transabled.org

Sounds good!

I have the exact opposite reaction to this. I’ve read more than one review and it doesn’t matter what the filmmaker has said, the reviewers all talk about this “phenomenon” as sick, disturbing, and that’s just the good reviews.

Personally, I resent that Brooks has lurked and not made himself or his intentions known to the community. It is invasive and parasitic.

How many people will read this review and think, “Dear God, these people are nuts!” No matter how sympathetically BIID is portrayed, what matters is the reaction of the viewer.

What was the reaction at Sundance when this film was shown? (The reviews may have mentioned it. I don’t remember off-hand.)

I can understand why you want this brought to light. I realize you and many others on this board have far more at stake than I do.

But the whole thing bothers me.

As far as distribution goes, I doubt if the movie will be picked up by any distributor. Depending on the quality of the film, there may be at most a slight interest shown by the Weinsteins. Failing that, maybe some indie distributor. Otherwise, the best hope is for direct-to-DVD.

Well, I’m not overly bothered that he just lurked. I think many “researchers” make a point of keeping a distance between what they research and themselves. And let’s face it, if someone spends the time reading the entire ta.org site, they can get most of what I have to say without ever talking to me ;)

There seems to be two “camps” in our community. I belong to the group that thinks that it needs to be brought to the collective mind. Others think it needs to be hidden, and kept secret. Yes, I believe it needs to be brought forward. And when that happens, no matter how it happens, it will shock and revulse some people. The tidal waves in the news paper about that first transsexual that was a GI and went to Norway or some such to have a “sex change operation” are still being felt now in many ways.

The reviews are in on “Quid Pro Quo”. Actually, there is something positive in them (beyond the descriptions of us as strange and weird). A search on Google for quid pro quo review will find a couple reviews. Rather than describe or comment further about these try these links and read for yourselves:
http://www.cinematical.com/2008/01/21/sundance-review-quid-pro-quo/
and
http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=festivals&jump=review&id=2471&reviewid=VE1117935880&cs=1

(I hope the whole URL pasted in but these are the top 2 hits from Google). Reading through the IMDB blogs, it sounds like this movie might be released, on DVD?, in May. “Quid Pro Quo” must be the first exploration, in the media, of paraplegia-type BIID outside of the medical literature.

I, for one, hope that there are non-transabled lurkers such as the movie’s writers and others. The only way we will ever be treated with empathy is for people to learn and understand and Transabled has been a great vehicle for that hope.

Is there any where we can see it? This sounds like a great movie and may well be a huge step in gaining some understanding.

I read that it’ll be released on DVD in May.

Wow I’m excited to hear about this. I’d really like to pick up a copy ASAP. Hooray for a positive portrayal in the media!!!!

Thre clips and still pics from Quid Pro Quo http://www.collider.com/entertainment/news/article.asp/aid/6837/tcid/1

Perri,thanks for the link. Interesting clips.

Interesting how the actress describes the hiearchy of devotee/pretender/wannabe, even though I’m not quite sure I agree with it. Interesting statement too that “I’m not a wannabe, I’m already paralysed”.

I am really looking forward to seeing this, and really wish I could get in touch with the screenwriter/director

Sean I thought the comments were interesting too, from those clips it is hard to say how the film treats us, or how informed the screenwritter/director really is. Sure would be nice to achieve the level of paralysis that we desire just by saying a few words. I have been waiting 50 years and are no closer to my goal.

Thanks for posting the link to the clips! Now I am more optimistic about the movie than before basically because it sounds like the screenwriter really did read what Sean has written on BIID over the last few years. I hope that the rest of the movie is as honest as the impression that I got from those 3 short segments.

However, given the reviews (at least at the links I posted) I am less optimistic about the public reaction to us should more than a handful of people ever see “Quid Pro Quo”.

Gotta see it, that’s for sure.

Re the clips: Actress doth suck really bad, but I somehow doubt that will matter…

I don’t know about you, but saying that it’s “dark” really makes us the Other, if you will; it’s as if we’re people to be wary of or something like that. Does anyone else feel that way?

