Relief for the Spiritually Parched

by John Priddy

As a special encore presentation, we are proud to present “Dried Up,” by Stuart Bury, Jeremy Casper and Isaiah Powers. We invite you to gaze through the artistic and creative lens of puppet animation in order to truly “see” this compelling story about perseverance, faith and character.

“This imaginative, 6-minute, stop animation short offers refreshment for the parched soul – and a magnificent surprise ending.”
– Director Monica Moreno, Angelus Student Film Festival

A Brief Synopsis:

“Dried Up” is the story of a quiet old man who, surrounded by desolation and apathy, perseveres to remain true to the nature of his own beliefs and character. He toils daily on a last-ditch effort to bring hope and life to a faithless, drought-ridden town.

My Personal Reflections about this Film:

I was researching “Dried Up” and its ingenious genre, and found myself quite impressed. The sheer effort required in creating this film — in the face of multiple technical obstacles and challenges — must have felt a bit like facing down the drought that serves as its storyline. But, just like the film’s main character, the filmmakers obviously had the moral fiber to stay true to their vision, the faith to know they would ultimately prevail, and the perseverance to see it through.

As we muddle through current economic challenges, many people have compared the things that have come against us as a tsunami, hurricane or other natural disaster. “Dried Up” made me think about drought as an equally apt metaphor.

During the 1930s, drought hit virtually all the Great Plains states. Its direct effect is most often remembered as being agricultural: Farmland throughout the region was damaged by minimal rainfall, high temperatures and winds, insect infestations and dust storms. The significant crop loss contributed to the Great Depression’s bank closures, business losses, increased unemployment, and other physical and emotional hardships.

While our current “drought” isn’t due to lack of rain, it has contributed to a “depression” nonetheless. In my view, the lack of sound financial principles and good stewardship lie at the heart of our present difficulties. We spent more than we made, relied on the promise of cheap credit, and gorged ourselves on the “fruit of the land” — leaving the economic “landscape” parched and dry. And it still hasn’t rained enough.

Perhaps this week’s film will stimulate a Windy conversation about our current “drought,” our culpability in it, and our need for deliverance from it. Faith, character and perseverance will be required in our conversations and solutions. Achieving effective recovery — like the one that followed the Great Depression — is not for the faint of heart.

Director’s Biography, Noted Screenings, Honors:

“Dried Up” was the thesis film for Kansas City Art Institute students Stuart Bury, Jeremy Casper and Isaiah Powers. The film won a 2009 Angelus honorable mention for Best Animation. The filmmakers say their method for appropriating “found objects” in their animation mirrors the action their main character takes in cobbling together his special creation. In addition to screening in its “hometown” (at the Kansas City Fringe Fest), “Dried Up” has been an official selection at the Anchorage International Film Festival, the Ottawa International Animation Festival, and the Dam Short Film Festival in Boulder City, Nev.

To view some great images and back-story about the film and filmmakers, visit http://driedup.wordpress.com/