Pacemaker | A Trans-Positive Musical

An animated musical short starring Alex Newell and Philip Lawrence about a lonely widower awaiting a Pacemaker to save his life who gets his real second chance at true love by opening his heart and accepting his grandson's identity.

Winner: LGBTQ+ Toronto, Stamped, Indie Short, IndieX

Official Selection: Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival, Woodstock, Aesthetica, Santa Fe, Chicago International Children's Film Festival, Norwich Film Festival, British Urban Film Festival, The Women's Film Festival, LA Animated Film Festival, Twisted Arts

Directed by: Brian Vincent Rhodes, Christopher Lennertz

Written by: Christopher Lennertz

Story by: Christopher Lennertz, Brian Vincent Rhodes

Story Consultant: Tobi Lennertz

Produced by: Darlene Caamaño Loquet, Magdiela Hermida Duhamel

Produced by: Alex Bedford and Ben Parkin

Executive Producers: ND Stevenson, Christopher Lennertz

Animation Studio: A Running Commentary

Music and Lyrics: Christopher Lennertz

Edited By: Peter Ettinger, Leo Stamps, Niklas Gustafson

Technical Director: Daniele Zacchi

Animation Supervisor: Valentin Puig

Art Director: Izzy Alemu

Lead Concept Artist: Andy Foster

Production Manager: Barbara Robertson

Associate Producer: Jeremy Lyman

Visual Development: Andy Foster, Niklas Gustafson, Daniele Zacchi

Animators: Valentin Puig, Steve Cavalier, Niklas Gustafson, Michele Tozzi

Character Designers: Julien Becquer, Rafael Hara

Storyboard Artists: Brian Vincent Rhodes, Lison Desfeux, William H Frake III, Niklas Gustafson

Character Modelling: Arthur Damiano, Iliana Franklin, Dil Bhaker

VFX: Phillipe Medine, Daniele Zacchi, Dil Bhaker, Rob Stauffer

Compositing: Daniele Zacchi, Riley Thompson, Phillipe Medine

Layout: Paul Franklin, Dil Bhaker, Andy Foster, Daniele Zacchi

Rigging: RIG IT Unit, Jakub Krompolc, Tatsiana Maskaliuk, Michal Sejk

Additional Rigging: Joe Liggi

Color Correction: Jota Viklander

DCP Conform: Jake Brownbill

Choreography By: Lee Martino

Dancers: Siri Hafso, Louis Williams Jr.

Additional Choreography by: Daisy West, Nahum McLean

Dance Advisor: Alice Williamson

Casting Director: Thomas Adams

Casting assistants: Jess Clark

Graphic Designer: Andy Foster

Logo Designer: Curtis Rayment

Additional Production Manager: James Fuller

Production Assistants: Ella Scanlon, Charlie Souter-Phillips

Post Production Manager: Leanne Tole

Re-Recording Mixers: Ines Adriana, Kevin Langhamer

Foley Artist: Sue Harding

Foley Mixer: Adam Mendez

Mix Stage Facilities by: Abbey Road Studios, Bleat TV

Foley Studio: Twickenham Studios

Supervising Sound Editor: Joe Jackson

Additional Sound Designer: Melissa Atwell

BTS: Leo Stamps, Kristina Pringle, Hugh Griffiths

Film Publicity: Florence Grace / GRACE PR, Maggie Schmidt

M1X

CEO: Andrew Militskyi

CFO: Oleksii Tolubko

Head of Production: Rafael Blanco

Project Supervisor: Oleksandr Konovalov

Compositing Supervisor: Yevhen Zozulia

Lead VFX Producer: Alex Hrzhehorzhevskyi

VFX Producer: Kostya Tsiolek

Compositing: Alexandr Saltykov, Mykhailo Yefimenko, Kirill Papilio, Yevhen Zozulia

Lighting: Oleksandr Konovalov, Viktoriia Karpenko, Vsevolod Voroshylov

"Rhythm Of My Heart" - Original Song

Phillip Lawerence - Performed By

Alex Newell - Performed By

Christopher Lennertz - Conducted by

Davy Nathan - Producer

Alex Karukas - Arranged By

Chris Brooks - Music Editor

Allan Wilson - Copyist

Paul Talkington - Music Contractor

Ans Dukalskis - Additional Music Prep

Annah Tencic - Transcriptions and Vocal Music Prep

The Philharmonia Orchestra

Recorded at Abbey Road Studios

Steve McLaughlin - Recorded and Mixed by

Ella Feingold - Orchestrations By

Juliani Music Services - Copying By

Additional Recording at Sonic Fuel Studios by Josh Margolis with Caitlyn Holley

Guitar: David Levita, Drums: Mike White, Bass: Sekou Bunch, Keys: Davy Nathan

Vocals Conducted by: Vesper Lennertz

Background Vocals: Tobi Lennertz, Zoe Lazar, Beyani Coquia, Baraka May, Alex Karukas

Production Accountant Consultants: Liz A Brion, David M Adams

Production Accountants: Amber Rivers, Lisa Page

Legal Affairs: Greg Ruback, Katy Gibson, Will Armitage, Peter Mclerney

Special Thanks: Kelley Kali, Stephanie Waldo, Donnie Long, Georgea Regout, Ariel Mahler, Pilar Flynn, Mary Ellen Bauder, Amber Bansak, Miguel Magalhaes, Chris Jackson, Fiona Gilott, David B.Duhamel, Gary Bryman, Tracie Laymon, Pinar Toprak, Pamela Goldstein, Bill Weinstein, Davina Heffin, Kyle Kenson, Nicholas Mohebbi, Jessica Zou, Lily Tillers, Nina Shaw, Mustard Fx, Flock Creative, Denis McCourt Stryjewski, The Idyllwild Arts Academy, Netil House

In Memory of: Kelly Asbury, For Doug "Dado" Madden

Made with love for "Dado", Nana, Popop, Tobi, Vesper, Luke, Miles, and Shannon

Hecho con amor para Elvira Ynes Maria"Abuelita Cuca" Egaña de Caamaño, Grandma Dar, Grandpa Al, Grandma, Abuelo, Chloe, Mark y Archie, Grandpa and Grandma Scott, Grandma and Grandpa Rhodes, Mom and Dad.