells like chicken. I don’t know what kind of shampoo and toothpaste she uses, but my guess is that they’re edible. And if I were to lay on a couch with her, watching some cheesy chick flick, I’d probably end up with some chicken soup, if you know what I mean.
So that’s what I call her, chicken soup. She probably calls me that weird lesbian who sits behind her in 5 th period, and if that’s true, well at least,   at least she calls me something.

Kit gets ready to walk out the door and tucks the letter under her bed: So, here I am, wondering if i'm ever going to get the courage to give her this dumb love letter.


-switch to hallway scene-
Wes: You just have to be straight up with her.
Kit: I’m gay
Wes: Thank you
Kit: I just need a way to be like “hey you’re pretty!” but I need to let her know I mean it in like, a gay way.
Wes: I got it! Say “wow you look so pretty today!” then be like “no homo. just kidding, super homo!”
Kit: Next time you have an idea, think about the idea, consider if it is worth saying, and then even if you think it is worth saying, don’t say it.
Wes: You’re such a supportive friend
Kit: How'd your day go? Your lipstick is powerful enough to lead an army by the way
Wes: Uh, I’m okay. Some dude shoved me in the halls and called me a fag for wearing lipstick
Kit: What'd you say?
Wes: does that cough thing ppl do before they say something important
" YOURE JUST MAD CAUSE I LOOK BETTER IN LIPSTICK THAN YOUR GIRLFRIEND”
Kit:  I wish people would understand that just because you wear lipstick it doesn't mean your gay. You just look awesome.
Wes: Dude, it's her.
Kit: Who?
Wes: *whispers* Chicken Soup
Kit: Oh SnAPPLE
*approaches julia*
Kit: Julia! Do you have the notes? I wasn’t paying attention
Julia: Uh, yeah, I gotta meet someone for lunch though, can I give them to you tomorrow?
Wes: Why don’t you just text them to her?
Julia: Oh yeah. Here, type your info in! hands kit her phone
Kit gives wes a look
Kit: There ya go, I wrote kit kat as my name because my name is Kit, and I really like kit kats
Julia: I know
Kit: You know?
Julia: Yeah, you always leave the wrappers on the floor
Kit: oh, right, right. *awkward and somewhat staring at julia*
Wes: Well anyway, see ya later Julia starts to walk away
Julia: bye!
Kit: WES! what the heck did you make us leave for? We were totally having a moment
Wes: You were staring and you needed to seem cool and casual, and dude, clean up your wrappers! She’s a neat freak, there’s no way she’s into that!
Kit: Are you kidding? Did you see the size of her backpack? She probably has a vacumn cleaner in there. We’re perfect for each other.

Week four post 2

My biggest issue right now is trying to find music. I don't like any of the copyright free music i've found online and no local artists are answering my messages about working on something for this project. I've been spending spring break thinking about places we can shoot and working on finalizing and editing different versions of the script, I am waiting for feedback from my partner who is out and about during her spring break. I am a bit nervous about the sudden change of topic and storyline and genre. I am also nervous about how different this film would be, considering the surplus of LGBT+ characters and topics, which is absolutely unconventional. But that also excites me.