Too Trans and Too Old to be A Writer — A Hollywood Story

Because, apparently, I am.

At the beginning of my writing career, when I was just 17 years old, I found representation through a little boutique agency. Having an agent at 17 years old may sound surprising, but I had been home schooled, and thus the opportunity to focus on writing was afforded to me until I could adequately refine my craft. By that time, I had 2 feature plays produced, written 6 feature film screenplays and was a finalist in the Outfest International Screenplay Awards- they sent me their thick program from the festival and I beamed with pride at the site of my name.

Landing that agent wasn’t easy, and not for the reason you might think. Linda, the owner of the agency, would talk to me on the phone and berate me about the sound of my voice. I was a young budding trans woman and naturally effeminate with a high pitched voice. This troubled her, presuming it made me sound weak. “Talk in a boy’s voice for me” she said once during a meeting. “I need you to sound like a young man. You’re a genius young man, I want people to take you seriously, not walk away laughing.” She said. I practiced lowering my tone for weeks before giving up.

The first screenplay that ever generated interest was a extremely long saga that examined sexuality, taboo relationships and the consequences of obsession…