Focus Features Partners With Time Inc. and The Advocate for Trans Docuseries "We've Been Around"

 
Focus Features is partnering with Time Inc. and The Advocate to debut the new digital short film documentary series We’ve Been Around today. The series, which shares previously untold histories of transgender pioneers, will premiere exclusively across three Time Inc. websites – People.com, EW.com, and Essence.com – as well as on Advocate.com. We’ve Been Around is from Emmy Award-nominated director Rhys Ernst (co-producer of Transparent). Ernst teamed up with producer Christine Beebe and a number of creative collaborators from the transgender community to research, produce, and create these important films. From the narrators to the composer to the animator, the series was made with a breadth of talent from the trans community. The team includes Transparent actress Alexandra Billings; writer and filmmaker Susan Stryker; and trans historian Monica Roberts.

The educational series continues Focus Features’ support of diversity initiatives both in front of and behind the camera. The specialized film company’s movie The Danish Girl, which won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (Alicia Vikander) and which was inspired by the lives of Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener, comes to Blu-ray™, DVD and On Demand today, Tuesday, March 1st, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

Ernst said, “The trans movement may be making headlines, but our rich history is often overlooked. Trans people have always existed, and have lived many different lives. The central theme of We’ve Been Around is stated in the title. We’ve been here, throughout time, often hidden in plain sight. These stories show us just how important it is to share our histories.”