Would you allow a documentary on your transition to film your surgery?

[Qrachel]

Hi:

In 2004 I had my pre-op, op, 1 mo and 3 mos post-ops documented for the Nov. sweeps here in the US.  There was a lot of trepidation over me doing it from my community and a few others who expressed fears it would be exploitative. I insisted "we" meet face-to-face before I agreed to the project - I got a good vibe from the interviewer (an twice Emmy winning documentarian).  Please understand, no matter what you are told you WILL NOT HAVE EDITORIAL RIGHTS OF REFUSAL.  The director was upfront about that, but that's just the way it is in the bizz.  Sooo, I had decided if I was ever uncomfortable in front of the camera I would walk.  That never happened; they were pretty classy.  However, there were several times when the interviewer really got inside my head and what I did and said in response was occasionally raw, emotional and pained . . . I had been told to expect that.  The film crew was compassionate but it was a fairly unvarnished version of how I got there, why I was having surgery, and what it was like mentally and physically post-op.

It all went well, though living with a film crew from 5:30am 'til bedtime was intense.  When they were onsite I had no life that wasn't choreographed by the interviewer, director and video-photographer.

I was not paid and at the time doing it for the community seemed worth it - it was!  I did have a lot fun, and at the same time exposed my private life to the nation via 17.5 minutes of interview/life-style related filming boiled down from over a 100 hours of filming - they often did an A and B roll.  The special was nominated for an Emmy though we didn't win.

Just understand, you will lose a good deal of your anonymity for a few years.  This lasted about three years and I was often stopped while traveling, about town and just about any other place you can imagine, especially the lady's room/lounge.  The Chicago airport (ORD) was good for multiple inquiries as I changed planes for quite awhile.

Good luck and enjoy the ride - it's definitely a trip!

TTFN,

Rachel

P.S. I've tried to be balanced in my experiences with you. Bottom line: If the interviewer is good you are in for a ride; if the interviewer doesn't get underneath your veneer then why do the special - no one will care.  I admire your courage, BTDT and glad you are going to do it too!

P.S.S. PM me if you want.

P.S.S.S.  They miked me the first day and of course I had to use the bathroom at work.  Yep!  Everyone was laughing as I can out and a helper came and showed how to turn off the mike . . .  groan!!!  I was assured I had done the academy proud!      that's show bizz!

[Skylar1992]

Sure, I don't see any reason why not, theres loads of people who have had it filmed, as long as it is being used for decent educational purposes / medical reasons etc

[Karen5519]

Do you want to live a stealth life?  If so, then a decision to let anyone document this on film will follow you for the rest of your life.  The Internet will never allow it to die.  It may sound like a great idea now......but ten or twenty years later you might see this as a major mistake that you greatly regret. 

If you did choose to allow your surgery to be documented I feel very confident in saying that you will have no say in how that footage is used nor will you have any control over the script of the documentary.  You will almost certainly be made to sign a blanket release.  Documentaries rarely if ever pay for any interviews or pay persons who are being highlighted in the video.  First, most people who produce documentaries are not loaded with money.....and second, and perhaps most important, what they do is seen as a form of journalism and paying for interviews, or the right to document a personal event, would be seen as damaging the credibility of the content.  The general thought is that if you pay people for an interview you are going to get the response that you are seeking to support your contention.

Even if you were paid it would not be much if anything.  Unlike Caitlyn Jenner, you are not a former gold medal winner nor part of the Kardashian family.  Finally, a documentary is a "one off" and not a reality series concocted by a production company to sell to some cable channel.  Thus, there would be no long term contract or residuals for reruns of the content at a later time.   

Again, before I said "yes" I would give all of this careful consideration and weigh it against the value of your privacy and how much you want to live the rest of you life like a normal woman in society.

I practice media law......and for what it is worth that is my two cents!

Whatever you choose  I wish you only the best of luck!

[Promethea]

Oh, yes I would, in fact I will, for similar reasons, since I'm in a very similar situation.

Well, minus being a celebrity. And the Oscars nominated documentary producer. But now that I think of it I can probably have my award winning (not Oscars ) documentary director cousin film it. It's still a long time before I can do it, though.

I'm glad you decided to do it. As some others have mentioned, this type of exposure has its disadvantages, but if you can take the heat it will greatly help others. So thank you for doing it.