"There Are Things To Do" Filmmaker: Mike Syers

Documentarian of the life of Urvashi Vaid: Immigrant, lesbian & woman of color who helped shape the gay rights movement

Mike is a Provincetown, MA-based award winning documentary filmmaker & has a long history of national & local non-profit & LGBTQ+ leadership & activism. He is founder of a Provincetown filmmakers collaborative focused on expanding community among filmmakers connected to Americas Oldest Art Colony. Before turning his talent to filmmaking Mike was a senior partner at the global firm Ernst & Young. During 35 year career he co-founded EY’s LGBTQ group in early 2000’s, becoming the first publicly open gay partner at EY and worked with other top tier global companies on LGBTQ workplace matters.

He worked with President Obama’s administration and met directly with then Vice-President Biden to help shape the White House’s equality policy, including championing marriage equality. He has served as an advisor for the Clinton Global Initiative and the United Nations on matters of LGBTQ workplace & human rights. Mike has been heralded in the press as one of the pioneering & influential LGBTQ corporate leaders in the United States.

Website: ThereAreThingsToDo.com

Instagram: @ThereAreThingsToDo

A film about building community, individual responsibility & taking action. Directed by Mike Syers & produced by Fermin Rojas 18 minutes Urvashi Vaid, an outspoken immigrant, lesbian and woman of color was an LGBTQ+ leader and helped shape the modern day gay rights movement. Her vision for the movement serves as a roadmap of initiatives & tools for generations of activist as they currently face anti-LGBTQ+ backlash. The film features Urvashi’s life in Provincetown, MA and 34-year relationship with partner Kate Clinton, and inspires us that the best place to build community & work towards equality starts at home.

"There Are Things To Do" Trailer

Q&A with filmmakers Fermin Rojas, Mike Syers and Kate Clinton

Filmmaker, producer, actor and playwright Fermin Rojas hosts our Q&A with filmmaker Mike Syers and famed political humorist Kate Clinton to discuss "There Are Things To Do."