The Sound of Identity

Winner of the 2020 Outshine Film Festival’s prestigious Programmers Award of Excellence, The Sound of Identity is a groundbreaking feature documentary profiling international Opera star Lucia Lucas’ historic performance at the Tulsa Opera. The Sound of Identity lifts the curtain as she becomes the first known transgender woman to perform a principal role in Opera history.

The Sound of Identity captures Lucia Lucas on the cusp of international stardom, profiling the moment in an artist’s career when everything could fall apart or come together. Showcasing the collaborative process between Lucas and her mentor, prolific and renowned composer Tobias Picker, Mozart’s Don Giovanni comes to life as Lucas, a world-renowned baritone, takes the spotlight and all the pressures that come with it.

Taking place at the height of her career, Lucas provides fresh insights into her transition, the professional risk she is taking, and what it means for those who follow. Exploring the role that identity plays in our personal and professional lives, The Sound of Identity provides a nuanced look at voice and gender, in a documentary The Independent Critic calls “director James Kicklighter’s best film yet.”

Directed by James Kicklighter, The Sound of Identity is a production from the Emmy Award-winning team of Russ Kirkpatrick & Andy Kinslow (Boomtown: An American Journey, Unlikely Family), and is executive produced by Golden Globe®-winner and Academy Award®-nominated Josh Bachove (Minari, The Little Hours), with Jonathan Pope (The Social Dilemma) on as Director of Photography.

The Sound of Identity

Winner of the 2020 Outshine Film Festival’s prestigious Programmers Award of Excellence, The Sound of Identity is a groundbreaking feature documentary profiling international Opera star Lucia Lucas’ historic performance at the Tulsa Opera. The Sound of Identity lifts the curtain as she becomes the first known transgender woman to perform a principal role in Opera history.

The Sound of Identity captures Lucia Lucas on the cusp of international stardom, profiling the moment in an artist’s career when everything could fall apart or come together. Showcasing the collaborative process between Lucas and her mentor, prolific and renowned composer Tobias Picker, Mozart’s Don Giovanni comes to life as Lucas, a world-renowned baritone, takes the spotlight and all the pressures that come with it.
 
Taking place at the height of her career, Lucas provides fresh insights into her transition, the professional risk she is taking, and what it means for those who follow. Exploring the role that identity plays in our personal and professional lives, The Sound of Identity provides a nuanced look at voice and gender, in a documentary The Independent Critic calls “director James Kicklighter’s best film yet.”

Directed by James Kicklighter, The Sound of Identity is a production from the Emmy Award-winning team of Russ Kirkpatrick & Andy Kinslow (Boomtown: An American Journey, Unlikely Family), and is executive produced by Golden Globe®-winner and Academy Award®-nominated Josh Bachove (Minari, The Little Hours), with Jonathan Pope (The Social Dilemma) on as Director of Photography.

The Sound of Identity

Winner of the 2020 Outshine Film Festival’s prestigious Programmers Award of Excellence, The Sound of Identity is a groundbreaking feature documentary profiling international Opera star Lucia Lucas’ historic performance at the Tulsa Opera. The Sound of Identity lifts the curtain as she becomes the first known transgender woman to perform a principal role in Opera history.

The Sound of Identity captures Lucia Lucas on the cusp of international stardom, profiling the moment in an artist’s career when everything could fall apart or come together. Showcasing the collaborative process between Lucas and her mentor, prolific and renowned composer Tobias Picker, Mozart’s Don Giovanni comes to life as Lucas, a world-renowned baritone, takes the spotlight and all the pressures that come with it.
 
Directed by James Kicklighter, The Sound of Identity is a production from the Emmy Award-winning team of Russ Kirkpatrick & Andy Kinslow (Boomtown: An American Journey, Unlikely Family), and is executive produced by Golden Globe®-winner and Academy Award®-nominated Josh Bachove (Minari, The Little Hours), with Jonathan Pope (The Social Dilemma) on as Director of Photography.

The Sound of Identity

Winner of the 2020 Outshine Film Festival’s prestigious Programmers Award of Excellence, The Sound of Identity is a groundbreaking feature documentary profiling international Opera star Lucia Lucas’ historic performance at the Tulsa Opera. The Sound of Identity lifts the curtain as she becomes the first known transgender woman to perform a principal role in Opera history.

The Sound of Identity captures Lucia Lucas on the cusp of international stardom, profiling the moment in an artist’s career when everything could fall apart or come together. Showcasing the collaborative process between Lucas and her mentor, prolific and renowned composer Tobias Picker, Mozart’s Don Giovanni comes to life as Lucas, a world-renowned baritone, takes the spotlight and all the pressures that come with it.
 
Taking place at the height of her career, Lucas provides fresh insights into her transition, the professional risk she is taking, and what it means for those who follow. Exploring the role that identity plays in our personal and professional lives, The Sound of Identity provides a nuanced look at voice and gender, in a documentary The Independent Critic calls “director James Kicklighter’s best film yet.”

