?

The exact changes to the title and marketing materials were still
being determined Thursday, hours before the film’s Friday late-night premiere at
Tribeca.

“We’re thinking there will be two asterisks in the
middle so people will still know what the word is, but out of respect
for this conversation, it will be blurred or bleeped out,” said film
publicist John Murphy, who joined the call along with producer Toni
Miller.

“In general, we’ve seen examples of how
transgender people have been referring to the movie title, and I think
we’re really kind of taking a cue from them on that,” said Miller. “With
the use of an asterisk to replace two letters within the word 'tranny,' I
really think we’re honing in on that.”

Murphy said the
change would affect materials including the film’s website and press
releases, with the acknowledgment that printed materials already in
circulation cannot be changed.

It remained unclear
whether Tribeca would adjust their marketing materials for the film. The
prestigious festival previously announced it would not yank the film
from its lineup despite calls from advocates including GLAAD, and a
protest by transgender women in New York City on April 6.

“We have informed
them of our decision,” said Murphy of the festival. “We’re talking to
them about that.”

The changes do not aim to alter the
original title beyond recognition, which Black conceded might not
satisfy critics, although he supports keeping the reference obvious.


“I think it’s important that you do know what it was because
that starts the conversation about why it’s greeked out,” said Black.
“As opposed to perhaps just changing it completely which would then
leave no room for conversation, this is more of a conversation starter. I
think it’s really smart and potentially hopeful.”

How
people will pronounce the film’s name with blurred out letters is an
open question. Transgender activists announced Thursday they would hold
an “education rally” hours before the film premieres near midnight.