17c起草社区

LAST聽week鈥檚 controversy sparked聽by the Daily Telegraph over the documentary Gayby Baby was a blessing in disguise according to director Maya Newell, who hopes public discussion can get back to the film鈥檚 core themes ahead of its national release tomorrow.

It was expected the film that documents the lives of four children 鈥斅燝us, Matt, Ebony and Graham, all of which are growing up with same-sex parents 鈥斅爓ould garner some negative attention but even Newell was surprised by the vitriol that came to the surface.

[showads聽ad=MREC]鈥淜ids in same-sex households have to develop thick skins as we鈥檙e often told that our families are not normal,” she told the 17c起草社区.

“What we could not have predicted was the level to which it blew up last week.

鈥淲hat was lovely was that it feels like the majority was really in support of our families, the film and us. The backlash was actually really positive in the end but it definitely wouldn鈥檛 have been good to be a child in a gay family last week, and that鈥檚 the really sad part of it all.鈥�

In response to News Corp columnist Piers Ackerman鈥檚 efforts to tell one of the film鈥檚 stars, Ebony that she is 鈥渘ot normal鈥�, Newell didn鈥檛 believe such a comment was possible. However, she revealed it was handled by Ebony perfectly.

鈥淗ow could you think that someone could be so inconsiderate?” Newell said.

“I would never have expected that of anyone. Ebony, who [Piers Ackerman] was addressing, said in a Q&A聽last night 鈥楶iers spent the whole article trying to tell me that I鈥檓 not normal, but I already know that and it鈥檚 okay’.鈥�

Inspiration for Gayby Baby came from a feeling that for a group that has constantly been talked about by politicians and commentators, children of gay parents 鈥� Newell included 鈥� needed to actually have a say in the issue.

鈥淚鈥檓 27 and my mums have been together for 30 years and it’s certainly a strange thing to be talked about for years as if you鈥檙e a hypothetical: 鈥業f [same-sex couples] had kids, would that be ok?鈥欌�� Newell said.

鈥淭here are thousands of kids around the world and in Australia who have grown up in these families and are now old enough to have their own opinion and voice to actually tell you what they think and what it鈥檚 like [with same-sex parents].

鈥淚 really wanted to make a film that 鈥� and I think actually is one of the first 鈥� that shares the perspective of children growing up in these families. I hope it becomes one of many films that talk about this new generation of children and adults that seemingly intrigue the world.鈥�

It was a conscious decision of Newell and the film鈥檚 producer Charlotte McLellan that Gayby Baby be an honest portrayal of the ups and downs of having same-sex parents to show that no matter what makes up a family, all share similar commonality in their experiences.

鈥淭he film is by no means an ad for gay families. We decided very early on that we didn鈥檛 think that it was helpful to have our families or any family have to project an image of normalcy or perfection because really, what family is perfect?鈥� Newell said.

鈥淚 actually think that the connection point which will hopefully get people coming to see the film is about the imperfections. I think that鈥檚 much more helpful for us: we don鈥檛 want kids in gay families across the country feel like they have to be poster children for us, for the 鈥榖est鈥� families.

鈥淲e want people to understand that you know, sometimes or parents yell at us, and sometimes we get let down. Or sometimes when things go bad at home it鈥檚 not because our parents are gay, it鈥檚 because our families are like everyone else鈥檚.

鈥淔amilies are imperfect, we all are. The point is that same-sex families are no more or no less perfect than anyone else鈥檚.鈥�

Far from feeling like audiences are being preached and lectured to, Newell said聽Gayby Baby is an entertaining documentary with stories that anyone will be able to connect to, even those who decided to ban the film without seeing it.

鈥淚f there were just one thing I could say to everyone that has been listening to all of the news last week, it would just be to come and see the film for themselves,鈥� Newell said.

鈥淭he film is very entertaining, it will make you laugh and cry. It鈥檚 not going to be like medicine or a lecture, it鈥檚 got these gorgeous and incredible children that will surprise you.鈥�

Gayby Baby聽will be shown in selected cinemas around the country on September 3.