Back here and here I wrote about the making of the movie.
There are actually two versions. The shorter one, which was presented as the piece of course work and the “Directors Cut” which includes additional footage taken at Surrey Swans.
Well … here’s the “Directors Cut” …
It’s another little piece in the jigsaw of life.
Many, many thanks to James, Sinead, Lexy, Vlad and Xander for all their hard work in putting the whole thing together.
I described the the first two days of filming here … along with how it came about and what it’s about.
The rest of the filming happened at the Surrey Swans meeting on Sunday November 24th.
The meeting was unusual in several respects.
There were over 20 people there which was great.
There were four new people – Saffy, Gina,Carole and Louise – which was fantastic. It was great to meet them.
There was also the film crew, which was unprecedented.
The crew consisted of James, Sinead, Vlad, Lexie and Xander from the University for Creative Arts, Farnham. They are making a short (5 to 7 minute) film and are including some footage from Surrey Swans.
They arrived before anyone else so that they could spend some time interviewing Mike who runs the pub where Surrey Swans meet.
At about 7:30 they dropped by the room where the Swans actually meet.
During the evening they filmed general goings on and also interviewed several volunteers.
Xander and Vlad with cameras.
Vlad lines up the shot:
Vlad, Xander, Lexie (with thumbs up) and James setting things up for an interview.
Adrianne being interviewed:
There was a band called No Lip playing in the main bar.
James asked if anyone was ok with the idea of being filmed as part of a No Lip audience. So half a dozen, or maybe more, of us spent a while tapping our feet in the bar.
No Lip in the main bar:
The crew take a break. Lexie, Sinead, Vlad and Xander.
Shooting the juke box. I think the song was Girls Night Out.
Another interview:
Farewells:
The end of the evening: Xander, Lexie, James, Andrea, Vlad and Sinead.
We’re hoping that we’ll be re-visited by the team at the end of January 2014 so they can show us the end results of all their hard work.
For me the evening was very special for several reasons.
It’s great to spend time with friends.
It’s especially great to welcome new people to meetings.
The film crew were also great. Very friendly, helpful, unobtrusive and professional in everything that they did. Fantastic.
I feel that it’s good to open up the transgendered world to help people better understand it.
And it’s my hope that the making of the film will have helped James, Sinead, Lexie, Vlad and Xander understand us a bit better.
And that it’ll also help the tutors and other students on the course in the same way when they get to see the finished product.
The trip to the main bar was also unusual. Individuals have always done this from time to time, but it was unusual for so many of the group to be there together.
Again it’s all part of the process of making it not so unusual for transgendered people, in this case mainly transvestites, to be around in ordinary everyday kind of situations with no one feeling that it’s especially weird.
As this type of thing happens more and more, society … and individuals within society … will be given a chance to re-examine their preconceived ideas and learn to accept the transgendered simply as people.
On September 24th I received an email from James, a Production student at the University for Creative Arts in Farnham.
James mentioned “My team and I have recently been given a brief which entails creating a 5-7 minute film”.
The initial idea was for a film that would be focussed mainly on the Surrey Swans. Because of difficulties in finding people that were able to participate on the dates that were available, it changed somewhat into more of something that would be about aspects of the life of a transvestite with some filming to take place at a Surrey Swans meeting.
I emailed everyone that goes along to Surrey Swans regularly to ask how they felt about the idea of a small film crew turning up. No one raised any objections. A little reticence from some. But also several people expressing really positive feelings about the concept.
Then there are emails, phone calls, a visit from James (producer) and Sinead (sound).
Risk assessment and filming consent forms get completed.
James and Sinead check that Mike, who runs the pub where Surrey Swans meets is ok with using it as a film location.
And so, at about 09:30 on the morning of Friday November 22nd, James (producer), Sinead (sound), Lexie (post production), Xander (camera) and Vlad (director) arrive.
I hope I’ve got the roles right.
They come complete with cameras, sound equipment, light reflectors and all the paperwork that goes along with shooting a film.
I’d taken a day from my annual leave and woken at the usual kind of weekday time to give me a chance to greet them as Andrea.
The transformation takes about an hour.
The makeup actually takes less than an hour. I have to spend ten to fifteen minutes face shaving.
GGs (genetic girls) don’t generally have to factor these extra 15 minutes into their plans.
I’d done the nail polish thing and the body shave the night before.
