trans character on degrassi

[xXRebeccaXx]

Degrassi's first trans character; interview with Jordon Todosey

Why do you think they didn't find a F2M to play a F2M?

[Keaira]

Because of the contraints of filming. When you look at how much real time goes into a single episode, a real FtM would be much further on in their transition in every episode than their character would be. You'd end up with a guest character for maybe one season or two.

[Nygeel]

Because of the contraints of filming. When you look at how much real time goes into a single episode, a real FtM would be much further on in their transition in every episode than their character would be. You'd end up with a guest character for maybe one season or two.

Not necessarily. A trans man on a show could be no-ho, taking a low dose, or not taking hormones yet.

They hardly ever use "real trans people" in films or TV for trans characters. However! There was one movie with only trans people playing  characters that aren't indicated as cis or trans.

[NXTransit]

In some ways, I feel it was cool for them to hire an actor to portray a transgendered character whom is not transgender, therefore giving them the opportunity to educated themselves on a transgendered life. However, it gives the situations a bit of an unrealistic feel (sometimes.) One thing that bothers me is that the teenagers amongst myself (and "tweens") aren't getting their fill of education on the character and/or what it is like to be transgender/respect those who are transgender. Whether or not that's the shows fault, I can not say. I have been a fan of Degrassi for quite some time, and when they introduced Adam I was happy. But when I go on Youtube to find fanmade videos of Adam's storyline, most of the comments populating the opinions of ignorant people have to do with Adam "actually being a girl". I try educating these people that that isn't necessarily how you address his biology, but the comments turn in to full fledged hate. I really don't know where I'm going with this...
One thing I do know, is I cried when Adam was shot.
..just saying.

[Keaira]

WHAT?!! He get's shot?! WTF. o.O
Does he survive?

[dmx]

Because that is the nature of TV characters; they are actors. That is like asking "why don't they get a real cancer patient to play the terminally ill character?" - unnecessary since other actors are just as qualified.

[Nygeel]

Because that is the nature of TV characters; they are actors. That is like asking "why don't they get a real cancer patient to play the terminally ill character?" - unnecessary since other actors are just as qualified.

I think it's more comparable to blackface.

[Berger]

WHAT?!! He get's shot?! WTF. o.O
Does he survive?

He does survive. Also the shooting wasn't an intentional hate crime, it was actually aimed at his brother because his brother got on a hit list from a gang for not participating with them. He's fully recovered in season 11.
*hardcore degrassi fan*

Also, I think they intentionally were searching for people with acting backgrounds, and Jordan Todosey already had an acting background with Disney. There aren't that many transgender actors, let alone that many in that age group, and just plain being trans doesn't mean you'd be able to act or take filming 200 takes for a single scene every day.

[JohnAlex]

Yes, I think it's stupid to expect the actor to be a real trans kid.  First of all, they would need a trans kid who was born female, with no intention to medically transition right away, with the appropriate acting background, the kid would have to be right for the character just being trans isn't enough.  They wanted to find someone who was right for the character.  And after all these limitations, it's possible a person like that doesn't exist.  So not making the person have to be trans, opens their pool of actors to choose from so they can find the right person for the character.

[Darrin Scott]

Will Adam ever medically transition though, like Max did on the L word? I mean, that wasn't perfect, but it was somewhat realistic.

[Dane]

I haven't been caught up on degrassi since Sav's sister almost whored herself out to Owen for 50$.

But, Adam's hat....I want one. It's so cool.

[Jason623]

well im just glas that they are exposing all of this to people of all ages whom ever watchs it because it may help with better acceptance for us and others in the future. i really dont mind who plays it, its hollywood and you really cant change there minds but they are exposing people to some of what we go through... although it may not all be "real" it still helps. just my thoughts

[MaxAloysius]

Well it's a good thing I didn't want to watch it... -rolls eyes-

[JohnAlex]

Will Adam ever medically transition though, like Max did on the L word? I mean, that wasn't perfect, but it was somewhat realistic.

That's a good point.  he probably won't.  they could pretend he gets top surgery, thought.  but it is just high school.  so they can also just pretend that his parents won't let him. so he dreams of going away to college or to live on his own to medically transition.

