TORONTO — Following a successful run at film festivals internationally, Queering the Script will have its world television premiere on Hollywood Suite on Thursday, January 9 at 9:00 p.m. ET. The film will also air nationally on OUTtv on Friday, January 10 at 9 p.m. ET.
Queering the Script is a feature-length documentary exploring the history and fandom surrounding queer women on television. The film explores the rising power of the fans shaping representation on television, the relationship between fandom and activism, and what lies ahead for visibility and inclusiveness.
The documentary examines queer relationships in shows such as Xena: Warrior Princess, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Lost Girl, The 100 and Carmilla. Stars including Ilene Chaiken, Stephanie Beatriz, Lucy Lawless and Angelica Ross join with the voices of numerous kickass fangirls in this fast-paced history of queer women’s representation on contemporary television.
From award-winning producer Stephanie Ouaknine (Carmilla) and seasoned documentary director Gabrielle Zilkha (Stop Calling Me Honey Bunny), Queering the Script is a Hollywood Suite Original Documentary produced by Shaftesbury Films.
“This is a film about loving earnestly and passionately,” said Queering the Script producer Stephanie Ouaknine, in the news release. “Loving fiercely, without shame. In a world that exalts cynicism and snark — there is something fundamentally joyous about the world of queer fandom, and its sheer positivity and sense of community. We could all learn a thing or two from the Xena Camp.”
Queering the Script not only charts the evolution of queerness, but also demonstrates the extraordinary impact of activism on its many diverse fans, fighting to see themselves accurately portrayed on screen. In 2016, a record number of queer women characters died on fictional shows, which broke the hearts of queer fans and launched a successful campaign for better, more diverse LGBT2Q+ representation.
“We wanted to balance the story of how this fandom came to be with the deeper questions that underlie the birth of this fandom: Why is representation on television important? What is positive representation and how is it achieved?” said Gabrielle Zilkha, director of Queering the Script, in the news release.
David Kines, president of Hollywood Suite, added: “Queering the Script reveals the power of an underrepresented audience by sharing insights from experts, everyday fans, Hollywood showrunners, and the TV stars themselves. We are delighted to bring this dynamic film to Canadian audiences.”
Queering the Script is executive produced by Christina Jennings and Scott Garvie, produced by Stephanie Ouaknine and Alex House, written and directed by Gabrielle Zilkha, and produced in association with the Canada Media Fund and Hollywood Suite.
To view the trailer, click here.
