What happens when the characters of a novel step off the page and onto the screen?

Crimson Kairos LLC is exploring that question with a new AI-assisted short short promotional film inspired by Pearl, the debut novel by Chief Founding Artist Rhonda Welsh. 

The film introduces viewers to four generations of women whose lives form the heart of the novel: Eliza, Pearline, Mae Ruth, and Rae. Through a series of animated portraits, the characters emerge as individuals connected by family, history, secrets, and an extraordinary inheritance.

The project represents an experiment in storytelling and book promotion, combining literature, visual imagination, and emerging artificial intelligence technology.

For Welsh, who independently wrote and published Pearl in 2026, the film offers another way to invite audiences into the world she created. It also demonstrates how independent artists can use accessible technology to extend their creative work beyond traditional formats.

At its heart, however, the story remains unchanged. Pearl is a multigenerational American novel about the things families carry, the truths they leave unspoken, and the possibilities that emerge when someone finally begins asking questions.

The short short film offers a glimpse of the women behind those questions. You can view it here.

Four generations. One extraordinary inheritance.

Discover Pearl and purchase your copy at crimsonkairos.com/store.