[NXTransit]

He does survive. Also the shooting wasn't an intentional hate crime, it was actually aimed at his brother because his brother got on a hit list from a gang for not participating with them. He's fully recovered in season 11.
*hardcore degrassi fan*

Also, I think they intentionally were searching for people with acting backgrounds, and Jordan Todosey already had an acting background with Disney. There aren't that many transgender actors, let alone that many in that age group, and just plain being trans doesn't mean you'd be able to act or take filming 200 takes for a single scene every day.

*High five for being hardcore Degrassi fans*
Did you see Nowhere to Run?

[NXTransit]

Will Adam ever medically transition though, like Max did on the L word? I mean, that wasn't perfect, but it was somewhat realistic.

I have a feeling he won't. It would be nearly impossible to have a female identified actress portraying a transitioning transguy. Medically, anyways. Unless Degrassi got really techy and edited the footage, or giving Jordan a binder and then "skin shirt" to make it look like the real deal. But any material skin shirt probably wouldn't do that.
That sucks, but it also shows people that you don't need to medically transition to be transgender, which a lot of (mostly) close-minded people think. "Oh, are they going to get a sex change?" or "You're still a F/MAAB until you transition completely"

Oh, society, how you elude my teenage mind.

[tekla]

although it may not all be "real"

None of it is real.  People in the entertainment industry don't hire people to portray other people - they hire actors to play a role.  I didn't seen anyone get all bent out of shape when Cate Blanchett played one of the 'bob dylans' in I'm Not There.  Matter of fact a lot of people think she was robbed of an Oscar because the gender-bending played with people's minds too much and they lost sight of how totally awesome she was as that periods' 'bob'.   You do know that Leonardo DiCaprio was not a recluse aircraft pioneer, nor did he ever head up the FBI, and in fact was never ever on the Titanic, but somehow he did OK in those roles.

[wheat thins are delicious]

Will Adam ever medically transition though, like Max did on the L word? I mean, that wasn't perfect, but it was somewhat realistic.

Not medically transitioning is realistic as well.  There are people who opt not to medically transition.  Some of them are on this board in fact.

[Darrin Scott]

Not medically transitioning is realistic as well.  There are people who opt not to medically transition.  Some of them are on this board in fact.

Very true.

[Berserk]

Because that is the nature of TV characters; they are actors. That is like asking "why don't they get a real cancer patient to play the terminally ill character?" - unnecessary since other actors are just as qualified.

Not really comparable at all. Like it or not, there's a heck of a lot of discrimination that still exists in the film industry today. Queer actors are usually chosen only to play queer roles. Rarely are gay men chosen to play the roles of heterosexual men, while heterosexual men are more often chosen to play queer roles. Relatively few lesbians are given roles on mainstream TV or in Hollywood films, period. Trans actors hired to play any roles in mainstream TV or Hollywood films are virtually non-existent. There is a reason why the majority of actors in Hollywood today tend to be white, heterosexual cissexed people, and that the greatest diversity of roles is only open to white, heterosexual, cissexed men, while the roles available to people of colour, women, queers and trans people are extremely limited, with trans people being among the most limited.

The fact the current entertainment environment is like this is not because they are "looking for qualified actors." Another member compared this to blackface. I strongly agree. There isn't a lot of acceptance of the lgbtq community in the film/TV industry today. Unless we're playing the "funny gay comedian" there is a huge shortage of roles being filled by lgbtq actors, whether they the roles are lgbtq roles or not.

Nor do I think the transition argument others made is valid, either. A season of TV show like Degrassi is filmed over a matter of a few months. Seasons themselves encompass a time period (in script) of a few months to a year). The changes that would occur during that period to a transguy beginning T would not be so significant as to screw up the timeline. If they were truly interested in representing a marginalized group accurately, they could have very well spoken with trans actors. They didn't. And one of the reasons according to their words seems to be that they think a female actor like the one they chose "better represented" a transguy because the actress now has to "learn male mannerisms," generally following the idea that transguys aren't "real" guys to begin with and need to "learn male behaviour." In their attempt to be "progressive" Degrassi managed to also be pretty transphobic.