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Logline

An exploration into the disturbing practice of forcing queer people to confront their sexuality against their will, told through time by those who have had to face the media reckoning head on.

Synopsis

For nearly 4 decades, almost all mainstream media coverage on the topic of Outing has not included the perspective of the victims. Told through interviews & archival footage of Outing’s distinct historical eras, Outed will investigate the media & creator economy that generates billions of clicks, views, and dollars a year on revealing sexuality, while finally giving the victims the space to tell their stories on their terms.

And they all warn: in our new media era, unfolding now, it will be much harder to handle and deal with Outing psychologically. Social media sites largely do not regulate Outing until the damage is done, “forced outings” are becoming law, and queer resources & outlets are dwindling away. Every passing day, it’s more important than ever to record these stories of consequence.

Key questions loom: With unchecked social media sites, AI bots, and deep fakes evolving, will anyone’s sexuality be safe from speculation? Is it ever okay to out someone, like a politician doing harm? How do we give agency to someone navigating this personally if it’s deemed “newsworthy?” This cannot be answered properly without considering the plight it’s taken on those previously Outed.

The truth lies in the archives, the interviews, and the stories that many media organizations have attempted to wipe away. This is a call to conversation to save this important piece of history, and prevent the next era from writing another tragic chapter. Help us tell the story of the Outed, to leave this practice in the past, once and for all.
 

Meet the Filmmakers

Annetta Marion — Director
Annetta Marion is a Primetime Emmy Award-winning, Gracie Award Winning, Hollywood Creative Alliance ASTRA Award-winning, Oscar short-listed, Peabody Award and BAFTA-nominated filmmaker, showrunner, and director. Her latest project is the Gracie Award winning Amazon docu-series First to the Finish. Serving as showrunner and director on all six episodes of the first season, First To The Finish is an inside look at the thrilling 2024 Mazda MX-5 car racing season through the lens of three standout women in the world of motorsports. Previously, she produced and second-unit directed the 2023 Emmy Award-winning Sundance hit Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie. Annetta has worked with some of the biggest stars on major shows for Netflix, ESPN, OWN, MTV, VH1, Apple+, Amazon, and Investigation Discovery, including the acclaimed Oprah’s Master Class. A sought-after speaker and panelist at Film Festivals, Organizations, Non-Profits, and Guilds, she currently serves as an alternate on the DGA National Board and on the Eastern Directors Council.

Michael Caffrey — Producer/Writer
Michael Caffrey has over a decade of producing and production experience. He Co-Produced Tatami from Oscar winner Guy Nattiv, oversaw Echo 3 for Apple TV+ and Keshet Studios, and has worked with Lightstorm Entertainment on Avatar: The Way of Water and Avatar: Fire and Ash. Other collaborations include IMAX, Warner Bros. and Sony.

Noah Silverman — Producer/Writer
Noah Silverman has a decade of experience working in television and producing impactful content. His most recent venture was as a creative executive at Selena Gomez’s mental health focused production company, Wondermind, with prior stops at HBO and Lionsgate.

Jonathan Unger — Producer
Jonathan is the CEO of Unger Media, a company dedicated to creating content that amplifies voices that need to be heard. His and Unger Media’s commitment to community initiatives is reflected in active leadership and advisory roles with organizations such as the Hollywood Climate Summit, Entertainment Community Fund, Blood Cancer United, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively’s Group Effort Initiative, and others. Jonathan is a 2026 Visionaries of the Year Leadership Committee Member and was a 2022 Visionaries of the Year Candidate, passionately supporting the mission in honor of his cousin Alex, a pediatric leukemia survivor. Learn more at https://www.ungermedia.com

Benjamin Wishnie — Associate Producer
Benjamin Wishnie is a producer and writer focused on making content that highlights the complexity of the human condition and encourages people to look inward. He is currently producing on two Unger Media projects – an independent family feature film in the climate space and Outed. In addition, Ben has had his TV pilot, The Creator, place in the quarter finals for the Austin Film Festival and the CineStory Television Retreat. His other projects in development include a series of comics that will launch on the YouTube channel AZFK in the coming year. He graduated from the University of Michigan and as a result way too much of his free time is dedicated to college basketball.

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Contact

For inquiries, please contact fiscalsponsorship@filmindependent.org.