Directed by Michelle Ann Farrell & Dan Shaffer
(TRT - 79 minutes)
Not your average Joe
Synopsis:About the production
Prominent East Coast independent filmmaker and seemingly consummate "guy's guy" Joe O'Ferrell has something to tell the people around him. Loading up his cameras in order to catch it all on tape, Joe turns to his crew and matter-of-factly reveals to them that he'd led a secret life as a woman on numerous occasions throughout his life and that he now intends to become a woman, full-time.
Thus the journey begins as Joe - who would soon change his name to Michelle Ann Farrell - prepares to undergo the first of a series of feminizing surgeries and treatments to transform his body into that of an attractive woman. Michelle quickly realizes that the physical alterations can be all but a piece of cake compared to the momentous task of re-introducing herself as her feminine persona to everyone she knows - including those people who have come to identify her for sometimes decades as a son, buddy, talented cinematographer, national hockey champion, and ultimately a male role model, who out of the very depths of a life mired in drugs, made something much more of his life.
"Unraveling Michelle," the feature-length documentary, delves head-first into the gender-bending highs and lows of Michelle's male to female metamorphosis through the eyes of Michelle and those who've been closest to her during the process. The documentary tenaciously captures the range of reactions of those in Michelle's personal and professional lives as they get to know the person they had known for years - all over again. Michelle's well-rounded, sense of self-described "stupid, quirky" humor helps the film not take itself so seriously, as Michelle pokes fun at herself, the process, and sometimes the crew.
While the crew follows Michelle every step of the way, they regularly turn the cameras on themselves to give their own raw, honest opinions on the transition and how it comes to affect their own lives. As months go by, the friendships and professional relationships between Michelle and her crew are eventually put to the test, as the documentary depicts the unfolding stories of those who grow closer to her along the way as well as those who ultimately can no longer handle Joe as Michelle.
But by the time Michelle comes to the end of her first year in transition, she along with the people who have stayed by her side sense there's a "rightness" of Michelle being Michelle. Showing Michelle as she starts down the path toward her own long-awaited self-fulfillment, "Unraveling Michelle" is a film that's uplifting and inspiring to anyone who is someone - or knows someone - who struggles with simply surviving in their own skin.
Directed by Michelle Ann Farrell & Dan Shaffer
Produced by Michelle Ann Farrell
83 minutes, Documentary, Color
Produced in the USA
Contact:
Michelle Ann Farrell
410-440-1451
CAST & CREW
DIRECTOR: Michelle Ann Farrell & Dan Shaffer
CAST: Greg Miller, John Poague, Michelle Ann Farrell
PRODUCER: Michelle Ann Farrell
CINEMATOGRAPHERS: Andrew Sadtler, Craig Herron, Dan Shaffer, Eric Stillions, Greg Miller, Michelle Ann Farrell
COMPOSER: (score consists of original music provided by Lauren Young, Studio Unknown and different artists)
FESTIVALS, SCREENINGS & AWARDS
BEST BIOGRAPHICAL DOCUMENTARY
First Glance Film Festival Philadelphia, 2008
BEST LOCAL FILM
Artsfest Film Festival, 2008
BEST ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLE DOCUMENTARY
New York International Independent Film & Video Festival, 2008
BRONZE AWARD
TIVA-DC Peer Awards, 2008
Official selection – Programmer Favorites
"Engaging, quirky, and refreshingly honest."
Nik Redman, Programming Committee
19th Annual Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film and Video Festival 2009
Official selection
Reel Affirmations Film Festival, 2009
Official selection
17th Mix Brasil Film Festival of Sexual Diversity, 2009
Official selection
Chashama Film Festival NY, 2009
Official selection
Out on Film Atlanta, 2009
Official selection
Translations: Seattle Transgender Film Festival, 2009
Official selection
Rosebud Film Festival, 2008
Official selection
DC Independent Film Festival, 2008
Special One Night screening
Rainbow Resort in the Poconos 2009
Special One Night screening
Long Island LGBT Film Festival, 2009
Docs-In-Progress, 2008
SYNOPSES & INFORMATION PRODUCTION COMPANIES:
Absolute Independent Pictures
Tough City Bitch Productions
WEBSITE: www.unravelingmichelle.com
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1210115/
TAGLINE:
Not your average Joe.
SHORT SYNOPSIS:
For years successful filmmaker Joe O'Ferrell has kept his double life as Michelle a secret to
all but three people. We observe Joe as he comes to the momentous decision to reveal his
secret first to his friends and family, and then to the world as he makes the transition from
boy, to girl, from Joe to Michelle. As the persona of Joe slowly fades away and is replaced by
Michelle, how will her family, friends and co-workers react? Will she still be able to find
work as a filmmaker or will prejudice and fear sabotage her hopes and everything she holds
dear?
LONG SYNOPSIS:
Prominent East Coast independent filmmaker and seemingly consummate "guy's guy" Joe
O'Ferrell has something to tell the people around him. Loading up his cameras in order to
catch it all on tape, Joe turns to his crew and matter-of-factly reveals to them that he'd led a
secret life as a woman on numerous occasions throughout his life and that he now intends to
become a woman, full-time.
Thus the journey begins as Joe - who would soon change his name to Michelle Ann Farrell -
prepares to undergo the first of a series of feminizing surgeries and treatments to transform
his body into that of an attractive woman. Michelle quickly realizes that the physical
alterations can be all but a piece of cake compared to the momentous task of re-introducing
herself as her feminine persona to everyone she knows - including those people who have
come to identify her for sometimes decades as a son, buddy, talented cinematographer,
national hockey champion, and ultimately a male role model, who out of the very depths of a
life mired in drugs, made something much more of his life.
"Unraveling Michelle," the feature-length documentary, delves head-first into the genderbending
highs and lows of Michelle's male to female metamorphosis through the eyes of
Michelle and those who've been closest to her during the process.
The documentary tenaciously captures the range of reactions of those in Michelle's personal and
professional lives as they get to know the person they had known for years - all over again. Michelle's
well-rounded, sense of self-described "stupid, quirky" humor helps the film not take itself so
seriously, as Michelle pokes fun at herself, the process, and sometimes the crew.
While the crew follows Michelle every step of the way, they regularly turn the cameras on
themselves to give their own raw, honest opinions on the transition and how it comes to
affect their own lives. As months go by, the friendships and professional relationships
between Michelle and her crew are eventually put to the test, as the documentary depicts the
unfolding stories of those who grow closer to her along the way as well as those who
ultimately can no longer handle Joe as Michelle.
But by the time Michelle comes to the end of her first year in transition, she along with the
people who have stayed by her side sense there's a "rightness" of Michelle being Michelle.
Showing Michelle as she starts down the path toward her own long-awaited self-fulfillment,
"Unraveling Michelle" is a film that's uplifting and inspiring to anyone who is someone - or
knows someone - who struggles with simply surviving in their own skin.
For more information,
Please contact:
Michelle Ann Farrell
410 410- 440-1451
A Tough City Bitch Production
© 2008 Absolute Independent Pictures
