Experiencing Interruptions?

Windyville

Windyville has a secret shared among its residents which defines their existence but disappears when people depart from the town. The truth about Windyville remains forgotten by all outsiders who leave its borders because the townspeople eventually gave up trying to share their story with the world.

During her cross-country road trip, journalist Ruth accidentally finds herself in Windyville and uncovers what the town keeps hidden. She remains steadfast while previous visitors allowed the secret to fade away. As she fights to hold onto what she’s discovered, one question remains: Will she succeed in being the first to break free from the town's secret or will she succumb to forgetting as others have?

  • Dusty Dale Barker
    Writer
  • Dusty Dale Barker
    Director
    What Would Spider-Man Do?, Memento Mori, A Classic Whack & Run
  • Dusty Dale Barker
    Producer
  • Jim Adams IV
    Producer
  • Ali Alsaleh
    Key Cast
    "John"
    Ms.Marvel, Young Rock
  • Ashley Wolfe
    Key Cast
    "Ruth"
    Memento Mori
  • Wyatt Earp
    Key Cast
    "Ray"
    Tombstone
  • Skylar Spisak
    Key Cast
    "Jane"
  • Dusty Dale Barker
    Key Cast
    "Cary"
  • Lauren Conklin
    Composer
    Abigail, As Real As You Make It, Memento Mori
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Sci-Fi
  • Runtime:
    18 minutes 51 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 10, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    2,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States, United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States, United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Dusty Dale Barker

As a native from the Missouri Ozarks Dusty Dale Barker has achieved great success in both film and photography. Through his work as a filmmaker, photographer and actor Dusty achieved lasting influence across different artistic fields while demonstrating his strong commitment to storytelling.

Dusty has earned widespread recognition for his photographic skills besides his filmmaking achievements. Rolling Stone and People Magazine have displayed Dusty's photographs of musicians and celebrities along with his stunning landscape images alongside The Wall Street Journal and Billboard.

Dusty combines his exceptional photography skills with narrative filmmaking to create compelling stories through his distinctive visual approach. Dusty blends intricate details with genuine storytelling to construct immersive worlds that connect powerfully with audiences. His artwork provides access to powerful stories that captivate audiences and create a memorable impact.

Dusty has earned numerous achievements and accolades throughout his career in film and photography. His exceptional talent as a director combined with his narrative prowess has garnered him prestigious accolades at top film festivals. Dusty's first script and short film achieved an incredible win at the Nashville 48 Hour Film Competition in 2021 and earned a selection spot at the prestigious Nashville Film Festival. This dual triumph demonstrated his exceptional ability to produce quality work within strict time constraints while confirming his distinctive storytelling style which resonated with both audiences and industry professionals.

Dusty repeated his success at the Nashville 48 Hour Film Competition in 2022 and received 10 award nominations during the 2023 Competition. His repeated successes established him as an emerging artist who possesses a unique creative vision. The renowned Nashville Film Festival chose his award-winning films as official selections which helped strengthen his standing in the industry.

Dusty Dale Barker uses his exceptional storytelling abilities and photographic skills alongside his versatile talents to create pioneering work that profoundly impacts both the hearts and minds of viewers. His captivating performances alongside evocative imagery and award-winning films help him tell stories that deeply move people and establish his position as a visionary industry artist.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Since 2016 when the concept first emerged I have dedicated myself to the passion project of Windyville. The idea for this project started as a book about an isolated town which remains undiscovered by outsiders but contains a secret with global implications.

Further exploration of the concept revealed that it exceeded the boundaries of a traditional book. It had the makings of a film. Through exploring the story's depth and world expansion alongside the mythology development I realized it would transform into a full TV series. Windyville has been developed as a complex world with distinct rules alongside characters and themes that will stretch across five seasons.

My goal in late 2022 was to author a short film within this universe as a demonstration of my capabilities rather than a proof of concept. I aimed to produce a work that would exhibit both this world and Nashville’s rising film community talent.

Windyville stands on a foundation of Greek mythology which sees its stories pass through multiple generations while continuously evolving. Every line in this film matters. Every character decision carries weight. Nothing is accidental.

This short film provides a preview of a much larger work. I hope you enjoy it since questions mean I've done my job well.
As I explored the idea further, I realized it was more than a book. It had the makings of a film. But as the story deepened, the world expanded, and the mythology unfolded, I knew it was something even bigger—a full TV series. Now, Windyville is an intricately built world with its own rules, characters, and themes, designed to carry through five seasons.

In late 2022, I set out to write a short film set within this universe—not as a proof of concept, but as a proof of me. I wanted to create something that showcased not only this world but also the incredible talent emerging from Nashville’s growing film community.

At its core, Windyville is heavily rooted in Greek mythology, where stories are told, retold, and reborn across generations. Every line in this film matters. Every character decision carries weight. Nothing is accidental.

This short is a glimpse into something much larger. I hope you enjoy it—and if you find yourself left with questions, then I’ve done my job right.