Grayson Perry explores gender identity in new Born Risky series for C4
Category: News Release
2 November 2016
Channel 4’s award-winning in-house creative agency 4creative has produced a new four-part short-form series starting Grayson Perry, in partnership with production company Swan Films.
‘Born Risky: Grayson Perry’ launches on All 4 on Wednesday 2nd November and will receive a special broadcast at approximately 11pm on Channel 4 on the same day.
In the first film, Grayson talks about his early ventures into cross-dressing as a boy, and his journey to becoming the person and artist he is today.
The remaining three films feature Grayson meeting trans people who take great risks to be themselves. The first is transgender model Tschan, 24, who returns to Brixton where she was bullied when younger. The second is Geoff, 66, a transvestite truck driver who has opened ‘Tina’s Hotel’, a haven for other transvestites at his Essex home. The third person Grayson meets is EJ, 42, a female-to-male transgender fashion historian who is now comfortable in his male identity but who bravely wears wear a dress for the first time in 30 years to challenge traditional gender stereotypes.
Versions of the film created for Channel 4’s social media channels will carry the tagline ‘Sometimes the greatest risk is to be yourself’ and end with the Born Risky logo.
Dan Brooke, Channel 4’s Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, said: “Championing alternative voices is at the heart of Channel 4’s remit and this project perfectly encapsulates the spirit of our Born Risky ethos as well as our commitment to reflecting Britain in all its diversity. These inspiring stories have been brilliantly brought to life by Grayson, offering an important insight into the transgender world.”
John Allison and Chris Bovill, 4creative, said: “Nobody embodies the Channel 4 brand values quite like Grayson. In a world where hate crime is rising Channel 4's role to challenge the status quo is even more crucial. All the credit goes to Tschan, Geoff and EJ for being so open and brave. Along with their 'fairy Godmother' Grayson they've made some incredibly important, moving and totally gorgeous films.”
Grayson Perry said: “I am very proud to be part of Born Risky it was fascinating, fun and a privilege to meet and work with three such brave, tender souls. If just one viewer feels more confident to live the gender they feel driven to live then we would have done our job, but I'm sure these lovely films will do much better than that.”
This series is the latest instalment of the broadcaster’s Born Risky brand campaign, which was launched in 2014 to reflect the broadcaster’s commitment to pushing boundaries and taking creative risks. Examples include True Colour TV, which saw Britain’s first out and proud Muslim drag queen star in a marketing trail, and Gay Mountain, a trail created to support gay athletes competing at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games.
Born Risky: Grayson Perry will be available to watch on All 4 and on Channel 4’s Facebook and Twitter platforms from Wednesday 2nd November.
Notes to Editors
Credits
Client: Channel 4 Marketing
Head of Marketing: James Walker
Deputy Head of Marketing: Laura Ward
Marketing Executive: Zoe Baker
Agency & Production Company: 4creative
Executive Creative Directors: Chris Bovill and John Allison
Head of Production: Clare Brown
Group Business Director: Olivia Browne
Senior Account Director: Jane English
Executive Producer: Shananne Lane
Senior Producer: Tabby Harris
Director: Keith McCarthy
Senior Digital Producer: Christos Savvides
Digital Producer: Maddie Smith
Director of Photography: Daniel Landin
Designer: Jacob Vander
Editor: Tim Hardy & Leo King @ Stitch
Online Post Production: MPC
Colourist: Jean-Clement Soret
Audio Post: Dave Williams @ Envy
Graphics: Pete & Tom Ltd
The series was created in partnership with Swan Films:
Executive Producers: Neil Crombie and Joe Evans
Head of Production: Caroline Turner
Casting by: Molly Schneider and Chester Fell
About 4creative
4creative is Channel 4’s multi-award winning creative agency. Headed up by Chris Bovill and John Allison, 4creative acts as both creative agency and production company across all advertising and branding output for Channel 4 and its family of brands.
About Swan Films
Swan Films is a BAFTA-winning production company founded and run by Neil Crombie and Joe Evans, specialising in documentaries and quality factual programmes.
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