Between the Earth and the Sky - Short Narrative - USA

Director Dawson Bryant

In a world where reincarnation is real, but commercialized as afterlife insurance, an old raccoon must say goodbye to his best friend, a young puppy, on his last day in the afterlife.

As someone who has always loved creating things, I have lived as a loner for the better part of my childhood, with only a few good friends growing up. At a young age, I started taking ADHD medication and was diagnosed with dermatitis, a dry skin condition. Other kids kept their distance from me because of those two reasons. However, the few that stuck by me made me realize that I had the capability to make friends while still being who I wanted to be, which kept me going. This blossomed into a love for independence and self-expressive creation. In high school, the lack of sociability due to the medication made for a feeling of loss. I picked up an interest in cameras and directed music videos as English class projects before my senior year. This not only helped me make more friends but also gave me a creative avenue to hone in on and overcome my need for medication. In college, I studied film and television production with an interest in sound. I graduated in the Spring of 2022 and immediately moved to Atlanta, where I currently reside to pursue film and make much-needed connections.

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Director Statement
​As a writer, this film was special because it helped me cope with the pandemic and isolation in general, as well as life, death, and the concept of family. As a director, it has morphed into a new love for the characters, I picture Wendel as an older version of myself, who's lived long enough to have answers, though still figuring things out himself. And Stanley, a younger version, who does not completely believe in himself and hopes that life will guide him along in his quest for self-discovery. It gives me comfort knowing that I am somewhere in the middle of the two. Perhaps... Between?