Discover the Inspiration Behind "The Storyteller" with Filmmaker Allison Volk

“My husband plays the lead role in the film. I wanted to write something that I felt showed off his strengths as a performer. I was interested in exploring a more positive/hopeful depiction of PTSD, and the character Chase was born.”

Faustina Bowen

January 10, 2025

With expanding Industrious Family Theater has come getting to know a few more of our filmmaking acquaintances better and getting more familiar with their work. One of these new friends is Allison Volk, director of The Storyteller short film, now featured on the Theater!

Plot Summary of The Storyteller Short Story

The short film follows an Iraq war veteran suffering from PTSD named Chase. He 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.

The Themes in The Storyteller Short Story by Allison Volk

"I think it’s good to create pieces that uplift audiences and give us a sense of hope and community. That was my intention with the project.

"My husband, Colin Martin, plays the lead role in the film. I wanted to write something that I felt showed off his strengths as a performer, and we had just watched BARRY, a show with a lead character who suffered from PTSD. I was interested in exploring a more positive/hopeful depiction of PTSD, and the character Chase was born."

The real charm of this short film is the fact that PTSD is a very real problem that is difficult to portray in film without it seeming to be made up. Allison did a great job of telling her short story with subtle hints of what the character was thinking and feeling. 

The beginning with Chase looking over a clear field while sounds of war are heard is a great way of showing that he had some things he was dealing with without using any words. I liked that. 

"The entire film was filmed onsite at a Shelby museum. We were able to shoot there because my dad is the executive director at the museum.

"I approached him and asked if we could shoot a project that would show off the collection and celebrate Shelby Racing history, and with him on board, the rest was easy.

"Although it was amazing to be able to film at such a location, it was honestly a challenge shooting at the museum. The day we shot it snowed really hard, which was great for our opening scene, but tough on the team otherwise.

"The museum has a huge heater, a high, echoing ceiling, and lots of extremely valuable and delicate memorabilia and historic cars! All those things presented unique challenges for us in having a crew present (and a green screen) at the venue."

Another strength the film has is that it is lighthearted despite the more serious undertone. The green screened race makes the viewer feel like we are getting into Chase’s imagination and doesn’t feel tacky or overly “green screen-y” at all. 

"The themes portrayed in this film are usually at the center of my work, although it often takes a more sardonic tone. I can’t help it!”

Watching The Storyteller short film also reminds me of themes touched on books like Silas Marner or even How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The character of Chase opens the film being rather melancholy, even showing some disdain for the preferences of others as if they aren’t worth his notice.

When Chase gets the phone call, he begins by displaying annoyance at the interruption. Once he connects with the child on the other end of the phone, there is a shift in his attitude. He finds the child, although unable to understand his own struggle at all, lonely and afraid of phantoms that come to him in the night.

Through this connection, Chase is able to tell a story that alleviates some of his own pain as well as get the child to sleep with a moral that "some things are more important than winning". Just getting that chance call from one innocent child touches Chase and makes him feel like he is being given a second chance. 

I felt this made the story emanate with compassion and tell a great story about the very real struggle of PTSD and I applaud Allison's attempt to tell such a story.