A story about the transgender experience could only come from the LGBTQ+ community, so representation and authenticity were essential in every aspect of storytelling, whether in front of the camera or behind it.

We wanted to surround this story with as many allies as possible to create a wonderfully supportive atmosphere on set. 70% of the creative and production team are LGBTQ+. They just so happen to be some of the most talented craftspeople as well.

Anti-trans hate and violence are skyrocketing globally, even in countries that pride themselves on accepting gender identities. Recently, 2 provinces in Canada have passed legislation that discriminates against trans youth. 15% of total hate crimes reported in Canada were anti-LGBTQ+ related. And 70% of trans youth report experiencing some form of sexual harassment or violence.

White Ribbon is a global organization with a mission to end gender-based violence and promote healthier forms of masculinity. This year, they wanted to talk about other issues that intersect with typical notions of gender-based violence.

We follow a young woman as she embraces the beginning of her new life as openly trans and navigates the challenges that ensue.

White Ribbon’s focus has always been the elimination of gender-based violence, but this issue intersects with many other problematic attitudes and behaviors when it comes to gender. One of the most prominent is transphobia.

White Ribbon usually targets men of all ages, but we needed this campaign to reach an even-broader audience: anyone in society who fails to understand the gravity of violence against transgender people.

Since authenticity was key, we had to find trans and non-binary actors who could draw from their own experiences to deliver performances that felt honest, raw, and nuanced. We held casting sessions with actors and non-actors in Toronto, New York, and Vancouver, and even used our own personal networks on social media to spread the casting call.