Private Project

The Storyteller

LOGLINE
A jaded Army veteran-turned-janitor works nights at a car museum loaded with history. One night, he receives an unexpected phone call that changes everything.

SYNOPSIS
An Iraq war veteran suffering from PTSD, Chase (43), works nights as a janitor at a car museum — perfect for him, because he prefers to be alone. He thoughtfully dusts, vacuums, and polishes with striking attention to detail, occasionally taking breaks to longingly stare at the historic photos of Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles after they won Le Mans in 1966. His reverie is broken when the phone rings; it's a little boy, who thinks he's called The Storyteller's Hotline. Touched by the boy's innocence, Chase tells him a story that launches them into the world of 1960's car racing. Chase realizes that the boy has fallen asleep, and goes back to work... until the phone rings again.

  • Allison Volk
    Director
    All Choked Up, Gone Turbo, What Katy Did
  • Allison Volk
    Writer
  • Colin Martin
    Key Cast
    "Chase"
    Deany Bean is Dead, Gone Turbo
  • Jake Belliston
    Key Cast
    "Boy"
  • Brian Landis Folkins
    Key Cast
    "Max"
    Rent-a-Pal
  • Scott Park
    Director of Photography
    Reservation Dogs, Black Panther, All Choked Up
  • Peder Morgenthaler
    Editor
    Hoax, Cycle Veritas, All Choked Up
  • Jason McDaniel
    Sound Design
    Cycle Veritas, All Choked Up
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Family
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 29 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 31, 2023
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Allison Volk

Allison Volk is a screenwriter, filmmaker and actress. Her short films have played at film festivals globally, including WHAT KATY DID, which screened at Comic Con San Diego summer 2022.

Her feature film DEANY BEAN IS DEAD (a dark comedy, which Volk wrote, produced, and starred in) premiered in Hollywood, CA at the 2022 Dances with Films Festival, directed by Austrian filmmaker Mikael Kreuzriegler. It is now available on Amazon Prime.

Volk’s stage plays have been produced in New York and Los Angeles, including the comedy RITE OF SEYMOUR (premiered by Drive Theater Company); the comedy SONNETS, SONGS & SORRY, WILL’S BEEN DEAD 400 YEARS! (commissioned in 2016 by Shakespeare Orange County); and the one-act THE LAST TWO PEOPLE ON THE PLATFORM, which won the Denise Regan Wisenmeyer Award for Playwriting in 2010.

Volk is the creator of CURTIS & OTIS, a comedic narrative podcast released November, 2021 and available on all major podcast platforms.

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