Why Can't I Be Me? Around You

Albuquerque’s Rusty Tidenberg, auto mechanic and drag-racing aficionado, shocked friends and family by coming out as trans. Followed for eight years by filmmaker Harrod Blank (son of Les Blank), Rusty guides us through the aftermath of her transition, as growing acceptance among her straight-talking Southwest community still doesn’t ease her romantic and professional woes. Interwoven with lively tales of gender non-conforming individuals on the art-car circuit, Blank’s film — a hit at South by Southwest — is a sensitive and unpredictable love letter to people who fight to be unapologetically themselves.

  • Harrod Blank
    Director
    Automorphosis, Wild Wheels, Driving The Dream, In The Land Of The Owl Turds
  • Harrod Blank
    Writer
    Wild Wheels, Automorphosis
  • Sjoerd Dijk
    Writer
  • Harrod Blank
    Producer
    A Poem Is A Naked Person, Automorphosis, Wild Wheels
  • Rusty Tidenberg
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Shevaa Deva
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Lucy Hosking
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Plymouth Harman Ansbergs
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Brandi Bosier
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Harrod Blank
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Doc Atomic
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Jennifer Lauren
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Jamila Naji
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Dr. Samuel Roll
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Dr. Marci Bowers
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Glen Russell
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Pearl Gabaldon
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Magdalena V. Garcia
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Win Simon
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Shannon Riley
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Bridgette Bellsong
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Janice Devereaux
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Johanna James
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Sjoerd Dijk
    Editor
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 33 minutes 25 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 11, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    80,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    DV, HD, 8mm, 16mm, SLR, 4K
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • SXSW Film Festival
    Austin TX
    United States
    March 11, 2019
    World
    Official Selection
  • Salem Film Festival
    Salem, MA
    Michael Sullivan Award for Journalism
  • Ashland Film Festival
  • Circle Cinema Film Festival
    Tulsa OK
  • Outfest
    Los Angeles CA
    Honorable Mention Best Documentary Feature
  • Q Fest
    Houston TX
    Closing Night Film
Distribution Information
  • Les Blank Films
    Country: United States
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Harrod Blank

Harrod Blank is an artist and filmmaker, internationally known for creating and documenting Art Cars. His film "Wild Wheels" was broadcast worldwide and on PBS & HBO. Harrod learned filmmaking as a youth, by working for his father Les Blank. Harrod is building a museum in Douglas, AZ (Art Car World) and creating a film series about Burning Man.

Add Director Biography