Private Project

Act Like A Woman

Angel Qinan is a Filipina transgender woman in search of the American Dream in Hollywood. Initially migrating as a nurse, she soon realizes her true passion as an actress. But her acting career faces a detour when she realizes why no one is booking her—she looks “too transgender.” Facing constant rejection from the film industry and from her own unsupportive mother, Angel learns self-acceptance and the importance of breaking transgender stereotypes as an actress. Hollywood is definitely more than just glitz and glamour.

  • Drama Del Rosario
    Director
    Popemania, The Big Fans, In This Family
  • Drama Del Rosario
    Writer
    Popemania, The Big Fans, In This Family
  • Drama Del Rosario
    Producer
    Popemania, The Big Fans, In This Family
  • Angel Qinan
    Key Cast
    "Herself"
    Crossing Fingers
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 57 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 7, 2018
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digitial
  • Aspect Ratio:
    21:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes
  • Los Angeles CineFest 2018
    Los Angeles
    United States
    March 24, 2018
    Semi-Finalist
  • Out & Loud - Pune International Queer Film Festival 2018
    Maharashtra
    India
    April 6, 2018
    Official Selection
  • Hollywood International Independent Documentary Awards 2018
    Los Angeles
    United States
    March 23, 2019
    Semi-Finalist
  • Diwa Filipino Film Showcase of Seattle 2018
    Seattle
    United States
    June 2, 2018
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Drama Del Rosario

Drama Del Rosario is a documentary filmmaker from Manila, Philippines.

Known for tackling LGBTQ issues and Filipino pop culture, he directed documentary films such as Popemania (2015), The Big Fans (2016), and In This Family (2017). His films have received accolades around the world, including countries such as the USA, Australia, and India. He has also directed music videos and digital content for Filipino and international clients.

Currently, he is taking the Master of Fine Arts in Documentary program at the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles. He continues to disrupt the conservative landscape of the Philippines.

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Director Statement

I began making this film with zero substantial knowledge about the transgender community. Fresh from finishing my first-person documentary film In This Family (2017) about my own coming out experience, I felt that it was my responsibility to capture and learn more about the stories of fellow LGBTQ people.

In the Philippines, common are stories about transgender people being ridiculed and physically abused. But in Angel is the spirit of a fighter. I witnessed her work tirelessly to audition for acting roles which, at the end of the day, will probably reject her for not looking like a "passable" woman. And yet, she perseveres. The film industry has a long way to go with providing respectable acting jobs to transgender actors, and the Philippines has a longer way to go with accepting transgender people, but it is through women like Angel that gender stereotypes can finally be broken.