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 director and writer. I co-founded Melba Productions with my creative partner Leah Judge to elevate our LGBTQ+ community, women & other overlooked voices in the documentary, narrative & branded spaces.
Oftentimes, my storytelling centers underrepresented protagonists looking for levity. I like to subvert expectations to spotlight observational truths. Fascinated by the assumptions surrounding marginalized groups, I explore the many facets of the human condition & the million truths behind American folklore, examining these complexities to humanize shared experiences. Comedic empathy for the underdogs, satirical honesty for those in power.
My scripts have placed as a Finalist, Top 8, Semifinalist & Second Rounder at festival competitions like Austin Film Festival, Tony Cox's Screenplay Competition at Nantucket, HollyShorts, Cinequest, ScreenCraft and many more. My debut documentary feature, "Our dad, Danielle," was thoroughly independent and made possible with a grant from The John Steven Kellett Foundation & crowd-funding. We were fortunate to win the Best Documentary Jury Award at Manchester Film Festival, LGBTQ+ Voices Jury Award & Audience Award at Portland Film Festival and the Audience Award at Vail Film Festival.
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