Directed by James Kicklighter, The Sound of Identity is a production from the Emmy Award-winning team of Russ Kirkpatrick & Andy Kinslow (Boomtown: An American Journey, Unlikely Family), and is executive produced by Golden Globe®-winner and Academy Award®-nominated Josh Bachove (Minari, The Little Hours), with Jonathan Pope (The Social Dilemma) on as Director of Photography.

The Sound of Identity

Winner of the 2020 Outshine Film Festival’s prestigious Programmers Award of Excellence, The Sound of Identity is a groundbreaking feature documentary profiling international Opera star Lucia Lucas’ historic performance at the Tulsa Opera. The Sound of Identity lifts the curtain as she becomes the first known transgender woman to perform a principal role in Opera history.

The Sound of Identity captures Lucia Lucas on the cusp of international stardom, profiling the moment in an artist’s career when everything could fall apart or come together. Showcasing the collaborative process between Lucas and her mentor, prolific and renowned composer Tobias Picker, Mozart’s Don Giovanni comes to life as Lucas, a world-renowned baritone, takes the spotlight and all the pressures that come with it.
 
Directed by James Kicklighter, The Sound of Identity is a production from the Emmy Award-winning team of Russ Kirkpatrick & Andy Kinslow (Boomtown: An American Journey, Unlikely Family), and is executive produced by Golden Globe®-winner and Academy Award®-nominated Josh Bachove (Minari, The Little Hours), with Jonathan Pope (The Social Dilemma) on as Director of Photography.

Deadline Hollywood  Shout! Studios secured all North American distribution rights for the documentary which includes theatrical, digital, VOD, broadcast, and home entertainment for cross-platform releases. Shout! Studios is set to this movie across all major entertainment platforms.

Screen Rant  The Sound of Identity is an enthralling and introspective glimpse into the life of a trans woman in the modern arts.  Lucia Lucas' vividly inspiring story is translated perfectly to screen.

Film Threat  You see Lucia, Tobias, and the cast and crew of the opera as simply people, as the incredible artists that they are. That’s the point, and that’s how it should be.

The Independent Critic  As a longtime fan of James Kicklighter's work, I've become accustomed to the quality independent motion pictures he creates seemingly regardless of type or genre.  The Sound of Identity is, perhaps, the film that will, or at least should, make Kicklighter the household name he always should have been. 

Elements of Madness  The Sound of Identity reveals itself as the rare documentary which evolves as it goes, taking the audience on a journey of the soul, uncovered piece by piece, moment by moment, conversation by conversation.

Slate  It’s about Lucas’s life, but isn’t really a biographical portrait. It’s a movie about art, principally what art can demand of those who make it, what art can tell us about life itself. The movie kind of upended my own expectations of what the movie was going to do by declining to offer a coming out story. 

Pipeline Artists  At first glance, one may assume the documentary The Sound of Identity will be a deep dive into the trans world of opera from the vantage point of Lucia Lucas—the first trans opera singer in the world to play the role of Don Giovanni. But instead of a singular view, director James Kicklighter exposes a rich perspective of a complex woman with an untraditional path, who strives to move people with her performances—to evoke emotion.

Operawire  Composer Nicolas Repetto, who composed the music for the film, said "James is one of the most hardworking young directors out there. He’s incredibly organized and radiates an extraordinary amount of energy about each project. He knows the subject matter and characters inside and out. I think that is the sign of a great filmmaker."

Director's Notes  I knew Lucia always had to be interviewed on a stage. This alluded to her historic performance, but also, the public stage of judgement that any otherized person stands upon. The stage gets bigger with every interview, representing the internal and external growth of her career. In each conversation, I fashioned the questions to represent each phase of her career within the three act structure. Once we left one stage, as with our development as artists, we would never return to that stage again. In the final cut of the film, we change stages every 30 minutes for each act.

One Film Fan  It is our very humanity thrust into the spotlight, a stirringly potent orchestration that revolves around raw talent, emboldened, hard-won confidence, all deftly placed into our scope of vision through this 90-minute documentary effort from director/editor James Kicklighter.

Inside the Arts  This is actually a good movie to show people who aren’t familiar with mounting a production because there is a lot of detail, but very little technical jargon. The movie is really about arts organizations and the environment in which they operate. If you have an opportunity to see the movie, I think you will enjoy it. 

IndyRed  It was about a subject I normally wouldn't go out of my way to learn about. Casting a trans woman as Giovanni is only the tag-line, only the hook - because with this film, there's simply so much more. 

UK Film Review  Kicklighter used this ground-breaking story to shine a light on the incredible talent present in the industry and The Sound of Identity might help to bring attention to the art form. 

Tulsa World  Seeing a crew of people lugging cameras and lighting equipment and setting up a filming location isn’t as rare a sight in the Tulsa area as was once the case.

Public Radio International  The New York Times sent a reporter. The Metropolitan Opera sent a casting representative. Lucas had a documentary crew following her around. And her dad, whom she hadn’t seen for a decade, flew in specially for the occasion.

Deadline Hollywood  Shout! Studios secured all North American distribution rights for the documentary which includes theatrical, digital, VOD, broadcast, and home entertainment for cross-platform releases. Shout! Studios is set to this movie across all major entertainment platforms.