Gordo I totally agree. I just posted the following at Paradevo a couple days ago but it’s totally apropos here:

One only has to look at the evolution of the plot outline on various cinema websites. It starts with:

A semi-paralyzed radio reporter is sent out to investigate a story that leads him into an odd subculture…

then the next site says:

A semi-paralyzed radio reporter is sent out to investigate a story that leads him into a disturbing subculture…

and finally moves up to:

A semi-paralyzed radio reporter is sent out to investigate a story that leads him into a dangerous subculture…

I don’t like how in these clips the girl is obviously and publicly grilling him for details. I know I’d never be that stupid.

Odd? Definitely. Disturbing? Yeah, a bit, even to ourselves at times. Dangerous? Only to ourselves, in the perception of others. But, since we understand this so little ourselves, would it not be a bit much to expect understanding and acceptance from others for whom this film may be their first exposure? IMHO just getting BIID out there before a wider world is progress.

The girl appears somewhat mentally unbalanced. It makes me nervous about the rest of the film and how we’re portrayed.

Gee…and we poor old devotees – “the lowest
of the low” and at the bottom of the food chain
in the PWD/BIID spectrum ??? Art is beklemft !
“Please talk amongst yourselves…discuss.”

Seriously, this imposition of a hierarchy or ranking amongst us is a rather flip remark;
not what I have really personally experienced
within the community.

But, I’ve noted it here & there, maybe more so in
some posts where it is sometimes implied
that a quad amp has more status/desirability than
a double amp — a quadraplegic more the desired state than the paraplegic, or KAFO’s
preferred to AFO’s, etc. These are all preferences, of course, but to assign a group
ranking along the PWD-BIID spectrum is a rather
arbitrary notion and can convey some mis-information. Most of us accept our individual
differences and don’t try to jockey for a position
that we perceive is superior to another devotee,
pretender, wanna-be, need-to-be, BIID person.

/Art

I agree, I felt that comment from the clip was way out in left field.

Well, I’m not an admirer, devotee, pretender, or wannabe. I am a paraplegic fellow that thinks this movie is just great. I’ve yet to see it, but it’s great that someone is even willing to tackle the subject. Even if it were filled with award-worthy performances, it would never get much media attention.

There have been a few comments that express concern in regard to the “light” in which persons with BIID are portrayed. Here’s the way I see it. There will ALWAYS be people who are afraid of (or offended by) anything that is outside the social norm. The thing is, those people aren’t worth worrying about. There will, however, be individuals that are curious about BIID. I’m sure some of them will even explore the subject. Anyone that does any sort of research will quickly learn that people with BIID are not a bunch of creeps and weirdoes. Furthermore, there may even be some people that realize there is a place to explore what they are feeling. Either way, I think far more good will come from the release of this film than anything bad. I look forward to watching it.

The clips seem interesting, but I am sure the film will have to contain some of the more extreme aspects of the subject, touching no doubt on the sexual aspect simply because it is a movie, and it must keep the audience entertained. It would not make it if it were a documentary so don’t expect one. Probably the only decent documentary for time to come will be the BBC piece.

The reviewers and critics are not going to have anything intelligent to say about BIID, their idiocy will not aid us, so do not be shocked at what they say. Plus, they have the luxury of hiding behind printing presses, radio transmitters and constitutional rights. Their only function in life is to produce something to separate the advertisements. They will only remember the exreme, sensational aspects of the subject. They are under no obligation to present fact based, balanced editorial.

As for the ranking of devotees, pretenders, etc. this is wrong, basically relegating dev’s to the trash heap that some may have already done to themselves, not understanding their needs. I bet this “caste” system will be repeated by critics.

I do hope it will be a good movie, but it won’t be changing the world.

This movie is available on DVD from Netflix, and they occasionally have it available via instant/streaming.

Also, 90% of the reviews on Amazon.com are positive/accepting.

Food for thought, that last bit.