Sean Baker (The Florida Project, Red Rocket) shot Tangerine on an iPhone 5s camera with a budget of $100,000.
This innovative approach to filmmaking, which sparked headlines, is all the more remarkable considering the nature of its subject matter.
Tangerine is the first film to star two trans women of color (Mya Taylor and Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) portraying trans lives.
Although the film ultimately did not receive Oscar attention, it helped the cause of authentic transgender representation.
Taylor and Rodriguez portrayed Los Angeles sex workers — a profession they themselves had engaged in.
The film not only spoke to the hardships trans women face in this work, but the joy and humor found in their friendship.
Tangerine is also a commentary on Hollywood: it depicts the marginalized people who walk and ride the bus along the streets where some of the world’s biggest movies are made, but who so rarely receive representation.
Sean Baker (The Florida Project, Red Rocket) shot Tangerine on an iPhone 5s camera with a budget of $100,000.