Screen Rant  The Sound of Identity is an enthralling and introspective glimpse into the life of a trans woman in the modern arts.  Lucia Lucas' vividly inspiring story is translated perfectly to screen.

Film Threat  You see Lucia, Tobias, and the cast and crew of the opera as simply people, as the incredible artists that they are. That’s the point, and that’s how it should be.

The Independent Critic  As a longtime fan of James Kicklighter's work, I've become accustomed to the quality independent motion pictures he creates seemingly regardless of type or genre.  The Sound of Identity is, perhaps, the film that will, or at least should, make Kicklighter the household name he always should have been. 

Elements of Madness  The Sound of Identity reveals itself as the rare documentary which evolves as it goes, taking the audience on a journey of the soul, uncovered piece by piece, moment by moment, conversation by conversation.

Slate  It’s about Lucas’s life, but isn’t really a biographical portrait. It’s a movie about art, principally what art can demand of those who make it, what art can tell us about life itself. The movie kind of upended my own expectations of what the movie was going to do by declining to offer a coming out story. 

Pipeline Artists  At first glance, one may assume the documentary The Sound of Identity will be a deep dive into the trans world of opera from the vantage point of Lucia Lucas—the first trans opera singer in the world to play the role of Don Giovanni. But instead of a singular view, director James Kicklighter exposes a rich perspective of a complex woman with an untraditional path, who strives to move people with her performances—to evoke emotion.

Operawire  Composer Nicolas Repetto, who composed the music for the film, said "James is one of the most hardworking young directors out there. He’s incredibly organized and radiates an extraordinary amount of energy about each project. He knows the subject matter and characters inside and out. I think that is the sign of a great filmmaker."

Director's Notes  I knew Lucia always had to be interviewed on a stage. This alluded to her historic performance, but also, the public stage of judgement that any otherized person stands upon. The stage gets bigger with every interview, representing the internal and external growth of her career. In each conversation, I fashioned the questions to represent each phase of her career within the three act structure. Once we left one stage, as with our development as artists, we would never return to that stage again. In the final cut of the film, we change stages every 30 minutes for each act.

One Film Fan  It is our very humanity thrust into the spotlight, a stirringly potent orchestration that revolves around raw talent, emboldened, hard-won confidence, all deftly placed into our scope of vision through this 90-minute documentary effort from director/editor James Kicklighter.

Inside the Arts  This is actually a good movie to show people who aren’t familiar with mounting a production because there is a lot of detail, but very little technical jargon. The movie is really about arts organizations and the environment in which they operate. If you have an opportunity to see the movie, I think you will enjoy it. 

IndyRed  It was about a subject I normally wouldn't go out of my way to learn about. Casting a trans woman as Giovanni is only the tag-line, only the hook - because with this film, there's simply so much more. 

UK Film Review  Kicklighter used this ground-breaking story to shine a light on the incredible talent present in the industry and The Sound of Identity might help to bring attention to the art form. 

Tulsa World  Seeing a crew of people lugging cameras and lighting equipment and setting up a filming location isn’t as rare a sight in the Tulsa area as was once the case.

Public Radio International  The New York Times sent a reporter. The Metropolitan Opera sent a casting representative. Lucas had a documentary crew following her around. And her dad, whom she hadn’t seen for a decade, flew in specially for the occasion.

Deadline Hollywood  Shout! Studios secured all North American distribution rights for the documentary which includes theatrical, digital, VOD, broadcast, and home entertainment for cross-platform releases. Shout! Studios is set to this movie across all major entertainment platforms.

Screen Rant  The Sound of Identity is an enthralling and introspective glimpse into the life of a trans woman in the modern arts.  Lucia Lucas' vividly inspiring story is translated perfectly to screen.

Film Threat  You see Lucia, Tobias, and the cast and crew of the opera as simply people, as the incredible artists that they are. That’s the point, and that’s how it should be.

The Independent Critic  As a longtime fan of James Kicklighter's work, I've become accustomed to the quality independent motion pictures he creates seemingly regardless of type or genre.  The Sound of Identity is, perhaps, the film that will, or at least should, make Kicklighter the household name he always should have been.

Elements of Madness  The Sound of Identity reveals itself as the rare documentary which evolves as it goes, taking the audience on a journey of the soul, uncovered piece by piece, moment by moment, conversation by conversation.

Slate  It’s about Lucas’s life, but isn’t really a biographical portrait. It’s a movie about art, principally what art can demand of those who make it, what art can tell us about life itself. The movie kind of upended my own expectations of what the movie was going to do by declining to offer a coming out story. 

Pipeline Artists  At first glance, one may assume the documentary The Sound of Identity will be a deep dive into the trans world of opera from the vantage point of Lucia Lucas—the first trans opera singer in the world to play the role of Don Giovanni. But instead of a singular view, director James Kicklighter exposes a rich perspective of a complex woman with an untraditional path, who strives to move people with her performances—to evoke emotion.

Operawire  Composer Nicolas Repetto, who composed the music for the film, said "James is one of the most hardworking young directors out there. He’s incredibly organized and radiates an extraordinary amount of energy about each project. He knows the subject matter and characters inside and out. I think that is the sign of a great filmmaker."

