The documentary short film, Passing Ellenville makes its New York State premiere at the 15th Annual Woodstock Film Festival on October 15th, and continues screenings through the 19th. Co-directed by Gene Fischer and Samuel Centore, Passing Ellenville follows two transgender youths in Ellenville, NY as they journey through the gender transition process. The film serves as portrait of humanity visually presenting the daily challenges of transgender youth in a rural, conservative setting who are trying to survive on government assistance while facing transphobia, verbal abuse, and threats of violence.
Starting as a photographic essay in 2012 by photographer Gene Fischer, Passing Ellenville was filmed in the small economically-depressed town over an 18-month period. The film follows James, a female-to-male, coming from a history of abuse and a string of family problems and Ashlee, male-to-female, who struggles to align her orthodox Jewish faith with her transgender identity. The film simultaneously depicts the moments of happiness and joy found in James and Ashlee life as they make their life journey.
The film is joined with the inaugural LGBTQ Focus at the festival and will be presented at the Orpheum Theater in Saugerties on Saturday, October 18th at 7 pm and Sunday, October 19th at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock at 2:45 pm. Find tickets here.
Taking another look at the transgender community Hillary Harvey’s upcoming article “The Hudson Valley’s Transgender Families” investigates how a family, and how the members— parents, child, and sibling— struggle with communal acceptable while raising a transgender child. Along side the characters of Passing Ellenville, Harvey speaks to programs such as Choices Counseling and Consulting, and educates readers in the November issue of Chronogram on the belief that transgender is not phase or self expression, but primarily identity.
This article appears in October 2014.
What exactly does this have to do with Ellenville other that the film makers used the location to depict a “small economically-depressed town over an 18-month period”.?
What a slap in the face to those of us who grew up there and worked for decades for equality and civil rights, to see everything we prided ourselves in turned to a town of hatred. Thanks for that great show of the prison…too bad it’s in NAPANOCH and NOT Ellenville.
This is the trailer and the film is only a short one right now. The film makers hope to make it much longer. A longer film will be able to go into more detail of our lives and what it is like for us to live in Ellenville.
This story is about us (Ashlee and I) and our transition there. It is NOT about the town of Ellenville or the average person living here. The film is called “Passing Ellenville” for two reasons:
1) Both of us were living there at the time the film was made. We were trying to “pass” as out preferred gender in this town.
2) The film makers were just “passing” through and telling a story about two of the trans youth they met in town (us). When you pass through a town, you also pass through some of the towns around it. That is why they showed the prison. Our town is little and Napanoch is our next door neighbor.
I hope that clears up your questions about the film. As for your comment, “What a slap in the face to those of us who grew up there and worked for decades for equality…” I’m sorry you took it that way.
When it comes to racial equality, this is the most diverse town I have ever lived in. The people of Ellenville should take pride in that. I can also see this town taking the steps in the right direction for LGBTQ equality.
The fact that there are people struggling here financially isn’t specifically the town’s fault. There are people struggling everywhere these days. I’m the minority here because I’m transgender. I’m not the minority here when it comes to living in poverty. You can pretend there isn’t lots of poor people in Ellenville but that doesn’t make us disappear at the end of the day.
Despite my financial situation, I LIKE living here. When I first started to feel at home here, I realized it had been years since I felt at home anywhere. Even though I never went to Ellenville School, I feel like I grew up here. Everywhere before here, I was just a scared kid that never had a chance. Ellenville gave me a chance to grow up so I did. I’m not doing as well as I would like in this point in time but I’ve come far from where I started. I have Family of Woodstock and this town to thank for that and I will always have a soft spot for both.
How can I watch the actual film online for free I can’t find it anywhere I live here and know of you guys see you around alot passed by many times know same pol and used to know of u when u were known as ozzy! I have never looked down on I guys ever every one needs to watch this noone should care who us humans choise to b it’s our lives it’s short live it well n live it happy ur way ur both very strong minded n look now u have found good pol who actually have I the chance to be heard and show who u really r n how u feel inside privatly I found it on YouTube randomly n I’m glad I did I an very intrigued and I know wanna know more you guys should really keep pushing this and create your own reality show even if it’s just honeade on utube for now it will b seen n blow up I believe everyone should do this exploit one day or more if willing on film for all to see the day in the life of. .n if we all started doing that then others would n more respectful n caring n friendly because watching closely one on one and some tend to feel closer with the ppl in the film n feel as if u know them like ppl that watch reality tv Jersey shore are just nobody’s reg everyday kids n they went on the show n have millions of fans n some love them because tgats what happens when u watch ppls lives I just tend to get feelings of knowin them n ppl want to see more n know more n will b more supportive n loving of u all you may even be able to raise donations if you need help gettin anything financially or your dream to leave this place may become famous from it and live a dream life over more it can happen it happens all the time now of days n wgats best is ur not a paid actor reading a script this is the real u guys n it’s amazing sooo many others in your position will come out n have more hope n faith n feel they have support I really hope u will do more I will def watch it just use anything to reccord n n have few ppl take turns following I all around for the day n note or do a few hours a day few times a week show more let it out n show what u go through what u have conquered all real get it out there u doing this is accomplishing more then anyone else in this shit town can say they’ve done u should feel really proud of yourselves your very strong also one more thing I really would love for AMY to do it too her own story or included in yours sometimes she’s been thru alot too she should share her story too but it’s up to you guys I just know I would really admire that n enjoy it n so would many others it would mean alot to alot of ppl but plz lmk where I can find the actual film u made not just the trailer to it thanks n God bless!