News | Wednesday, 3rd April 2019
Moving trans pregnancy documentary produced by filmmaking lecturer
A Deal With The Universe can be seen in cinemas across the country
A feature documentary chronicling the moving story of a transgender man who decides to carry a baby after finding out his partner cannot conceive, released in cinemas nationwide, is produced by a University filmmaking lecturer.
A Deal With The Universe is producer Loran Dunn’s first feature film, and can be seen in independent cinemas across the country in April and May.
The film is an autobiographical account of debut filmmaker Jason Barker’s transgender and parental journey, compiled almost entirely from a decade of home video footage.
Dunn, Lecturer in Filmmaking in the Department of Media at Manchester School of Art, Manchester Metropolitan University, will take part in a Q&A with the director at HOME on April 12.
From the same date, A Deal With The Universe will also be available on Amazon, BFI Player, Curzon Home Cinema and iTunes.
Dunn said: “As filmmakers we have a tremendous privilege and power to influence society and change thought, and this is a film that will hopefully do exactly that. It feels so incredibly important in the fight to recognise and normalise all forms of gender identity and expression.
“Above all else this film is a love story, and a testimony to a couple's endurance and hope, and that is actually a hugely ground-breaking representation. It's a trans story you've never seen before on the big screen.
“I'm overjoyed that the film is receiving a national cinema release, and we get to share this incredible true story with people all across the country.”
The documentary premiered at the BFI Flare London LGBT Film Festival in 2018, when Barker was interviewed by The Guardian.
Alongside teaching at Manchester Metropolitan, Dunn runs Manchester-based production company Delaval Film and has previously worked in production on BBC dramas, independent features and major music promos.
Her short films have been featured at the Edinburgh International Film Festival and she has won Best Producer at the BAFTA-accredited Underwire Film Festival.
Dunn spoke at the launch of the University’s new £35m School of Digital Arts, a groundbreaking new interdisciplinary school for creative digital storytelling that opens in 2021.
