Private Project

Button Magic

Button Magic is an inspiring animated short film about finding your voice in unexpected ways. A young nonverbal boy explores the world around him, including a toy store, a restaurant, and a video game shop, but something always seems to stand in his way. Frustration builds as the world around him feels just out of reach—until a small, unexpected moment changes everything. What if the key to being understood was there all along? Through engaging visuals and real-world moments, Button Magic invites audiences on a journey of connection, confidence, and discovery.

  • Clarence A Rector
    Director
  • Clarence A Rector
    Writer
  • Clarence A Rector
    Animation
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short, Other
  • Genres:
    Inspirational, Educational, Family, Disability, Special Needs, Autism, Social Impact
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes 3 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 1, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    300 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Indie Vegas
    Las Vegas
    United States
    April 26, 2025
    Best screenplay - Animated short
  • Silicon Beach Film Festival
    Hollywood
    United States
    September 10, 2025
    Best Director - Animated short
  • Marina del Rey Film Festival
    Culver City
    United States
    June 20, 2025
    Audience Favorite - Animated short
Director Biography - Clarence A Rector

Clarence is a filmmaker and storyteller making his debut in animation. By day, he works as a speech-language pathologist, helping individuals with communication disorders improve their ability to connect and express themselves. By night, he brings his own stories to life through animation, a skill he has developed over the past five years as a way to create without the constraints of big-budget production. Driven by a passion for storytelling and a resourceful spirit, Clarence is both nervous and excited to share his first film with audiences.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Storytelling has always been my passion, but making a film felt out of reach without the budget for actors, sets, or a full production team. Determined to bring my ideas to life, I spent the past five years teaching myself animation, using Adobe Character Animator as my tool of choice. Button Magic is the result of that journey, a film created with limited resources but limitless creativity.

As a speech-language pathologist by day, I work with individuals who navigate challenges in communication. In many ways, that experience has shaped my perspective as a storyteller. My film explores the struggles of the voiceless reflecting my belief that every voice and story deserves to be heard.

With this project, I wanted to prove that filmmaking isn’t just about having the biggest budget, it’s about resourcefulness, passion, and the drive to create. I’m incredibly excited to share Button Magic with audiences and hope it resonates with them in a meaningful way.