Director's Notes  I knew Lucia always had to be interviewed on a stage. This alluded to her historic performance, but also, the public stage of judgement that any otherized person stands upon. The stage gets bigger with every interview, representing the internal and external growth of her career. In each conversation, I fashioned the questions to represent each phase of her career within the three act structure. Once we left one stage, as with our development as artists, we would never return to that stage again. In the final cut of the film, we change stages every 30 minutes for each act.

One Film Fan  It is our very humanity thrust into the spotlight, a stirringly potent orchestration that revolves around raw talent, emboldened, hard-won confidence, all deftly placed into our scope of vision through this 90-minute documentary effort from director/editor James Kicklighter.

Inside the Arts  This is actually a good movie to show people who aren’t familiar with mounting a production because there is a lot of detail, but very little technical jargon. The movie is really about arts organizations and the environment in which they operate. If you have an opportunity to see the movie, I think you will enjoy it. 

IndyRed  It was about a subject I normally wouldn't go out of my way to learn about. Casting a trans woman as Giovanni is only the tag-line, only the hook - because with this film, there's simply so much more. 

UK Film Review  Kicklighter used this ground-breaking story to shine a light on the incredible talent present in the industry and The Sound of Identity might help to bring attention to the art form. 

Tulsa World  Seeing a crew of people lugging cameras and lighting equipment and setting up a filming location isn’t as rare a sight in the Tulsa area as was once the case.

Public Radio International  The New York Times sent a reporter. The Metropolitan Opera sent a casting representative. Lucas had a documentary crew following her around. And her dad, whom she hadn’t seen for a decade, flew in specially for the occasion.

Deadline Hollywood  Shout! Studios secured all North American distribution rights for the documentary which includes theatrical, digital, VOD, broadcast, and home entertainment for cross-platform releases. Shout! Studios is set to this movie across all major entertainment platforms. 

Screen Rant  The Sound of Identity is an enthralling and introspective glimpse into the life of a trans woman in the modern arts.  Lucia Lucas' vividly inspiring story is translated perfectly to screen.

Film Inquiry  I came to appreciate the film more than I had the first two times I had watched it. Because what I saw was an artist with a compassionate and intelligent vision that is both disciplined and inquisitive...the film bears the hallmarks of an instinctual and intuitive director. Kicklighter knows when to lean into elements that might seem superfluous and build on a contextual subterfuge that reinforces the film.

Film Threat  You see Lucia, Tobias, and the cast and crew of the opera as simply people, as the incredible artists that they are. That’s the point, and that’s how it should be.

The Advocate  The message of the film is bigger than Lucas: You can be trans and still live the life of your dreams. These things are not mutually exclusive. We still have a long way to go to reach full LGBTQ+ equality, especially for the trans community, but Lucas is an example of what's possible.  

The Independent Critic  As a longtime fan of James Kicklighter's work, I've become accustomed to the quality independent motion pictures he creates seemingly regardless of type or genre.  The Sound of Identity is, perhaps, the film that will, or at least should, make Kicklighter the household name he always should have been. 

Eye for Film  The Sound Of Identity is not only about how opera mingles with real life, how Lucas' creation becomes a personal manifesto...It is also a commentary on the boundaries and tasks of art. 

Queerty   James Kicklighter says, "This story, at its core, is about what it means to be an artist. I would be lying if I said I didn’t see myself in the story of Lucia, even if I’m not a transperson. I suspect many other artists will as well."

Atlanta Film Chat Podcast  James Kicklighter and his longtime cinematographer, Jonathan Pope, the Emmy-nominated director of photography of The Social Dilemma, discuss their early years as roommates at Georgia Southern University, their collaborative process and how they approached filming The Sound of Identity.

Elements of Madness  The Sound of Identity reveals itself as the rare documentary which evolves as it goes, taking the audience on a journey of the soul, uncovered piece by piece, moment by moment, conversation by conversation.

Slate  It’s about Lucas’s life, but isn’t really a biographical portrait. It’s a movie about art, principally what art can demand of those who make it, what art can tell us about life itself. The movie kind of upended my own expectations of what the movie was going to do by declining to offer a coming out story. 

Pipeline Artists  At first glance, one may assume the documentary The Sound of Identity will be a deep dive into the trans world of opera from the vantage point of Lucia Lucas—the first trans opera singer in the world to play the role of Don Giovanni. But instead of a singular view, director James Kicklighter exposes a rich perspective of a complex woman with an untraditional path, who strives to move people with her performances—to evoke emotion.

Operawire  Composer Nicolas Repetto, who composed the music for the film, said "James is one of the most hardworking young directors out there. He’s incredibly organized and radiates an extraordinary amount of energy about each project. He knows the subject matter and characters inside and out. I think that is the sign of a great filmmaker."

Director's Notes  I knew Lucia always had to be interviewed on a stage. This alluded to her historic performance, but also, the public stage of judgement that any otherized person stands upon. The stage gets bigger with every interview, representing the internal and external growth of her career. In each conversation, I fashioned the questions to represent each phase of her career within the three act structure. Once we left one stage, as with our development as artists, we would never return to that stage again. In the final cut of the film, we change stages every 30 minutes for each act.