“I know that you’re already wearing nail polish, Andrea, but can we have some close-ups of you polishing your nails?”
Vlad focuses everything whilst Andrea re-applies some Rimmel Pink Amazon to a selection of fingernails as directed.
Then there’s lipstick (Maybelline 24 hour) over lipstick.
We spend a while, unsuccessfully, looking for a mirror and end up using the black mirror of a mobile phone.
And then mascara.
Two cameras are set up pointing in the direction of the armchair. Vlad positions one of them, Xander the other.
Things are adjusted to cope with the light and avoid unwanted reflections.
James sits on a chair beside the main camera with a sheaf of papers.
Sinead has the microphone which is attached to a boom.
I sit in the arm chair.
A few warm up questions from James.
Now everyone knows my name, my age and height – with and without heels.
There are quite a few questions. I occasionally ramble, I think.
I need to remember to include a paraphrase of the question in the answer. And to wait three seconds before answering.
The experience is ok for me.
I feel as though I’m talking with people rather than at a camera. It’ll be interesting to see how it actually looks.
Living in Windsor makes life more difficult than it might have been. Every 90 seconds or so an aeroplane passes overhead. The kind of thing that Sally and I never notice when we’re inside. Microphones are more sensitive, I guess.
And then … the main camera signals that its memory card is almost full.
Unfortunately, it’s not yet afternoon and there is still an awful lot of filming to do. Strange that I keep referring to “film”. There is, of course, no film involved at all.
It’s one of those technologically potentially catastrophic moments that can afflict us all from time to time.
However well we prepare, there’s always a hole waiting for us to fall into.
The camera can takes SD memory cards.
But on sliding one into the slot there doesn’t seem to be a menu option to convince the camera that it’s a good idea to use it.
It may be that one day someone will unearth this option somewhere on an obscure menu. But it would have helped a lot on the day if it was somewhere a little more in everyone’s face.
Andrea mainly sits comfortably on the armchair.
Sally is at the table working n a laptop.
Everyone else is busy working out the best way forwards.
I’m impressed that everyone is busy working out a solution rather than complaining about a problem or blaming everyone else.
Coffee and tea.
A few pone calls and Xander heads off to borrow a memory card from another team.
Everyone else tries to coax the camera into using an SD card. But it refuses to cooperate.
Phone calls.
But the camera still refuses to play ball.
There are some other shots that need to be taken using one of the other cameras.
There’s a plan to illustrate the transformation of Andy into Andrea.
The idea, I think, is that Andy does something and transmogrifies into Andrea in the process.
Wouldn’t it be cool if makeup was as easy as that?
The idea is to film the Andrea part of the activity now.
Andy can do his bit tomorrow.
So Andrea walks across the room and closes the curtains.
Several times.
Gets an item from a cupboard in the kitchen and puts it into the microwave.
Several times.
Comes in from outside and walks across the kitchen.
Yep. Several times.
These last two shots are more complex.
Vlad is outside with the camera.
The kitchen window provides a variety of unwanted reflections.
Andrea provides a black coat.
James stands beside Vlad using the coat close to the camera as a shield against the reflections.
It’s a cold day so there is some shivering.
Sticky tape gets applied to the floor to mark the spots where the camera was so that when Andy does his bit tomorrow everything will be aligned.
The camera moves. Sticky tape gets stuck.
Andrea walks out the bedroom door and down the stairs a few times.
The camera moves. More sticky tape.
Andrea walks down the stairs a few times. The camera capturing the high heeled shoes.
Here’s Lexie, Vlad, James and Sinead. I took the picture. Xander is out hunting for a memory card. The camera is pointing at where I was sitting during the interview.
The view from the interview chair – except Xander is out looking for the memory card:
Sally waits patiently for the arrival of the memory card.
Xander returns and the new memory card re-invigorates the camera.
The interview resumes.
And then it’s Sally’s turn to be interviewed.
I spend a while removing makeup.
The day ends with Andy arriving home, parking the car in the driveway and walking into the house. Four times, I think.
I have no idea what the neighbours thought was happening
And so ends Friday.
Saturday begins at about 11:15.
James, Vlad and Sinead arrive.
First on the menu is an interview with Andrea and Sally.
Then there is footage of me removing makeup in the bathroom.
Usually, before I remove makeup, I remove clothing.
On this occasion I just remove my hair.
And then the makeup.
And then the problem of the day arises.
