Via Zoom: T.J. Parsell of ‘Invisible’ at REELING39 Film Fest, Sep. 29, 2021

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CHICAGO – The ongoing REELING39 Festival … Chicago’s International LBGTQ+ showcase … will screen “Invisible,” a new documentary by T.J. Parsell. The original subtitle of the film was “Gay Women in Southern Music,” but the shortened title points out the nature of this industry subset to hide certain elements of their talent. For more info and tickets, click REELING39.

In the 1970s, there were a group of talented lesbian women who came independently to Nashville to pursue careers in country music. Most of them landed successful gigs in songwriting, penning tunes for some of the most acclaimed country stars like Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw and more. “Invisible” profiles several of these pioneering women who dealt with issues in both their orientation and gender through a male-dominated and prejudiced industry, and how they embraced their evolution as time has passed into a more tolerant era.

‘Invisible’ Screens at REELING39 on September 29th, 2021
Photo credit: REELINGFilmFestival.org

T.J. Parsell is using his filmmaker voice with his roots as an activist. He was imprisoned for robbery as a 17 year old, and the sexual abuse he experienced while in prison led him to an advocacy against such treatment while incarcerated (his book on the subject was “Fish: A Memoir of a Boy in a Man’s Prison”). After working in the software industry he pursued filmmaking, and “Invisible” is his first full-length documentary.

As a preview to the REELING39 screening of “Invisible,” Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com interviews T.J. Parsell via Zoom.

The director on the expressions of authenticity in the film’s subjects …

The trailer for REELING39 …

By PATRICK McDONALD Editor and Film Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com