One Film Fan  It is our very humanity thrust into the spotlight, a stirringly potent orchestration that revolves around raw talent, emboldened, hard-won confidence, all deftly placed into our scope of vision through this 90-minute documentary effort from director/editor James Kicklighter.

Inside the Arts  This is actually a good movie to show people who aren’t familiar with mounting a production because there is a lot of detail, but very little technical jargon. The movie is really about arts organizations and the environment in which they operate. If you have an opportunity to see the movie, I think you will enjoy it. 

IndyRed  It was about a subject I normally wouldn't go out of my way to learn about. Casting a trans woman as Giovanni is only the tag-line, only the hook - because with this film, there's simply so much more. 

UK Film Review  Kicklighter used this ground-breaking story to shine a light on the incredible talent present in the industry and The Sound of Identity might help to bring attention to the art form.  

Tulsa World  Seeing a crew of people lugging cameras and lighting equipment and setting up a filming location isn’t as rare a sight in the Tulsa area as was once the case.

Public Radio International  The New York Times sent a reporter. The Metropolitan Opera sent a casting representative. Lucas had a documentary crew following her around. And her dad, whom she hadn’t seen for a decade, flew in specially for the occasion.

Deadline Hollywood  Shout! Studios secured all North American distribution rights for the documentary which includes theatrical, digital, VOD, broadcast, and home entertainment for cross-platform releases. Shout! Studios is set to this movie across all major entertainment platforms. 

Screen Rant  The Sound of Identity is an enthralling and introspective glimpse into the life of a trans woman in the modern arts.  Lucia Lucas' vividly inspiring story is translated perfectly to screen.

Film Inquiry  I came to appreciate the film more than I had the first two times I had watched it. Because what I saw was an artist with a compassionate and intelligent vision that is both disciplined and inquisitive...the film bears the hallmarks of an instinctual and intuitive director. Kicklighter knows when to lean into elements that might seem superfluous and build on a contextual subterfuge that reinforces the film.

Film Threat  You see Lucia, Tobias, and the cast and crew of the opera as simply people, as the incredible artists that they are. That’s the point, and that’s how it should be.

The Advocate  The message of the film is bigger than Lucas: You can be trans and still live the life of your dreams. These things are not mutually exclusive. We still have a long way to go to reach full LGBTQ+ equality, especially for the trans community, but Lucas is an example of what's possible.  

The Independent Critic  As a longtime fan of James Kicklighter's work, I've become accustomed to the quality independent motion pictures he creates seemingly regardless of type or genre.  The Sound of Identity is, perhaps, the film that will, or at least should, make Kicklighter the household name he always should have been. 

Eye for Film  The Sound Of Identity is not only about how opera mingles with real life, how Lucas' creation becomes a personal manifesto...It is also a commentary on the boundaries and tasks of art. 

Queerty   James Kicklighter says, "This story, at its core, is about what it means to be an artist. I would be lying if I said I didn’t see myself in the story of Lucia, even if I’m not a transperson. I suspect many other artists will as well."

Elements of Madness  The Sound of Identity reveals itself as the rare documentary which evolves as it goes, taking the audience on a journey of the soul, uncovered piece by piece, moment by moment, conversation by conversation.

Slate  It’s about Lucas’s life, but isn’t really a biographical portrait. It’s a movie about art, principally what art can demand of those who make it, what art can tell us about life itself. The movie kind of upended my own expectations of what the movie was going to do by declining to offer a coming out story. 

Pipeline Artists  At first glance, one may assume the documentary The Sound of Identity will be a deep dive into the trans world of opera from the vantage point of Lucia Lucas—the first trans opera singer in the world to play the role of Don Giovanni. But instead of a singular view, director James Kicklighter exposes a rich perspective of a complex woman with an untraditional path, who strives to move people with her performances—to evoke emotion.

Operawire  Composer Nicolas Repetto, who composed the music for the film, said "James is one of the most hardworking young directors out there. He’s incredibly organized and radiates an extraordinary amount of energy about each project. He knows the subject matter and characters inside and out. I think that is the sign of a great filmmaker."

Director's Notes  I knew Lucia always had to be interviewed on a stage. This alluded to her historic performance, but also, the public stage of judgement that any otherized person stands upon. The stage gets bigger with every interview, representing the internal and external growth of her career. In each conversation, I fashioned the questions to represent each phase of her career within the three act structure. Once we left one stage, as with our development as artists, we would never return to that stage again. In the final cut of the film, we change stages every 30 minutes for each act. 

One Film Fan  It is our very humanity thrust into the spotlight, a stirringly potent orchestration that revolves around raw talent, emboldened, hard-won confidence, all deftly placed into our scope of vision through this 90-minute documentary effort from director/editor James Kicklighter.

Inside the Arts  This is actually a good movie to show people who aren’t familiar with mounting a production because there is a lot of detail, but very little technical jargon. The movie is really about arts organizations and the environment in which they operate. If you have an opportunity to see the movie, I think you will enjoy it. 

