Pacemaker, a trans-positive animated musical short film which tells a heartwarming story of a grandfather’s journey toward acceptance of his trans grandson, has been released on Vimeo and YouTube.
The film stars Alex Newell, the 2023 Tony Award-winner for Shucked, the first non-binary actor to win a Tony Award; and Philip Lawrence, a multi-Grammy Award-winner.
Composer Christopher Lennertz wrote the original song that threads the narrative and authored the screenplay. His inspiration derives from his personal experience with his trans son, who also provided valuable consultation on the film’s storyline. Brian Vincent Rhodes (Spies in Disguise) shares the co-director’s seat with Lennertz.
Pacemaker is executive produced by ND Stevenson, the creator and writer of Nimona. Animation veterans Darlene Caamaño Loquet (Fox, Nickelodeon) and Magdiela Hermida Duhamel (Pixar) produced the film alongside Alex Bedford and Ben Parkin. Vincent Rhodes also served as the Story Artist on the film.
The film has garnered accolades from Stamped Film Festival, LGBTQ+ Toronto Film Festival, Indie Short Fest and IndieX Film Fest. The film’s original song, Rhythm Of My Heart, composed by Lennertz and performed by Alex Newell and Philip Lawrence, recently received a nomination for Best Song in a Short Film from the Hollywood Music In Media Awards.
Lennertz shared his thoughts on the film, stating: “This film is a love letter to my own family’s journey towards understanding and accepting the identities and purposes of all individuals. Inspired by my son Tobi and our shared love for classic animated musicals, we set out to create a film that captures the essence of beloved classics but delivers a fresh message of love and pride for families within the LGBTQ+ community and the world. Love emerges victorious when we follow the rhythm of our hearts.”
