Marc Angel Resuello SEPT 28, 2021

CE - B25 FILM ANALYSIS

FILM ANALYSIS: Elliot Page and Dominique Jackson

1. Give the profile of the two individuals presented in the documentary:
1.1 Name
- The two individuals who are presented in the documentary are Elliot Page,
formerly known as Ellen Page, a transgender man and Dominique Jackson,
as a transwoman, who is also known as Tyra Allure Ross.

1.2 Age
- The age of both individuals are not the fat from each other. Elliot Page is 34
years old. While Dominique Jackson is 46 years old.

1.3 Gender
- They are both transgender. Elliot Page being a transman and Dominique
Jackson as a transwoman.

1.4 Occupation
- Elliot Page is Film director, producer, voice actor, child actor, television
presenter, activist, and a film actor. Dominique Jackson is an actress, author,
model, activist, and a reality television personality.

2. What are the documentary films all about. Retell and give the summary of
the documentary films using your own words.
- The two documentaries of Elliot Page and Dominique are about how they
faced the consequences, risks, challenges, and criticisms in coming out either
as a transwoman or transman. They both have instances where they have
received criticisms from the media, especially Elliot since he suffered
depression for not letting himself show his true gender to society. On the
other hand, Dominique’s challenges were shown after she was interviewed.
She said that she would not come out as a trans woman if she is still living
from her origin, which is an island named Tobago. It basically summarizes the
process of how these two people came out and how they are accepted for
who they are.
3. Describe the persons in the documentary. Who were these persons before
and who are these persons now.
- The person in the documentary was described as kind, loving, and other
great attitudes and traits that a person wished he/she had. However, even
though they have these good traits, they still get discriminated against for
who they are. Their feelings are disregarded. They are not even respected for
who they are when they finally come out. Elliot Page before was a child
actress at a young age of 10, she also stars in the film X-MEN when she was
18 and other more popular movies and series. He lived his whole life being
exposed to media from being a child actor to a film director and producer.
Dominique Jackson on the other hand, is not related to any media or showbiz
industry when she was a child. She lived in an island called Tobago, where
people coming out being trans men or women are murdered and abused.
She was from a boy who was forced to go to church and play soccer to being
a transwoman who also is an actress, model, and many more.

4. How did the persons describe their 'transition period'? Who and what are the
primary considerations in their transitions?
- Elliot Page’s transition period was not so easy as now where he received a lot
of good comments from the media and co-actors/actresses. He was
depressed from the time he was not coming out yet. He was always scared of
the possible outcomes he would face. However, after disengaging himself
from the media and joined an activist group where it supported transgender
individuals or known as LGBTQ+, his courage is unbelievable and finally came
out as Elliot from Ellen. He also mentioned his loving girlfriend who supported
him throughout his transformation as a tranman. On the other hand,
Dominique Jackson’s transition period is not that easy as Elliot. She received
a lot of criticisms from the media. Not only the media, but from her family
who are not supportive of her new gender identity. She almost hid her true
identity because she was scared of coming out in their own island, Tobago
where transgender is not acceptable in their society. Her life changed when
she and her family moved to Balitomore, where she is exposed to dancing,
especially ballroom. When she lived in Baltimore, transwomen or transgender
is accepted in the society where she can relate to it and affected herself to
came out eventually.
5. What are the similarities and differences in their experiences? Use a Venn
Diagram to illustrate the similarities and differences.

Came from media

Both faced
Came from an
and showbiz criticisms and
island called
industry. challenges
TOBAGO.
More on film regarding their
More on modelling
industry. gender identity.
and writing.
Joined the activist
group.

6. If you were those people in the documentary, knowing all the things at risk,
would you do the same? Explain your answer by using some theories we
discussed in our class.
- No second thought, I would. Whether it takes risks and challenges. Even if my
family does not agree or my loved ones do not respect me. I will still do it. It is
my personal preference for who I am. Nothing can’t stop me from revealing
my true identity. If I were not able to disclose my true identity, I would feel like
I am in the deepest down of a hole where I am alone embracing the
depression by myself. Using the gender oppression and inequality theory in
class, I would come out just what Elliot and Dominique did where they stand
and fight for people who are experiencing oppression and discrimination
from society and family.

7. What are your three learning insights after watching the documentary film?
Please elaborate.
- The first insight that I have learned is that we must come out for whoever we
want to be no matter what consequences are coming for us to face. Next is
that we must always stand and be a role model to fight oppression and
gender inequalities to avoid the people from classifying two genders only
which are men and women. Lastly, we must learn to accept the people for
who they are or what they wish to be. We must support one another to avoid
discriminations and inequalities.