POPSUGAR: How did you choose the subjects for the film?
Tony Zosherafatain, director: I knew I had to find compelling characters, so after a thorough search and interview process, I chose four characters who would be in the series, along with me as the host. Jamie and I decided on the concept of me leaving NYC to meet with four trans people in some of the harshest antitrans states.
Jamie DiNicola, producer: I was like, "You know what's more interesting than just interviewing these characters? It's the fact that you, Tony, a trans guy, will be running around the most conservative parts of the country doing it." That's kind of how Tony became not only the director but another character in the series.
PS: After your successful Kickstarter campaign, you began filming. When did you shoot?
TZ: The hardest part about creating a film or series is the funding, so from there on out, we had the green light to start production. We began in early 2019 and finished just in time in December 2019, right before the pandemic began.
PS: How did you build your team of producers, directors, editors, and consultants, including Trace Lysette and Miss Major Griffin-Gracy(!)?
JD: We were working out of a tiny coffee shop in Bushwick when we interviewed our incredible director of photography, Leroy Farrell. It kind of just took off from there. Because of some earlier branded work that I had done with REI, I had strong connections with DPs, PAs, editors, etc. Once Leroy was hired, he recommended a bunch of good sound mixers, editors, and other team members.
TZ: Jamie and I knew we wanted to hire a talented team but also people who understood the social issues raised in the series. Miss Major was on board since 2017, when she was part of our concept trailer for our Kickstarter. She's such an icon and has been working for trans rights since Stonewall. Trace Lysette signed onto the series in 2020 at just the right time, since it was during the period of no production happening in Hollywood, and we could thoroughly delve into the project together. Later on, we also signed Chella Man, an amazing activist, actor, and model, who is really pushing forward trans and disability rights. They're all moving the trans community forward in so many different ways.
