Attaboy is an LGBTQ+ story that centers around a boisterous twelve-year-old trans boy struggling to find his “manhood” as he searches for paternal guidance and acceptance from his role model — a very cool dude crashing in his basement. 

In this tender coming-of-age film, we’ll experience the power, beauty, and innocence of a self assured trans kid as he’s confronted by the disparaging rejection from the man he admires most. This is a story that encourages self love and resilience. Attaboy is a lyrical battle cry declaring we do exist and we do know exactly who we are, and we still need to be loved and nurtured.

OUR PLAN

We plan to film Attaboy this winter, complete it early 2025 and submit to a number of film festivals with hopes to adapt Attaboy into a feature film. Currently, we're excited to announce we are in the process of casting our protagonist, Sonny. We cannot wait to update you when we have our star!

Our Writer/Director, Rocco Sanabria

Rocco Sanabria is a trans activist and filmmaker with a degree in Visual Media Arts from Emerson College. Growing up as an out trans kid in the early 2000s, Rocco has been advocating for gender-affirming care and trans rights from a young age, even testifying in front of City Hall twice for the inclusion of trans youth in NYC public schools. His work has been featured in Out Magazine, and he is a two-time recipient of The New York City Proclamation, as well as a 2016 Live Out Loud Trailblazer.

Attaboy is a powerful fictional story deeply inspired by Rocco's own experiences growing up as an out trans kid in the early 2000s.

"It's always been my dream to tell this story — a coming of age film centered around a trans kid but about more than just him being trans. But I also want to make clear, trans youth today should have more, not less, opportunities than I had growing up. And so I continue to advocate. I see you. I believe you. You are not alone." - RS

The Power of This Story

The world has always been a scary, often lonely place for trans folks. Though there is more awareness today with support, community, and resources, there is still, if not more, animosity, discrimination, and persecution against trans individuals…especially towards trans BIPOC, especially towards trans kids and their families. I have a responsibility and obligation to my community and to myself to fight and protect our rights and continue raising awareness towards our experiences. Now more than ever.

Moreover, in the past three years, nearly 700 anti-trans bills have been introduced in the United States. 80% of these bills target trans youth alone. In 2023, 300 bills were introduced that limit and/or ban gender-affirming care for trans youth.

Trans men, especially trans boys, are often severely emasculated and excluded from society. In the past, we were made invisible. But I see strong leaders, sensitive warriors, and beautiful souls who deserve happiness. We are deserving of our manhood and the right to define it as we wish.

Growing up is difficult and confusing already, but growing up trans can make it that much scarier, lonelier, and more exhausting. These kids shouldn’t have to do it alone. I want them to know that we see them, and that they are loved and supported.

I used to dream of seeing a film starring a kid like me—loud, silly, navigating wild childhood adventures, and also trans. But I can count on one hand, with fingers to spare, the number of films that explore the stories and experiences of trans kids. Despite the growing number of trans youth in the United States, our stories remain untold. I want to change that.

And yet Attaboy is more than just a film about a kid's trans experience. This is a universal story about unconventional family and their unwavering love and strength. It's a bout a child's search for their own voice and needing to be heard — Attaboy is a story about existing as who you are in this world, unapologetically. There's a bit for everyone to relate to in Attaboy, in that way.

We need this story now more than ever because we've gone on too long without this perspective.

With a closed-off older sister and an exhausted single mother, 12-year-old Sonny awaits the company of Pete, an insanely cool unemployed dude living in Sonny’s basement. He hopes to be taken under his wing as they bond making mashed potatoes for dinner.

Sonny’s in search of a father figure since his real dad can only be seen on TV- appearing for his boxing debut that very night. Sonny must then recover quickly when he learns that Pete made the potatoes without him. The kid’s an idealist who, feeling forlorn, dreamt up the perfect family dinner and doesn’t want to ruin it.

Plus, Sonny wants to share something he’s really excited about- super excited about- MOST excited about!! Sonny’s trans but is at the peak of an unwanted transformation: puberty. He’s ecstatic to announce he’s finally approved for testosterone… but again, Pete does not respond the way Sonny hopes.

Instead, Pete scrutinizes Sonny’s mom, guilts her, and oversteps his role in the family. Sonny’s perfect image of Pete now shatters and he decides to stand up. Round for round, in a battle of fighting words, Sonny must defend what it means to be a man and, in doing so, becomes his own.

[TEXT:]

SONNY:

Our protagonist. A cute, rambunctious twelve-year-old with heart. Although he must work through some untamed emotions, he’s a good, clever kid who wants to be helpful. What Sonny wants most in life is paternal love and affection. Sonny was also assigned female at birth but has been a boy for as long as he can remember. His identity is unwavering. Sonny doesn’t want to be a boy, he just is. Sonny doesn’t know this yet, but he’s a really strong kid whose courage defines what it means to be a man.

[TEXT:]

PETE:

A 30-something kid in a grown man’s chain-smoking body. To Sonny, he’s this cool, fun-to-be-around surrogate father who can teach him many things, like cooking and guitar. Beneath the surface, Pete struggles to manage his responsibilities and relies on self-deprecating humor to deflect frustrations about feeling lonely and living in a basement. As much as Sonny looks up to him, Pete can’t always keep his promises. Still, he cares a great deal for Sonny, he just struggles to understand the nuances of Sonny’s identity. Pete can sometimes get a little arrogant, but really he just wants to be heard and included too.

[TEXT:]

DIANE:

Sonny’s mom. A retired hippie from the Bronx with an emphasized New York personality. She’d be a lot of fun if she wasn’t so tired. She works low-paying jobs and rents out her basement to Pete for some extra income to support her kids. Despite being so blunt it’s humorous, Diane struggles to stand up for Sonny’s identity at times, in fear of being seen as a bad mother. But make no mistake, Diane sees Sonny for who he is and would do anything to protect him. The two have an impenetrable relationship that gets him through the worst of storms.

[Text:]

ELENA:

Sonny’s older sister. Elena can be pretty shy and gloomy compared to her brother. Like Sonny, she’s processing life without her dad, missing him, and without any answers, finding it easier to blame it on Sonny. Elena wields a sense of authority over her younger brother — exiling him from their shared bedroom and rejecting his apologies. Elena’s afraid to be vulnerable — afraid of being hurt, and why she comes off so cold. She and Sonny may not always get along, but they’ll have each other always. She’s learning to let Sonny in.

Disclaimer: The images used are not the property of the Attaboy and merely used for inspiration. Every comp here comes from an incredible film/show that I would recommend everyone check out:

• Little Miss Sunshine, Dir. Valeria Faris, Jonathan Dayton; Mid 90's, Dir. Jonah Hill; Honey Boy, Dir. Alma Har'el; Beasts of the Southern Wild, Dir. Benh Zeitlin, We The Animals, Dir. Jeremiah Zagar; Jojo Rabbit, Dir. Taika Waititi; Boy, Dir. Taika Waititi; Close, Dir. Lukas Dhont; Tomboy, Dir. Celine Sciamma; Where the Wild Things Are, Dir. Spike Jonze; The Bear, Dir. Christopher Storer; Boyhood, Dir. Richard Linklater; Full House, Minx, Stranger Things, Creators: The Duffer Brothers; C'mon C'mon, Dir. Mike Mills; The Incredibles, Dir. Brad Bird; Lady Bird, Dir. Greta Gerwig.