Another shot of Andrea with Sally is needed, but Andrea has become Andy. Though Andy is still wearing a dress.
James and Vlad discuss the problem.
The problem being that it will take Andy up to an hour to become Andrea again. Well, maybe 45 minutes. But not much less.
The proposed solution … filming from the back over the shoulder of Andy complete with a dress and a wig.
The camera is set up something like this:
It’s a strange feeling. Wig without makeup. Even though I’m wearing a dress I feel strangely naked as I head downstairs.
It will be interesting to see how this turns out. Andrea from behind says hello to Sally and offers her a glass of wine.
About 5 times.
Cheers
And then the other half of the transmogrifications. I can’t believe that I spelt that word correctly first time.
Off with the heels, the wig and the dress … on with the trousers, shirt and sweater.
Off camera.
Of course.
The camera moves and Andy walks across the room and opens the curtains.
The camera moves outside.
James gets the black coat.
Vlad calls out “Action”.
Andy pops something in the microwave.
“Action.”
Andy walks through the door and across the kitchen.
The camera moves.
Andy walks out the bedroom door and down the stairs.
The camera moves again.
Andy walks up the stairs.
Just the man-shoes appearing in the shot.
Of course each activity happens several times.
Each positioning of the camera involves lining tripod legs up on pieces of yesterdays sticky tape.
Pieces of sticky tape get gradually unstuck.
And that’s it.
Well, apart from the night at the Swans.
To be continued …
Driving back from work today I was listening to the 6:00 pm news on Radio 4.
There was a story about a transsexual (female to male) in Belgian named Nathan Verhelst who was “helped to die by doctors after a series of failed sex change operations.” There’s more on the BBC web site here. There’s some more on the Daily Mail web site here and The Independent here.
I find the whole story very sad.
Reading some of the comments I find it strange how so many people want to try to fit individual unique people and circumstances into neat stereotypes. Sometimes using a single news story about a single individual to justify quite sweeping statements about entire groups of people.
It’s said that in Belgium, 2% of all deaths are now a result of euthanasia. I find that a surprisingly high number. It seems disquieting.
I’m not qualified to comment much on psychological disorders. But I find it sad to think that when faced with a person with deep problems and needs, a doctor will effectively agree that the best treatment is for the patient to die. For if the doctor didn’t agree that this was the best treatment then why would she or he help carry out the treatment?
Maybe there is a time and a place for this. But it bothers me that it could just become the easiest and lowest cost of the possible treatments.
A little while ago I was involved in conversation with a transvestite that raised some thought provoking ideas.
She seemed to feel that all transvestites are on a path that leads to a need for more and more time to be spent as a girl. Less and less as a guy.
That as time passes there’s a need to be more and more girl-like and less and less guy-like.
And that there’s an inevitability in all of this for all concerned.
As we talked I expressed my disagreement.
For myself I feel at peace with where I am at. My life is a mix of guy and girl, masculine and feminine. I don’t feel a need for the balance that there is at the moment to change.
I know that different people have different feelings and experiences. But I also know what my own are.
Actually at times all these kind of terms can get surprisingly confusing.
Girl, guy. Man, woman.Male, female.Masculine, feminine.Gender, sex. And I think that we (including myself) sometimes use some of these words interchangeably when they aren’t always quite so interchangeable.
However, having spent a little time looking around the WEB at definitions of some of these terms, there seems to be some confusion there as well.
There’s an interesting article here: Sex Difference vs. Gender Difference? Oh, I'm So Confused! – but it isn’t easy reading.
There’s an article on the UK National Health Service WEB site entitled : Gender dysphoria which also seems a little odd. It says:
Biological sex is assigned at birth, depending on the appearance of the infant. Gender identity is the gender that a person “identifies” with, or feels themselves to be.
and also says:
Gender can be defined using very narrow medical terms such as what types of chromosomes you have, or what types of genitals you were born with. However, many transsexuals (and also many experts in the treatment of gender dysphoria) find this type of narrow definition both unhelpful and offensive.
Whilst the World Health Organisation says:
"Sex" refers to the biological and physiological characteristics that define men and women.
"Gender" refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities, and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and women
My own feeling is that there is more to gender than the World Health Organisation gives credit to. And they definitely have a different understanding of the word sex than do most of the people that I know.
I have a feeling that somewhere in all of this the word psychology should also appear.