IndyRed  It was about a subject I normally wouldn't go out of my way to learn about. Casting a trans woman as Giovanni is only the tag-line, only the hook - because with this film, there's simply so much more. 

UK Film Review  Kicklighter used this ground-breaking story to shine a light on the incredible talent present in the industry and The Sound of Identity might help to bring attention to the art form. 

Tulsa World  Seeing a crew of people lugging cameras and lighting equipment and setting up a filming location isn’t as rare a sight in the Tulsa area as was once the case.

Public Radio International  The New York Times sent a reporter. The Metropolitan Opera sent a casting representative. Lucas had a documentary crew following her around. And her dad, whom she hadn’t seen for a decade, flew in specially for the occasion.

The Advocate  The message of the film is bigger than Lucas: You can be trans and still live the life of your dreams. These things are not mutually exclusive. We still have a long way to go to reach full LGBTQ+ equality, especially for the trans community, but Lucas is an example of what's possible. 

Film Inquiry  I came to appreciate the film more than I had the first two times I had watched it. Because what I saw was an artist with a compassionate and intelligent vision that is both disciplined and inquisitive...the film bears the hallmarks of an instinctual and intuitive director. Kicklighter knows when to lean into elements that might seem superfluous and build on a contextual subterfuge that reinforces the film.

Queerty  Armed with a majestic baritone voice and passionate acting chops...The Sound Of Identity plays like a reminder to viewers everywhere: what an actor does on stage or screen has nothing do to with her real life.

Eye for Film  The Sound Of Identity is not only about how opera mingles with real life, how Lucas' creation becomes a personal manifesto...It is also a commentary on the boundaries and tasks of art. 

Queerty   James Kicklighter says, "This story, at its core, is about what it means to be an artist. I would be lying if I said I didn’t see myself in the story of Lucia, even if I’m not a transperson. I suspect many other artists will as well."

Atlanta Film Chat Podcast  James Kicklighter and his longtime cinematographer, Jonathan Pope, the Emmy-nominated director of photography of The Social Dilemma, discuss their early years as roommates at Georgia Southern University, their collaborative process and how they approached filming The Sound of Identity.

Washington Blade  A layered, up-close profile of a trans pioneer forging new pathways to acceptance within the rarified environment of an insular professional community where trans inclusion has been far from the norm.

Transgender Partners  Director James Kicklighter weaves three art forms—opera, filmmaking and interview—into a single viewing experience that made Lucia’s seemingly different life something I could relate to, and more surprisingly, opera something that I suddenly saw as relevant. 

Operawire  As Kicklighter pointed out in our conversation, vocal tone, for better or for worse, is a defining aspect of gender. 

Vents Magazine  James Kicklighter is a fantastic collaborator and friend. He has a very refined musical palette and specific way of using music in his films. He loves themes, motifs, and ideas that help bond the story together musically. 

The Newnan Times-Herald  This story would be a carnival side-show in lesser hands, but Kicklighter finds his way in by concentrating on the baritone voice and the process built around it.

Playbill  A new documentary from James Kicklighter, titled The Sound of Identity, follows her journey leading up to her barrier-breaking bow.

Reviews by Amos Lassen  This brilliant film brings together art, talent and a transgender person who is about to give a whole new look at who we are and what we can do.

Screencritix  A lovingly crafted, intimate story following the creative process from beginning to end, The Sound of Identity is a hugely successful and modern addition to LGBT cinema.

Edge Media Network  It is impossible not to be taken up by both her charm and talent, and Kicklighter’s film makes us feel part of her great triumph too.

QueerguruTV  Kicklighter says, "I always had a clear idea in my mind the outcome for the film. Without giving it away, the way the film ends is precisely how I wanted it to happen, which was a major risk in hindsight. It's very gratifying, and rare as a director, when that occurs."

Broadway World  Principal filming on the documentary begins in April. The film will look into Ms. Lucas' life, and her love of opera, and will examine the affection the mid-sized modern American city of Tulsa - where Ms. Lucas will perform - has historically had for the arts. In the early 1900's, Tulsa had an Opera House before it had running water.

The Advocate  The message of the film is bigger than Lucas: You can be trans and still live the life of your dreams. These things are not mutually exclusive. We still have a long way to go to reach full LGBTQ+ equality, especially for the trans community, but Lucas is an example of what's possible.

Film Inquiry  I came to appreciate the film more than I had the first two times I had watched it. Because what I saw was an artist with a compassionate and intelligent vision that is both disciplined and inquisitive...the film bears the hallmarks of an instinctual and intuitive director. Kicklighter knows when to lean into elements that might seem superfluous and build on a contextual subterfuge that reinforces the film.

Queerty  Armed with a majestic baritone voice and passionate acting chops...The Sound Of Identity plays like a reminder to viewers everywhere: what an actor does on stage or screen has nothing do to with her real life.

Atlanta Film Chat Podcast  James Kicklighter and his longtime cinematographer, Jonathan Pope, the Emmy-nominated director of photography of The Social Dilemma, discuss their early years as roommates at Georgia Southern University, their collaborative process and how they approached filming The Sound of Identity.

