Launchpad (TV series)
| Launchpad | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Created by | Walt Disney Pictures |
| Years | 2021-present |
| Films and television | |
| Short film(s) |
|
| Audio | |
| Soundtrack(s) | See below |
Launchpad is an anthology series of American independent short films produced by Walt Disney Pictures. The films are created by various filmmakers from diverse and underrepresented racial, social, and cultural backgrounds.
Submissions for Launchpad began in June 2019 and selected the final round of filmmakers were selected by Disney in December 2019, from a pool of 1,000 applicants.[1] Disney financed the films and allowed the filmmakers to mentor with creative executives from various Walt Disney Studios film divisions, as well as the opportunity to receive educational classes provided by the American Film Institute.[1] The first season was centered on the theme of "discover", which the participants were instructed to create stories around.[2] Development process began in February 2020, but production on the first season of films was delayed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.[3]
American Eid, Dinner Is Served, Growing Fangs, The Last of the Chupacabras, Let’s Be Tigers, and The Little Prince(ss), the six films of the first season of Launchpad, were released on Disney+ on May 28, 2021.[4] The series has received praise for showcasing diversity and themes of inclusivity not typically addressed in mainstream Hollywood productions.[2] A second season, focusing on the theme of "connection", is currently in development.[3]
Films[]
Released films[]
| Film | Release date | Director(s) | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Executive producer(s) | Editor(s) | Composer(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screenplay | Story | |||||||
| American Eid | May 28, 2021 | Aqsa Altaf | Leslie Owen, Steak House | Julie Ann Crommett, Mahin Ibrahim, Alyssa Navarro, Chris Caraballo, Jason Alvidrez, Adam Nusinow, Mary Coleman,
Nicole Grindle, Vanessa Morrison |
Siddhartha Khosla | |||
| Dinner Is Served | Hao Zheng | G. Wilson & Hao Zheng | David Lally | Julie Ann Crommett, Mahin Ibrahim, Alyssa Navarro, Chris Caraballo, Jason Alvidrez, Adam Nusinow, Jessica Virtue,
Rachel Yeung |
Xue Ran Chen | |||
| Growing Fangs | Ann Marie Pace | Genevieve Faye, Melody Sandoval, Steak House | Julie Ann Crommett, Mahin Ibrahim, Alyssa Navarro, Chris Caraballo, Jason Alvidrez, Adam Nusinow, Osnat Shurer, Halima Hudson | AG | ||||
| The Last of the Chupacabras | Jessica Mendez Siqueiros | Nicole Crespo, Steak House | Julie Ann Crommett, Mahin Ibrahim, Alyssa Navarro, Chris Caraballo, Jason Alvidrez, Adam Nusinow | Renee Goust | ||||
| Let’s Be Tigers | Stefanie Abel Horowitz | Sydney Fleischmann, Steak House | Julie Ann Crommett, Mahin Ibrahim, Alyssa Navarro, Chris Caraballo, Jason Alvidrez, Adam Nusinow, Grant Curtis | Tangelene Bolton | ||||
| The Little Prince(ss) | Moxie Peng | Carver Diserens, Steak House | Julie Ann Crommett, Mahin Ibrahim, Alyssa Navarro,Chris Caraballo, Jason Alvidrez, Adam Nusinow, Sarah Shepard,
Karen Chau |
Robert Ouyang Rusli | ||||
American Eid[]
Sisters Ameena and Zainab, two Muslim Pakistani immigrants, process the difficulties of living in a new place, including the lack of awareness their school has for their holiday of Eid.
Dinner Is Served[]
A Chinese student attending an American boarding school tries out for a leadership position never attained by an international student.
Growing Fangs[]
Val Garcia, a Mexican-American teen who is half human/half vampire, maintains her identity a secret from both worlds, until her human best friend shows up at her monster-infested school.
The Last of the Chupacabras[]
A lonely Mexican-American woman struggling to carry on her traditions unknowingly summons a dark and ancient creature known as a chupacabra.
Let’s Be Tigers[]
Avalon, a grief-stricken young woman who has recently lost her mother, is tasked to babysit a young boy named Noah for an evening.
The Little Prince(ss)[]
Two young Chinese boys, Gabriel and Rob, befriend each other. Rob's father becomes suspicious about Gabriel’s feminine behavior and love of ballet and decides to intervene.
Music[]
| Title | U.S. release date | Composer(s) | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Eid (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | June 2, 2021[5] | Siddhartha Khosla | Walt Disney Records |
| Dinner is Served (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | Xue Ran Chen | ||
| Growing Fangs (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | AG | ||
| The Last of the Chupacabras (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | Renee Goust | ||
| Let's Be Tigers (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | Tangelene Bolton | ||
| The Little Prince(ss) (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | Robert Ouyang Rusli |
References[]
- ^ a b Ramos, Dino-Ray (July 30, 2020). "Disney Launchpad Unveils Directors For Inaugural Shorts Incubator Program". Deadline.com. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ a b Yoonsoo Kim, Kristen (June 2, 2021). "Disney Creates a 'Launchpad' for Underrepresented Filmmakers". The New York Times. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ a b Jackson, Angelique (May 27, 2021). "How Disney's Launchpad Shorts Program Persevered Through the Pandemic to Give Six Filmmakers Their Global Debut". Variety. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ Rubin, Rebecca (April 14, 2021). "Disney's Launchpad Debuts Heartwarming Trailer for Six New Short Films Coming to Disney Plus". Variety. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ says, JackS. "Soundtracks for Disney's 'Launchpad' Shorts Released | Film Music Reporter". Retrieved 2021-06-06.
External links[]
- 2021 short films
- Disney+ original programming
- English-language films
- American short films
- Walt Disney Pictures films
- Films about race and ethnicity
- LGBT-related short films
- Film productions suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic