https://blackgirlnerds.com/sxsw-2024-review-go-on-a-visual-and-musical-journey-with-any-other-way-the-jackie-shane-story/

Some people come along who make an indelible mark on the industry they work in and the people they come into contact with on their journey. Jackie Shane is one of those people.

Many have not been introduced to Jackie Shane, and that’s a shame, because not only is her story one of a person being steadfast in their morals and unafraid of standing their ground, but she’s also an example of what bigotry and forces queer people must overcome to reach their dreams. From executive producer Elliot Page, Any Other Way tells the story of Jackie Shane and her rise to stardom in the ’60s as a trans soul singer who’s forced to hide her gender identity in an industry plagued with rules about who is and who isn’t welcome. 

During the film, we follow Jackie’s story from a young child who grew up with her supportive mother Jessie Shane, who always knew that Jackie was a girl. Jackie Shane dared to dress in feminine clothing and wear makeup, even though she was living in the American South in the 1950s when it was hard enough being Black, let alone being a Black trans woman. According to Jackie, her mother’s support and words of wisdom gave Jackie the drive to be herself despite other’s feelings about it. It’s this mantra that she carries through the rest of her life, and it’s the running theme of this doc. 

After booking a gig in a traveling carnival, Jackie finds herself in Ontario, Canada, where she would settle for most of her life. It’s here that she releases her classic hit “Any Other Way,” a cover of a William Bell Stax original and the song she would be known for. Oddly enough, for a time it was very difficult to get your hands on any Jackie Shane music because it wasn’t widely released. So only the most dedicated collectors could say that they owned a Jackie Shane record. 

Throughout her career, Jackie was very flamboyant in her stage attire and the way she wore her makeup, though she was not able to be out as a trans woman at the time. Because of the treatment of queer entertainers at the time, it wasn’t something she could do. But that didn’t mean she didn’t challenge the status quo in her own way. Though Jackie was billed as a man and performed as a man, she still used her extravagant clothing and makeup to express herself. She took herself wherever she went, even if she couldn’t be as open about it. 

One of the things that viewers might find surprising is that not only was Jackie Shane a popular soul singer, but she also was beloved by many popular icons at the time, such as George Clinton and Little Richard, who also pushed the boundaries of gender presentation in those days. Cheetah Girls fans will also get a nice surprise as we get an appearance by a good friend of Jackie and fellow trans actress Sandra Caldwell (who played Drinka Champagne in the hit Disney Channel movie). Hearing how Jackie’s journey and Sandra’s journey compared and contrasted was a reminder of how far we’ve come but also how far we still have to go. And it’s a nice reminder that the ’60s were not that long ago in history. 

One of the things that sticks out about Jackie is that she was not someone who bent when it came to her morals. If a venue or a show would not accept her as a Black performer and treat the Black audience members with respect, she had no issue walking. She did as much on none other than The Ed Sullivan Show. She was told to cut her hair and not wear makeup, something that was not only part of her performance but also integral to who she was. She refused, making the point that the Beatles were not told to cut their hair, but both she and James Brown were.

Jackie also took a stand against American Bandstand for the racism that the show perpetuated, mainly with their segregated audience. Black audience members were rarely, if ever, allowed on the show. When they were, the Black kids were not allowed to dance with the white kids; this was something that Jackie would have no part in. 

Something that jumps out to the viewer immediately is the style displayed in the editing. The documentary has a style to it. It switches to stylized animated/rotoscoped scenes to visualize direct quotes from Jackie throughout the movie, as though giving her a voice to speak for herself. These pop up throughout the film, and it’s a nice way to bookend stories or interview portions without doing a hard cut to the next topic. 

Any Other Way made its world premiere at SXSW on March 12, 2024.