{"id":9524,"date":"2017-05-17T20:28:08","date_gmt":"2017-05-18T01:28:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/brucegarrett.com\/brucelog\/?p=9524"},"modified":"2017-05-17T20:38:53","modified_gmt":"2017-05-18T01:38:53","slug":"this-was-so-much-me","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brucegarrett.com\/brucelog\/9524","title":{"rendered":"This Was So Much Me…"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"heartbeat-lede\"<\/a> \u00a0<\/p>\n

Teen Vogue posted an article about a new short animated film I’ve suddenly begun following closely…<\/p>\n

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“In a Heartbeat” Short Film Features a Boy’s Heart Chasing the Guy of His Dreams<\/a><\/h3>\n

Around a few weeks ago, the internet quietly fell in love with In a Heartbeat<\/em><\/a>, a short film about a closeted young boy who falls into the treacherous situation of possibly being outed: by his own heart. In the production, the lad’s heart pops out of his chest to chase down the boy of his dreams.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

It started out as the thesis project of two seniors, Beth David and Esteban Bravo, studying Computer Animation at the Ringling \u00a0College of Art and Design. They started a Kickstarter fundraiser so they could get money to pay for a music composer and sound designer. \u00a0The link to the Kickstarter was only posted on their personal Facebook page but it took off and they got funding beyond their wildest dreams, all of which they’ve been putting to use on their project. \u00a0<\/p>\n

I can see why, just from the bits and pieces they’ve shown. The short won’t be released until next month…they’re hooking it to Gay Pride. But \u00a0the premise is something that…as \u00a0is being echoed all over \u00a0Facebook…gives you all the feels.<\/p>\n

Even someone my age…or especially someone my age, who grew up in a time when gay teenagers were simply not allowed to have crushes, let alone see our \u00a0lives and our struggles to find that special someone reflected on the screen. I’ve been trying for over a decade now to put my own \u00a0Coming Out Story<\/a> out there…in dribbles and drabs as I can find time to spend at the drawing board. These two filmmakers have captured the essence of it…all the terrifying joy of that first crush. A \u00a0closeted young boy falls into the treacherous situation of possibly being outed by his own heart \u00a0which pops out of his chest to chase down the boy of his dreams…<\/em><\/p>\n

That is brilliantly clever, and it was so much Me…<\/em>and probably lots of other gay folk of my generation as well, and also those that followed. \u00a0The closet isn’t just one door but many; and that first door out is often the hardest one to open. \u00a0As the subtitle to my cartoon story says: \u00a0The first person you come out to is yourself…<\/em> I remember so very well that terrifying yet magical time when my heart was more ready than I was to know.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\"in-a-heartbeat-sm\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Yes…it seems to have worked out better for the kid in this animated short than it did for me. But that’s art, which as Picasso said, is a lie that makes you see the truth. Gay kids of my generation seldom got the happy ending. I sure didn’t. And yet despite all the heartbreak and disappointment I’ve endured since that first magical crush, I can still look back on it fondly and gratefully. It Was<\/em> magical.<\/p>\n

I can’t wait to see the entire thing. In the meantime…here’s the first official trailer. Their Facebook page is Here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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