Trailblazer in Consideration for Three Grammy Awards
Singer Studios’ Emmy-nominated VR team brings Bertha Benz’s groundbreaking journey to life in a critically acclaimed immersive experience now in consideration for three Grammy Awards.
Trailblazer, the award-winning immersive VR experience directed by Eloise Singer and starring Daisy Ridley, is officially in consideration for the 2025 Grammy Awards. The project, composed by Mike Ladouceur, has been submitted across three categories, marking a major milestone in the recognition of immersive media within the global music industry.
Bertha Benz: A Journey That Changed the World
Sixty-six miles might not sound like much today, but in 1888, Bertha Benz’s drive from Mannheim to Pforzheim in Germany changed history. With roads barely built and the car still a prototype, her voyage became the world’s first long-distance drive — and a revolution in mobility.
Trailblazer puts audiences in Bertha’s shoes, inviting players to help assemble the first motorcar, solve challenges, and take the wheel on her historic road trip. Guided by Ridley’s narration, this 20-minute experience combines escape-room-style puzzles with a cinematic recreation of 19th-century Germany, allowing audiences to relive Bertha’s ingenuity and resilience.
From VR to Feature Film
Trailblazer premiered at Venice, Cannes, and SXSW, before launching globally on Meta Quest in May 2025.
The project is now evolving beyond VR, with a feature film adaptation in development from Oscar and BAFTA-winning writer and executive producer Lesley Paterson (All Quiet on the Western Front). This rare pipeline from VR to feature cinema demonstrates how immersive media can serve as a proof-of-concept for large-scale film and television storytelling.
Creative Team
Director: Eloise Singer
Writers: Eloise Singer & Jedidjah Noomen
Narration: Daisy Ridley (Star Wars)
Composer: Mike Ladouceur
Looking Ahead
As Trailblazer continues its journey — from international festival premieres to feature film development, and now in consideration on the world’s biggest music stage — it stands as proof of how immersive media can reshape the way we tell stories.
Through Daisy Ridley’s narration, and Mike Ladouceur’s score, Trailblazer celebrates not just the legacy of Bertha Benz, but the limitless possibilities of storytelling across mediums.
In consideration for the 2026 Grammy Awards, Trailblazer marks a bold step forward for VR, music, and cinema alike.
