The soon to be released short-film In A Heartbeat seeks to explore rarely-ventured waters, depicting a closeted boy whose heart falls for the boy of his dreams.
Created for a senior thesis project by Florida computer animation students Beth David and Esteban Bravo, the film was funded by a Kickstarter campaign with a $3,000 goal – a target easily surpassed with more than $US14,000 currently pledged.
PinkNews reports that the duo were “floored” when they reached their funding goal in just three hours.
“We’re very touched by the response we’ve gotten so far and we’re happy to know that our project has already had a positive impact on so many people,” say the creators.
"It proves to us that there is a need and a want for media that addresses LGBT+ themes in a positive and light-hearted way,” they add, saying that it give them "hope that films like this could be more widely accepted and produced in the future”.
The sizable sum means the duo were able to hire Spanish composer Arturo Cardelus, an artist who they had once only "dreamed of working with".
Although still awaiting release, a heart-warming teaser trailer uploaded to YouTube looks ensures the film looks like required viewing, as closeted character Sherwin’s heart literally explodes out of his chest and starts chasing his crush Jonathan.
In a posted online in November, the pair discuss how their reasons for creating the film went beyond simply being required to do so as part of their course.
“Being gay is a subject that hasn’t been widely explored in computer animation,” Bravo says.
“We want to put out a message of love and self-acceptance to all the kids and young people who struggle to identify as LGBT+, just like Sherwin does,” David continues.
Although the David and Bravo are yet to give a specific date as to when In A Heartbeat will be released, they have stated it will be made available online free for anyone to watch during the US summer.
In the meantime, the filmmakers have created spoof posters for ‘In a Heartbeat’—using Brokeback Mountain and The Fault in our Stars as inspiration.
