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HBO: What brought you to the subject? Why did you want to make the film?
Antony Thomas: I have always been appalled at the general ignorance of some of the basic facts of human sexuality and gender identity. These feelings were intensified two years ago when we were making our previous program for HBO on the subject of celibacy. During the months of research and filming for that film, we were able to meet many of world's leading experts in the field, and also to study the latest research findings. In some respects, it was a frustrating experience, as our subject was forcing us to narrow the focus to just one aspect of human sexuality -- repression and the possible consequences. For our next project, we were determined to find a subject that would give us scope for a much broader statement.
HBO: How long did you research the subject before starting filming? What was that process like?
Antony Thomas: The research on "Middle Sexes" took almost six months, and involved a team of three colleagues and myself. The challenge was not simply finding time to research the subject in depth, but also the time to build relationships of trust with those whose life histories and experiences we felt would be important to include in the program.
HBO: How did you contact and gain the trust of the subjects in the film?
Antony Thomas: The most important first step was to gain the trust of doctors, therapists and the many organisations representing the interests of those who don't conform to simple gender or behavioural stereotypes. If we passed the first test, the professionals would contact individuals, describing our project and inviting them to get in touch with us if they were interested. The third stage was visiting these people in their homes (long before filming started) and building relationships of trust -- a process that sometimes took many days.
HBO: How long did you film for?
Antony Thomas: We filmed in six countries on an eight week schedule, including travel and short rest breaks.
HBO: What is the stigma surrounding the blurring of gender?
Antony Thomas: The social pressure to conform to one sexual standard is huge -- and this is true, in varying degrees, throughout most of the modern world. In the ancient and medieval worlds, the position was different, but today anything that causes us to question the validity and truth of that universal standard is threatening; and what we fear, we demonise.
HBO: Was there anything that surprised or shocked you while making the film?
Antony Thomas: Yes. I remain surprised at the numbers of people who don't conform to the simple categories -- man/woman, hetero/homo. In making this program, I was also surprised and shocked to discover the scale of the violence meted out to those who can't be pigeon-holed.
HBO: Were there any stories that you felt were too personal to be included?
Antony Thomas: Not really, but there were times when I felt it was right to warn certain "volunteers" that it would not be in their interests to appear in the program Two principles were paramount. (1) Will the story of this individual or this family or this group contribute to a greater understanding of the issues? (2) Will it benefit them as individuals? On several occasions, we felt the answer to the second question was negative.
HBO: Do you think that intersex individuals will ever gain widespread acceptance in society?
Antony Thomas: I can't answer that question. One hopes that advances in general education and scientific research will inevitably lead to greater understanding of these and other important issues. However, recent history suggests otherwise.
HBO: What kind of reactions have you had to the film?
Antony Thomas: When the program was shown in the UK, every review except one was positive -- right across the political spectrum. I also received scores of letters from parents, teachers, and those in the transgender and intersex communities, thanking us for making the film. Indeed, in that whole post bag there wasn't one abusive letter -- a unique experience for me after a program has gone out! I wonder whether we will have the same reaction when the program is shown in the US.
HBO: What do you hope HBO audiences will take away from the film?
Antony Thomas: Knowledge and understanding.
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