Danielle and Becky met and fell in love in the 80s. A wildly successful lawyer and social butterfly wife, they were best friends from the moment they met. To the outside world, they had it all figured out, but Danielle was hiding a secret behind a beard, a big personality, and fancy suits. In 2017 Danielle Joy ""DJ"" Healey is finally ready to come out as a trans woman. How would this transition affect her 30-year marriage to Becky, their two daughters, and her prestigious law career in Texas? As the political landscape evolves and Danielle's world expands, she integrates into the LGBTQ+ community, using her legal prowess to help fight for the rights of her trans and queer brothers, sisters & siblings. OUR DAD, DANIELLE celebrates the complicated journey on the way to finally accepting who you truly are.
I'm a writer & director drawn to the many facets of the human condition and the million truths behind American folklore. I spotlight the underdogs looking for moments of laughter in the face of hardships to celebrate the untold stories of those filled with grit and the strength it takes to stand up against injustices. Driven to elevate my LGBTQ+ community, women & other underrepresented voices whenever possible, I center often overlooked protagonists to subvert expectations and examine observational truths. Assumptions and stereotypes surrounding marginalized groups throughout history fascinate me, so I explore those complexities honestly, sometimes comedically, to humanize our shared experiences. Comedic empathy for the underdogs and brutal honesty for those in power.
My first documentary feature, Our dad, Danielle, was thoroughly independent and made possible with a grant from The John Steven Kellett Foundation & crowd-funding. The film is about a trans woman who comes out at 57 in Texas & her journey to living authentically. I sure hope you'll give it a watch :)
Some awards for my work:
Best Documentary Jury Award - Manchester FF '22
LGBTQ+ Voices Jury Award & Audience Award - Portland FF '21
Audience Award - Vail FF '21
Silver Telly Award - Best Branded Documentary '24
Finalist, ScreenCraft Film Fund '19
Second Rounder, Austin FF '21' & '24
Semifinalist (Top 8) Nantucket FF - Tony Cox Screenplay Competition '24
Semifinalist, HollyShorts Screenwriting Competition '24
Semifinalist, Cinequest Screenwriting Competition '24
Manchester Film Festival
Portland Film Festival
Out On Film: Atlanta's LGBTQ+ Film Festival
Vail Film Festival
Charlotte Film Festival
Best Documentary Jury Award | Manchester Film Festival
LGBTQ+ Voices Jury Award | Portland Film Festival
Audience Award for Favorite Documentary | Portland Film Festival
Festival Audience Award | Vail Film Festival
"New documentary ‘Our Dad, Danielle’ didn’t know how necessary it would become."
AutoStraddle
"Arguably, it is one of the most personal tales of identity I can remember watching."
Overly Honest Reviews