I’ve heard it said, and I think that I’ve mentioned it previously in other blog posts, that there’s a view that gender is a line that joins masculine to feminine and that different people are at different places along the line.
There are times when people feel compelled to live their lives as though they were at a position on this line that they don’t really feel that they are really at.
Sometimes even at entirely the wrong end of the line.
Also, for many, the pressure to conform to a role that is either purely masculine or purely feminine has been intense and damaging.
The good news is that the pressure is, in some places at least, lessening. People are being allowed to be themselves. There’s still a long, long way to go, but at least things are moving.
I have this feeling that there are many more than 50 shades of gender, and that they aren’t all grey.
Over the years I’ve grown to accept and, in a way, celebrate, my own gender and have been fortunate enough to have family and friends that are able to accept it as well.
I feel that my position isn’t at either end of the gender line and I’m OK with that. The makeup and feminine clothing that I wear at times is an expression of this.
Actually it’s not just about gender in the sense of socially constructed roles. Nor is it just about sex or genital surgery. It’s more about who I feel that I am. It’s an expression of myself.
I think that different people are in different places when it comes to gender.
That there are lots of people that are in the process of still discovering who they are and where they are.
In a way, perhaps we all are still learning and still making discoveries about ourselves. And if we’re not then maybe we should be?
And I’m sure that the world is always a nicer place when people are allowed to be themselves when the way that they are and the things that they do are of no harm to anyone.
And then … here’s a list of a few gender characteristics taken from the World Health Organisation:
There’s no mention of makeup, nylon stockings, suspender belts, skirts, blouses, dresses or high-heeled shoes.
Instead it’s a list of things that seem to be a result of men exercising unfair and unreasonable control over women. Although, I guess the smoking in Viet Nam represents something of an own-goal scored by the men.
And, ok, to be honest, I’ve heard is said that the history of high heeled shoes fall into that category as well. And there are perhaps people that would say the same of stockings and suspender belts.
As I said earlier. It’s a complex business.
But, for myself, I’d definitely rather have the suspender belt and stockings than a pay cut. Though immeasurably better would be the suspender belt, stockings and equal pay for equal work.
Last weekend Tina and I went along to Kay’s Harrogate Weekend there are additional details here.
We hadn’t been able to get along to Sparkle back in January, so Tina came up with the idea of Harrogate.
We had a great time there.
For me preparations begin early Thursday evening with nail polish. A nice shade of red. Three coats. A day before it’s needed, but it’s nice to know that it’ll be dry and pretty scratch resistant by the time I need to use my hands again.
Later in the evening there’s packing to do. The suitcase is big enough to hold plenty of clothing for two weeks, so I hope that it will hold a couple of days of my girlie things.
Short dresses. Two black. One pink. One red.
Longer dresses. One black with white spots. One floral. One a shade of purple. One blue.
Medium length skirts. Blue denim. Black cotton.
Blouses. Two.
Shoes. Black heels. White heels. Black small heels. Grey small heels. Black flats. White trainers / sneakers.
Makeup and brushes. Lots.
Toiletries.
Bras, knickers, stockings, suspenders, tights.
You know how it goes.
It fits into the suitcase. I know it’s on the extravagant side for a weekend. But you never can tell.
Friday morning sees an all over trim and shower then I drive across to Tina’s. We’re driving as guys rather than girls. If we did the makeup thing it would take an extra hour and by the time we hit Harrogate we figure we’d have to take it all off and do it all over again.
I transfer my stuff to Tina’s car … well actually to Tina’s wife’s car and prepare for the journey.
“Have you got everything?” asks Tina.
“I hope so. I’m always afraid of forgetting something important. I could manage ok if I forgot some of the makeup – or even my boobs” (yes, Andrea has detachable boobs that are currently in the suitcase), “but if I left my hair behind I’d be in big trouble.”
“Oh”.
Tina heads back for the house explaining that her hair had been washed and hadn’t got so far as the car.
Tina and Andrea have detachable hair as well.
Tina re-appears complete with hair.
Wow.
That would have been a close shave.
The miles speed by.
We meet a few of Eddies girls along the way, and stop for coffee at Leicester Forest.
Eventually the traffic stops moving. An air ambulance appears, disappears into the distance and returns. The traffic flows again.
I’m reminded of a Chris While song, A Simple Twist of Fate that I said I liked a lot here.
You can listen to a bit of it here.
