A geeky sci-fi fan faces rejection by a ‘straight-acting’ guy, but not for the reason you might think.
Director’s Statement
2007 was a big year for me. I turned 21, I came out to my friends and family, and I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. Three years later the disease caused my large intestine to perforate. I was rushed to hospital and had an emergency ileectomy (the removal of part of my bowel). I awoke the next day in ICU with an unexpected addition to my body – a colostomy bag. I was still a virgin. How would I find a boyfriend looking like this?
My film, Boldly Go, is a coming-of-age love story that examines the emotional transition from shame to acceptance. Shame is a burden frequently shared by those in both the queer and differently-abled communities. It is the toxic manifestation of a society that frequently tells us we are either unwanted or insufficient. Overcoming shame requires an individual to accept themselves for who they truly are, and to share that person honestly and openly with others.
I believe this is an important story to tell as there are very few screen stories that explore the challenges of living with an ostomy. There are approximately 44,000 people currently living with an ostomy in Australia and an estimated half a million in the United States of America.
