Written and directed by Charlotte Cooper, this project is redefining narratives
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY BYG FILM
A new crowdfunding project has just been launched to support a film that is hoping to change the Bury Your Gays narrative that has dominated the media industry. Written and directed by Charlotte Cooper, this new film is calling for a shift in the way LGBTQIA stories are presented on screen.
The Bury Your Gays trend refers to the film and TV trope that sees queer characters dying far more frequently than straight characters, and rarely allows them to be happy. LGBTQIA audiences have become well acquainted with this trope, with director Charlotte Cooper pointing to films like Lost And Delirious and Kissing Jessica Stein as being two culprits. This new film is determined to show that queer characters can have happy endings.
This dark comedy will follow the story of Grace, a jobbing actor who cannot understand why she keeps getting killed off. When she meets a mysterious agent who explains the Bury Your Gays trope, Grace starts to unpick the stereotypes that have haunted her career.
Charlotte commented on this project saying: “Many of us grew up watching films that taught us being gay meant feeling shame – I know I did. We want to create a project that challenges these narratives and helps young people see that what they’re watching often isn’t an authentic reflection of their experience.”
Produced Charlotte Brownlee added: “For too long, gay characters have predominantly had storylines involving suffering and death, or being pigeonholed into over-sexualised, shallow side roles. With our film, we are going to challenge this narrative and improve LGBTQIA representation both in front of and behind the camera”.
The new film has an incredible team spurring it on, including cinematographer Dale McCready whose credits include The Witcher, Happy Valley and Cucumber.
Hoping to show LGBQTIA audiences that there is more to the queer experience than suffering, this new film aims to show viewers from all generations that change in the film industry needs to happen.
You can support this new film by supporting their funding page here.
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