by Dov Kornits
“Within the gay community, I don’t believe body image issues are openly and honestly talked about; this was the catalyst for creating Shape.”
Roger Ungers is a documentary filmmaker from Melbourne, who we last spoke with about his film Finding Creativity. Making films about what he knows, Ungers hopes that his latest, feature documentary Shape can bring well needed self-awareness to the gay scene in Australia and beyond.
“I am hoping to allow people to understand what it is like to be a gay man in a community that places a dangerously high priority on the way you look and the negative repercussions of this mindset. That this mindset can foster ageism, racial discrimination, toxic masculinity, body dysmorphia and excludes others that are not deemed as physically ‘idealistic’. It’s a conversation that is very rarely had amongst gay men because I feel it goes against our values of diversity and equality which is a scary thing to challenge. The thing is though, we all know it occurs and we sweep it under the rug. I feel that when we discuss and understand an issue both academically and anecdotally then we can come to some potential solutions, hopefully we can change own personal behaviours from understanding this and create a community where everyone feels welcome.”
Shape’s development received funding from Screen Australia. “Beyond development, funding the production of the film was a combination of a small amount of philanthropic funding through Documentary Australia, my personal funds, and a lot of ‘sweat equity’!” Ungers tells us. “I went down this path after exploring the traditional avenues of production funding that were unsuccessful unfortunately.”
The film premiered at the Melbourne Queer Film Festival (MQFF) last year, which Ungers proudly tell us was sold out within 2 days. Due to its popularity, MQFF invited the film to screen as part of the Midsumma Festival in late January 2024 (MQFF Presents: Midsumma Movies) on 28 January. The film will also screen on 25 February at the Mardi Gras Film Festival.
How Did You Cast the Film?
“Because Shape is about body image and how unrealistic body image ideals within the gay community can lead to discrimination, the participants in the film had to have a lived experience around this concept.
“The documentary highlights how body image goes beyond whether you are physically fit or not, but rather, body image can be related to other characteristics that contribute to your physical appearance such your as age, race, femininity and masculinity. It is evident that a young, fit, white and masculine man is what is considered idealistic amongst gay men.
“With that in mind, through the casting process I came across wonderful and vibrant people that served the narrative in a really meaningful way. We have Stefan, a 55 year old gay man, who reflects upon his younger years and how he has felt ostracised within the community as he became older.
“Budi, who specialises in intersectionality, inclusion and belonging specific to the LGBTQIA+ community. Budi is of Indonesian decent now living in Australia, they came to realise that their race was affecting their experience of the gay scene.
“Stewart, a casual model and gay dance party promoter who went on a fitness journey to feel more accepted by other gay men, he now struggles with body dysmorphia.
“Two other participants in the film (Miss Jay and Aaron) talk about how they found their place within the community through alternative outlets. Miss Jay, a fabulous drag queen that uses drag as a form of empowerment and to make themselves beautiful and comfortable navigating the gay scene. Aaron, the president of the Vic Bears – the bears are a ‘Tribe’ within the gay community that embrace larger body types – and how being a ‘bear’ has helped him with his body positivity.
“It became overwhelmingly clear that countless gay men struggle with body image and that there is a clear sense that if you look a certain way as a gay man then it will be easier for you to gain acceptance. We are all seemingly trying to belong to the gay community based off our physical appearance and it can sometime feel like navigating a minefield. This is a notion that I have personally delt with myself!
“Throughout the film Dr Glen Hosking, a clinical psychologist and gay man himself is another participant that I sought out to provide his thoughts, I felt it was important to have an academic point of view on gay body image and how that manifests within the community.”
Your shooting of the interviews reminded us of You Can’t Ask That – a fantastic show. Was that an inspiration for the style of interviewing that you took here?
“Many people have commented on this. In all honesty, I had never watched an episode of You Can’t Ask That before making this film. It wasn’t until I was made aware that Shape was reminiscent of that show that I watched an episode. I can definitely see what people mean with the multiple camera angles and the behind-the-scenes vibe! It’s a style I quite like and have adopted through the years after watching other documentaries with a similar 2 camera setup. I’ve always liked the idea of the wide shot showing the lighting setup and camera in frame as I feel it adds another level of reality and connection to the participants in the film.”
