Far be it from me to tell a child about life’s harsh realities or to tell them never to dream about the future. In Brandon Oldenburg and Limbert Fabian’s fantasy short, Chase Your Dreams, a young girl goes on the adventure of a lifetime.
A little girl (Harper Burns) in a white tutu sits in the middle of her backyard as a butterfly flutters by. She has to dance. Out of the corner of her eye, she notices something watching her from the edge of the forest: a big, shaggy, pinkish-red creature with googly eyes and a goofy orange grin. This is her Dream (Christopher Oldenburg). He shows her a pair of ballet slippers, then slips them on himself and takes off. She is forced to chase her Dream.
Chasing is exactly what she does in the next phase of her life. At 10 (Everly Dobay), she’s tearing down a school hallway after her Dream. At 15 (Quinlin Maconachy), she’s tripping over hurdles on the darkened stage of her school play. Finally, at 21 (Riley Emler), she’s lost in a crowded, red-lit dance party, with no idea where her Dream went.
The Dancer (Riley Emler) smiles on stage under a spotlight in Chase Your Dreams.
“A little girl in a white tutu sits in the middle of her backyard as a butterfly flutters by.”
Chase Your Dreams comes from Brandon Oldenburg and Limbert Fabian, a Texas-based duo who work together as InBetween. Their work spans everything from illustration and miniatures to hybrid live-action and immersive theater.
Inspired by the idea of pursuing a childhood dream over a lifetime, the filmmakers give us a young girl who, through grit and determination, chases a “fantastical spirited creature,” vowing to let nothing derail her.
Sure, some may say this short is a bit too artsy, but it decidedly gets the point across. From start to finish, the story is full of whimsy and wonder. Chasing a dream makes capturing it the greatest artistic accomplishment a child can achieve.
For screening information, visit the Chase Your Dreams official website.
"…a big, shaggy, pinkish-red creature with googly eyes..."
