"I guess my family's experience with Saffy's transition really opened our eyes and got us thinking and researching the issues transgender youth are facing.
"Speaking to Saffy, a lot of transgender youth don't have this support from family and friends."
Sharnya Thomson Yates is a mother, writer and actress from the South West of WA.
When her daughter Saffron came out as transgender, Ms Yates and her family went through a journey which changed their lives forever - and it has now been turned into a short film called Choice.
"As a mum, as a parent I can be supportive - but I wanted to do something else to help other people going through similar things," Ms Yates said.
"I'm an actor - but I thought 'what if I get on the other side?' So I started writing this story based on our experience - and talked to other families in the area about what was going on in their lives."
A big step for Saffy
When the story was finished, and it was time to begin filming, with Ms Yates playing the role of the mother, the team working alongside Ms Yates set out to find an actor to play the role of the teenager going through the transition.
After giving her input throughout the writing stage and supporting her mother's journey throughout, Saffron made a big decision - she would play the role, which included her portraying the character pre-transition.
"It was pretty hard at first," she said.
"I regressed to a stage I've already been through and tried to put behind me - so it was hard, but it helped to make the performance realistic by drawing on these emotions, like self hate."
Ms Yates said that Saffy's coming out had come as a surprise to the family.
"As much as I hate to admit it - we thought it was a phase at first," Ms Yates said.
"I was very quick to realise this wasn't a phase and it was serious - and I had to educate myself and my family."
Ms Yates and Saffy then began telling close friends and a select few within the community.
"Saffy's group of friends at the time were fine with it - young people are all over it - the older generations can struggle with the idea sometimes," Ms Yates said.
"A lot of people do jump to 'it's a phase', but when you see the difference in your child when they can be who they are - you know it's not a phase."
The learning journey
Saffy said she understood it would take time for people in her life to adjust, and she held a lot of grace and patience for them.
"I can't really judge, because, as a whole, people have known me longer with different pronouns - and I understood it might be harder for them to kinda learn to change.
"Once I made a non-binary friend and it was really hard to remember to say they/them - it just takes a lot of practise - and not just when they're there, practise saying it when they're not."
Ms Yates said at first it had been hard to find resources, but as time goes on, more and more are being made available.
"There were some things you could find on the internet - we spoke to gender diversity services when we started the process with Saffy.
"I was also talking to people involved in the trans pathway surveys telethon did - what's going on in the lives of trans youth and the stats behind that survey were quite horrifying, and it really pushed me to make this film.
"I wanted the film to speak to parents, caregivers and communities - to encourage them to talk about this more."
It takes a village
Ms Yates said the support she had received through sponsors, her creative team and local government and community had been overwhelming.
Choice co-producer Carole McKee, who has spent 20 years in community development in the Peel and Wheatbelt region, said she had an understanding of the need for information in the community.
"It has helped me understand the additional challenges that regional communities in particular face in accessing health and wellbeing resources," Ms McKee said.
"Having recently transitioned to the screen industry as an impact producer, I'm a strong advocate for the screen industry's ability to share important impactful stories that can easily and quickly reach target audiences to make a difference."
Among supporters of the film is WA Minister for Arts David Templeman, who said the arts was a safe space for all.
"The arts have always been a sanctuary to people who may be vulnerable," Mr Templeman said.
"In modern society, we are a broad cross-section of diversity in all of that meaning - that's what makes us special and exciting.
"Saffron's story, like many others, are important to tell and I'm proud to support it."
Choice will next be shown at Cinefest Oz in Margaret River on August 28.
The film shows that your actions can have major consequences you might not be aware of - and I want to show other trans people they aren't alone.
- Saffy
"We filmed the majority of the film in the South West, particularly Margaret River - the community down here have been wonderful," Ms Yates said.
"We were lucky enough to get the shire's arts grant, Rotary clubs supported the film financially and we secured funding from Creative Partnerships Aus and it all helped us get over the line."
Ms Yates and Saffron agreed they want the film to go as far as it can.
"We want to raise awareness, mainly towards people's parents," Saffy said.
"The film shows that your actions can have major consequences you might not be aware of - and I want to show other trans people they aren't alone."
"After the film does the festival route, we would love to somehow have it available in education institutions and places like headspace," Ms Yates added.
For more information on Choice, visit the film's Facebook page.
If you or anyone you know is struggling, please reach out.
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Qlife: 1800 184 527
Samantha Ferguson
Samantha Ferguson is a journalist at the Mandurah Mail. She is an entertainment, sport, crime, community and education journalist with a special interest in investigative pieces and human interest stories.
Samantha Ferguson is a journalist at the Mandurah Mail. She is an entertainment, sport, crime, community and education journalist with a special interest in investigative pieces and human interest stories.
