An elegant riff on a classic progression that arrives at something transcendent.
— Indiewire

CO-DIRECTED
WITH AISLING CHIN-YEE

For decades, the life of American Jazz musician Billy Tipton was framed as the story of an ambitious woman passing as a man in pursuit of a music career. In No Ordinary Man, Tipton’s story is re-imagined and performed by trans artists as they collectively paint a portrait of an unlikely hero. Together, the filmmakers join Tipton’s son Billy Jr. to reckon with a complicated and contested legacy.

No Ordinary Man was presented at Cannes Docs 2020 as part of the Canadian Showcase of Docs-in-Progress and premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2020.

PRESS
INDIEWIRE: Riveting Dive Into the Past Heralds the Future of Trans Cinema
CBC Q: No Ordinary Man brings to life the legacy of Billy Tipton
NOW MAGAZINE: No Ordinary Man Revisits the Life of trans icon Billy Tipton
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: No Ordinary Man: Film Review TIFF 2020
BREAKFAST TELEVISION: Chase Joynt and Marquise Vilson, TIFF Premiere
POV MAGAZINE: TIFF 2020: Review
ROGER EBERT: TIFF 2020: Review
DAILY XTRA: Trans jazz musician Billy Tipton finally gets the respect he deserves
THAT SHELF: TIFF Review, This Years Stand Out Movies

 
2020_RIDM.png
CANNES_DOCS_LOGO_2019_Blanc.png
TIFF20-Official_Selection-rev.png
 
io_laurel_2020_toronto_best-canadian-feature_white.png