Our group was interested in exploring themes pertaining to gender norms, more specifically, breaking gender norms as we know them in Western society. Hollywood rarely explores gender diverse characters, or even characters that do not conform to the gender binary (whether they identify with their assigned gender or not.) 

Our screenplay challenges the dominant narrative of gender normativity by creating gender-diverse characters who do not conform to the gender binary which is counter-hegemonic in nature. We use elements of horror and the genre of science-fiction to villainize the gender norms that are often present in Hollywood and American society, and present gender-diversity as a natural and normal occurrence, the gender binary unnatural and extraterrestrial. Again, this approach is counter-hegemonic considering gender diverse folks are often villainized and presented as alien in Hollywood cinema. 

We paid to tribute to The Rocky Horror Picture Show in naming the villains of the film, Brad and Janet– who epitomize said gender roles. These characters constantly drink slushies which are symbolic of an artificial creation of gender. In accordance with gender norms and the way our society imposes gender onto colors, Brad’s drink blue slushies and Janet’s drink pink slushies. The slushies are also a symbol of capitalism and industrialism, as they are entirely artificial and have no natural substances, made solely as a product to purchase. This contrasts Portoabello’s world which emphasizes the role of nature over industrialism. 

In the film, the Brad’s and Janet’s conduct a hostile takeover of Portobello’s world, symbolizing how our society forces gender norms and the gender binary onto everyone a part of society. The implication is that the only way to exist is through the presence of the gender binary, however, Portobello’s world exemplifies how folks are able to live harmoniously without the restrictions the binary presents. 

TW: mild language and brief mention of torture (nothing graphic)