Washington Blade  A layered, up-close profile of a trans pioneer forging new pathways to acceptance within the rarified environment of an insular professional community where trans inclusion has been far from the norm. 

Transgender Partners  Director James Kicklighter weaves three art forms—opera, filmmaking and interview—into a single viewing experience that made Lucia’s seemingly different life something I could relate to, and more surprisingly, opera something that I suddenly saw as relevant. 

Eye for Film  The Sound Of Identity is not only about how opera mingles with real life, how Lucas' creation becomes a personal manifesto...It is also a commentary on the boundaries and tasks of art. 

Queerty   James Kicklighter says, "This story, at its core, is about what it means to be an artist. I would be lying if I said I didn’t see myself in the story of Lucia, even if I’m not a transperson. I suspect many other artists will as well."

Operawire  As Kicklighter pointed out in our conversation, vocal tone, for better or for worse, is a defining aspect of gender. 

Vents Magazine  James Kicklighter is a fantastic collaborator and friend. He has a very refined musical palette and specific way of using music in his films. He loves themes, motifs, and ideas that help bond the story together musically. 

The Newnan Times-Herald  This story would be a carnival side-show in lesser hands, but Kicklighter finds his way in by concentrating on the baritone voice and the process built around it.

Playbill  A new documentary from James Kicklighter, titled The Sound of Identity, follows her journey leading up to her barrier-breaking bow.

Reviews by Amos Lassen  This brilliant film brings together art, talent and a transgender person who is about to give a whole new look at who we are and what we can do.

Screencritix  A lovingly crafted, intimate story following the creative process from beginning to end, The Sound of Identity is a hugely successful and modern addition to LGBT cinema.

Edge Media Network  It is impossible not to be taken up by both her charm and talent, and Kicklighter’s film makes us feel part of her great triumph too.

QueerguruTV  Kicklighter says, "I always had a clear idea in my mind the outcome for the film. Without giving it away, the way the film ends is precisely how I wanted it to happen, which was a major risk in hindsight. It's very gratifying, and rare as a director, when that occurs."

Broadway World  Principal filming on the documentary begins in April. The film will look into Ms. Lucas' life, and her love of opera, and will examine the affection the mid-sized modern American city of Tulsa - where Ms. Lucas will perform - has historically had for the arts. In the early 1900's, Tulsa had an Opera House before it had running water.

The Advocate  The message of the film is bigger than Lucas: You can be trans and still live the life of your dreams. These things are not mutually exclusive. We still have a long way to go to reach full LGBTQ+ equality, especially for the trans community, but Lucas is an example of what's possible. 

Film Inquiry  I came to appreciate the film more than I had the first two times I had watched it. Because what I saw was an artist with a compassionate and intelligent vision that is both disciplined and inquisitive...the film bears the hallmarks of an instinctual and intuitive director. Kicklighter knows when to lean into elements that might seem superfluous and build on a contextual subterfuge that reinforces the film.

Queerty  Armed with a majestic baritone voice and passionate acting chops...The Sound Of Identity plays like a reminder to viewers everywhere: what an actor does on stage or screen has nothing do to with her real life.

Washington Blade  A layered, up-close profile of a trans pioneer forging new pathways to acceptance within the rarified environment of an insular professional community where trans inclusion has been far from the norm. 

Transgender Partners  Director James Kicklighter weaves three art forms—opera, filmmaking and interview—into a single viewing experience that made Lucia’s seemingly different life something I could relate to, and more surprisingly, opera something that I suddenly saw as relevant. 

Eye for Film  The Sound Of Identity is not only about how opera mingles with real life, how Lucas' creation becomes a personal manifesto...It is also a commentary on the boundaries and tasks of art. 

Queerty   James Kicklighter says, "This story, at its core, is about what it means to be an artist. I would be lying if I said I didn’t see myself in the story of Lucia, even if I’m not a transperson. I suspect many other artists will as well."

Atlanta Film Chat Podcast  James Kicklighter and his longtime cinematographer, Jonathan Pope, the Emmy-nominated director of photography of The Social Dilemma, discuss their early years as roommates at Georgia Southern University, their collaborative process and how they approached filming The Sound of Identity.

Operawire  As Kicklighter pointed out in our conversation, vocal tone, for better or for worse, is a defining aspect of gender. 

The Newnan Times-Herald  This story would be a carnival side-show in lesser hands, but Kicklighter finds his way in by concentrating on the baritone voice and the process built around it.

Vents Magazine  James Kicklighter is a fantastic collaborator and friend. He has a very refined musical palette and specific way of using music in his films. He loves themes, motifs, and ideas that help bond the story together musically. 

Playbill  A new documentary from James Kicklighter, titled The Sound of Identity, follows her journey leading up to her barrier-breaking bow.

Reviews by Amos Lassen  This brilliant film brings together art, talent and a transgender person who is about to give a whole new look at who we are and what we can do.

Screencritix  A lovingly crafted, intimate story following the creative process from beginning to end, The Sound of Identity is a hugely successful and modern addition to LGBT cinema.

Edge Media Network  It is impossible not to be taken up by both her charm and talent, and Kicklighter’s film makes us feel part of her great triumph too.

