Benjamin Scheuer’s debut single “I Am Samantha” was inspired and guided by the story of his friend’s journey to transition as told to him in his favourite coffee shop in the West Village, NYC. The song details a road occasionally bleak but ultimately inspiring, telling the story of a woman born a man, and her struggle to attain her true identity in the face of parental and societal rejection.
When it came to making the video of the song Scheuer engaged transgender director T Cooper (Man Made) who brought together a fully transgender cast of 27 and LGBTQ crew for both a music video centred on the real experience of transgender life.
I am Samantha is a powerful moving and totally uplifting story that Samantha Williams and Scheuer were anxious to share with the world to inspire others. As Williams put it ‘to pay forward for all the love and support’ she received on her journey. The track and these 3 videos were released on 31st March, International Transgender Day of Visibility. .
We’ve chosen to tell the story backwards. The first video is of the actual track. The second is a ‘behind the scenes of making the music track’, and the third is a conversation between Scheur and Williams about the whole project. It’s a remarkable story, beautifully told, that so deserves to reach the widest possible audience.
P.S.For more music from Benjamin Scheuer https://www.benjaminscheuer.com/
Also Queerguru interviewed T Cooper about his remarkable documentary MAN MADE https:// queerguru.com/trans-filmmaker-t-cooper-talks-about-multi-award-winning-doc-man-made-coming-to-vod/
Labels: 2020, Benjamin Scheuer, music video, Samantha Williams, T Cooper, transgender
