When Men Were Men (2021)

This quote comes on screen at the end of When Men Were Men and it very much encapsulates everything that the film and its creators stand for. The queer media space is still so narrow and so underpopulated with nuanced and specific narratives about what the exploration of one's identity can be like. It was therefore such a privilege to be able to chat with a pair of non-binary artists who are carving a path for the rest of us.

MG: So, Incluvie is all about diversity and inclusion and looking at things like identity and that journey. And I feel like that is so on point with what When Men Were Men is about. So I just thought this was the perfect marrying of the two.

AIDAN: Yeah - it’s perfect.

MG: I wanna begin by having everybody introduce themselves and confirm their pronouns so that we can be really respectful of all of that. Especially for this kind of film and this kind of conversation, and this week - also, Happy Trans Awareness Week! - I just wanted to make sure, right off the bat, before we start talking.

So, I’m MG. I’m representing Incluvie on this thing and I use she/her pronouns.

IZZI: Izzi Rojas. They/them pronouns.

AIDAN: And I am Aidan Dick and also they/them pronouns.

MG: Awesome. And in the film, how should we refer to our protagonists, and what pronouns did we want to use for them when we’re talking about them?

IZZI: Kieran uses he/him pronouns.

AIDAN: And Egan also uses he/him pronouns.

MG: I feel like the film is so much about the in-between and the "figuring things out" aspect. So I just want to be fully respectful to the journey that this character goes on because I think that’s so important.