We arrive at the Cairn Hotel a little later than expected, but all is well.
We makeup – without ever having fallen out.
It’s a little slower than usual. Only one usable makeup mirror between two girls is a recipe for complexity.
We dance around each other applying touches of foundation, powder, shadow, liner, mascara, rouge, lipstick and gloss. Oh, and boobs, hair and a short black dress. Black high heels.
A trip to the bar and a meal. Lovely people. Enjoyable conversation.
Saturday begins with makeup, a patterned dress and flat shoes. Soon followed by breakfast.
The food, people and hotel staff are great.
We stroll through the hotel grounds for a little while.
Andrea:
Tina:
Then back to the hotel entrance.
We take a look at some of the things on sale inside the hotel. Tina buys a handbag. Andrea buys a necklace and earrings.
A short walk to the town centre.
I suspect that Tina has a fetish and so we call in at the Winter Gardens, a J D Weatherspoons pub. To be fair though, it was me that suggested calling in as we passed by.
I definitely didn’t twist any arms though.
If you ever meet Tina, be sure to ask about J D Weatherspoons in Manchester.
A couple of hobgoblins keep us company for a while, but they don’t last too long.
On our way out we visit the ladies. It’s strange how a lot of Weatherspoons web sites feature pictures of washrooms. Here’s how it looks at the Winter Gardens, just in case you are interested. I’m not sure if it’s the ladies or the gents. I only visited the ladies, but my memory is unfortunately not photographic.
We drop by Debenhams and take a look at what’s on offer. Quite a lot of nice things but nothing especially takes our fancy.
I feel the after effects of the hobgoblins and discover what the ladies room at Debenhams looks like. A lot less chic than the Water Gardens version.
As we stroll through the park we hear wolf whistles. A small group of guys and girls seem to like the idea of whistling at us. I can’t make out what they are calling out, but it seems good natured.
Rather than seek the services of a policemen I wave and blow them a kiss.
We sit and chat in the shade on a bench along Montpellier Hill, the young men and ladies leave us alone.
After a while we walk slowly back towards the hotel, enjoying the afternoon sun. Stopping for pictures at Crescent Road.
At the hotel there’s time for a little drink and then we change for cocktails and the Gala dinner.
Again the food, service and company is excellent. I meet Sally and chat with her as we eat.
After dining there is a chance to dance and, for the brave or foolish, there is karaoke.
Tina and I don’t drink anywhere near enough wine to be tempted by the karaoke. But it’s fun watching the others. It ranges from the sublime to the … not-s0-sublime.
It’s a warm evening, but we do dance a bit.
At about midnight we drift back towards the bar and get a drink and sit and chat with Rita and her wife.
And then its makeup removal time, sleep, breakfast and the journey home.
As I said, we had a great time. So thanks to Kay for all the hard work that she put into it.
Fantastic!
Last Sunday (July 28) was a Surrey Swans evening.
Brenda was passing out a few envelopes to people.
Being a little nosey, I ask Tina what’s it all about.
“Ladies day at Brighton Races” says Tina.
“Do you have to wear a big hat?”
“I asked, but didn’t hear back yet.” says Tina.
“’Chelle, what’s the position with hats?” asks Tina.
‘Chelle looks somewhat perplexed.
“They look best on your head” contribute several people.
“On your own head be it” giggles Laura.
The consensus is that the hats are optional.
The theme for the evening is School Uniforms. There are over 20 girls in attendance, with about a third being dressed in a manner befitting the theme.
I don’t often get a chance to wear my Anne Summers school uniform, so the evening is a special pleasure.
“And are you wearing the Spank Me’s?” asks Laura.
Whilst collecting money for the raffle tickets, Laura proves to the whole world that indeed I am:
I did survive the evening, though, without being spanked at all.
And no, I’m not going to ask if my bum looks big in them.
Claire had organised the school examinations for the evening.
During this we discover what a bumbershoot is and by about 10:30pm we each wish that we had one.
I take a guess at the band that was named after the volume of semen produced during an average male ejaculation and get one. A point in the quiz that is – what else did you think I meant?
In fact, it seems that the whole thing is a myth. 10cc were really named after a band that Jonathan King dreamed about. Otherwise they would have been called somewhere between 2cc and 5cc. 10cc would have been a definite case of hyperspermia.
Emma took the prize, the quiz prize, with 17 out of 20 … a massive 85%.
