The project Who I Am Now from Bombito Productions has been awarded funding from the Creative Scotland Create: Inclusion fund. This will allow us to develop and produce a short film starring Adam Kashmiry - focusing on the experience of a trans Egyptian man and his immigration to Scotland.
Who I Am Now
The film draws on theories of queer time and place, using flashback, dream and memory to tell a complex story, and comment and critique the way that often - queer people - are asked to perform their trauma and recount negative experiences in order to be understood by mainstream audiences.
Starring storyteller and actor Adam Kashmiry
Written by Michael Lee Richardson
Directed by Jack Goessens
Produced by Reece Cargan
Based on an idea by Zan Scott
Background of project
Originally conceived as an idea from queer screenwriter Zan Scott, who sadly committed suicide before she could write the first draft, we are developing the short in her memory. Zan met Adam at a Persistent and Nasty table read for one of her other scripts. The discussions with Adam's lived experience and Zan's scriptwriting skills became the idea of this fictional script.
Following Zan's death, Reece and Adam decided to carry on with the project and formed a team to help create a script from her treatment. Adam is using his knowledge, experience and skills as a storyteller to help shape the script in conjunction with BAFTA award winning writer Michael Lee Richardson who is developing and writing. Jack Goessens is directing and believes that:
"It's an intersectional trans story that isn't about transitioning but instead shows the complexity of being both trans and a refugee. The story highlights another barrier that has to be crossed to be able to be yourself and be so safely".
Reece Cargan, Producer:
I’m thankful to Creative Scotland for allowing us to be able to create this short via funding from the inclusion fund. Getting short films financed in Scotland is extremely hard, even harder when you want to tell queer stories specifically. This funding was vital in allowing me to work with queer collaborators and expand my slate as an LGBTQI+ filmmaker – yet much more importantly, the film will hopefully give insight to audiences on the extra barriers trans people face when seeking asylum in the UK.
Notes
As a team, Reece, Jack and Adam are also working on Jack Goessens' short documentary Venus & Mars - commissioned by the Scottish Documentary Institute. Venus and Mars is a personal story about transitioning, exploring how the world is different living as a female to being perceived as male.