By the Summer of 2021, many American kids hadn’t been to in-person school for over a year due to the global pandemic.

So, in the wake of ongoing attacks against transgender youth in education, sports and healthcare, Amazon partnered with GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) to tell a story in support of trans students returning to school with confidence after an extended pandemic break.

The film launched on Spirit Day (an annual LGBTQ awareness day), and portrays a trans student’s first day of school as they reflect on all of the changes. Including the experience of returning to school for the first time as their true self.

To tell the most representative and authentic story possible, we intentionally casted real kids of all backgrounds, abilities, and a recently transitioned teenager as our lead actor. Having actually lived through the story we were depicting; we also had our trans teenager deliver the voiceover instead of using a trained professional voice actor. The authentic imperfections and honest performances from all of our talent allowed us to naturally depict a school with a diverse collection of kids that genuinely felt like the real kids at your school. And hopefully, helped more kids feel seen and loved.