QueerguruTV  Kicklighter says, "I always had a clear idea in my mind the outcome for the film. Without giving it away, the way the film ends is precisely how I wanted it to happen, which was a major risk in hindsight. It's very gratifying, and rare as a director, when that occurs."

Broadway World  Principal filming on the documentary begins in April. The film will look into Ms. Lucas' life, and her love of opera, and will examine the affection the mid-sized modern American city of Tulsa - where Ms. Lucas will perform - has historically had for the arts. In the early 1900's, Tulsa had an Opera House before it had running water.

Operawire  As Kicklighter pointed out in our conversation, vocal tone, for better or for worse, is a defining aspect of gender. 

Queerty  Armed with a majestic baritone voice and passionate acting chops...The Sound Of Identity plays like a reminder to viewers everywhere: what an actor does on stage or screen has nothing do to with her real life.

Washington Blade  A layered, up-close profile of a trans pioneer forging new pathways to acceptance within the rarified environment of an insular professional community where trans inclusion has been far from the norm. 

Transgender Partners   Director James Kicklighter weaves three art forms—opera, filmmaking and interview—into a single viewing experience that made Lucia’s seemingly different life something I could relate to, and more surprisingly, opera something that I suddenly saw as relevant. 

The Newnan Times-Herald  This story would be a carnival side-show in lesser hands, but Kicklighter finds his way in by concentrating on the baritone voice and the process built around it.

Vents Magazine  James Kicklighter is a fantastic collaborator and friend. He has a very refined musical palette and specific way of using music in his films. He loves themes, motifs, and ideas that help bond the story together musically. 

Playbill  A new documentary from James Kicklighter, titled The Sound of Identity, follows her journey leading up to her barrier-breaking bow.

Reviews by Amos Lassen  This brilliant film brings together art, talent and a transgender person who is about to give a whole new look at who we are and what we can do.

Screencritix  A lovingly crafted, intimate story following the creative process from beginning to end, The Sound of Identity is a hugely successful and modern addition to LGBT cinema.

Edge Media Network  It is impossible not to be taken up by both her charm and talent, and Kicklighter’s film makes us feel part of her great triumph too.

QueerguruTV  Kicklighter says, "I always had a clear idea in my mind the outcome for the film. Without giving it away, the way the film ends is precisely how I wanted it to happen, which was a major risk in hindsight. It's very gratifying, and rare as a director, when that occurs." 

Broadway World  Principal filming on the documentary begins in April. The film will look into Ms. Lucas' life, and her love of opera, and will examine the affection the mid-sized modern American city of Tulsa - where Ms. Lucas will perform - has historically had for the arts. In the early 1900's, Tulsa had an Opera House before it had running water.

Operawire  As Kicklighter pointed out in our conversation, vocal tone, for better or for worse, is a defining aspect of gender. 

Queerty  Armed with a majestic baritone voice and passionate acting chops...The Sound Of Identity plays like a reminder to viewers everywhere: what an actor does on stage or screen has nothing do to with her real life.

Atlanta Film Chat Podcast  James Kicklighter and his longtime cinematographer, Jonathan Pope, the Emmy-nominated director of photography of The Social Dilemma, discuss their early years as roommates at Georgia Southern University, their collaborative process and how they approached filming The Sound of Identity.

Washington Blade  A layered, up-close profile of a trans pioneer forging new pathways to acceptance within the rarified environment of an insular professional community where trans inclusion has been far from the norm. 

Transgender Partners   Director James Kicklighter weaves three art forms—opera, filmmaking and interview—into a single viewing experience that made Lucia’s seemingly different life something I could relate to, and more surprisingly, opera something that I suddenly saw as relevant. 

The Newnan Times-Herald  This story would be a carnival side-show in lesser hands, but Kicklighter finds his way in by concentrating on the baritone voice and the process built around it.

Vents Magazine  James Kicklighter is a fantastic collaborator and friend. He has a very refined musical palette and specific way of using music in his films. He loves themes, motifs, and ideas that help bond the story together musically. 

Playbill  A new documentary from James Kicklighter, titled The Sound of Identity, follows her journey leading up to her barrier-breaking bow.

Reviews by Amos Lassen  This brilliant film brings together art, talent and a transgender person who is about to give a whole new look at who we are and what we can do.

Screencritix  A lovingly crafted, intimate story following the creative process from beginning to end, The Sound of Identity is a hugely successful and modern addition to LGBT cinema.

Edge Media Network  It is impossible not to be taken up by both her charm and talent, and Kicklighter’s film makes us feel part of her great triumph too.

QueerguruTV  Kicklighter says, "I always had a clear idea in my mind the outcome for the film. Without giving it away, the way the film ends is precisely how I wanted it to happen, which was a major risk in hindsight. It's very gratifying, and rare as a director, when that occurs."

Broadway World  Principal filming on the documentary begins in April. The film will look into Ms. Lucas' life, and her love of opera, and will examine the affection the mid-sized modern American city of Tulsa - where Ms. Lucas will perform - has historically had for the arts. In the early 1900's, Tulsa had an Opera House before it had running water.