On a farm, if an animal didn’t serve their purpose they did not survive. Five-year-old Beth, the youngest in a large family, struggles with the parallels

From the brilliant minds of the short and series ‘Downward Dog‘, Shoebox brings a more drama animal story to the table. On a Pennsylvania farm in the 1980’s, if an animal didn’t serve their purpose they did not survive. Five-year-old Beth, the youngest in a large family, struggles with the parallels to her own position. As a result, she then makes it her mission to care for the weak. Based on the autobiographical book “Shoebox Funeral” by Elisabeth Voltz.

Beth Voltz, the writer/editor of the film, wrote a book about her experiences where she describes her interminable love for all the animals that were part of her life. The book reads like a journal on how a child deals with the brutality of life on a farm while attempting to figure out who she was on the bottom end of a family of 12. As filmmakers we wanted the story to feel authentic to Beth’s own experience, while working with a 5 year-old and live animals, which had many challenges and required deep patience. We’re in the process and have intentions to develop it out as a series.

NOTE: any animal that appears to be deceased in the film was an expensive prop. All were legitimate farm animals and no animals were harmed for this project. The ducks are living happily on Beth’s parent’s farm today and the rescue kittens were all adopted.

Based on a true story, Shoebox gently grasps us from its emotional and personal narrative. Our hearts are warmed up by the little girl’s giant ambitions driven from her life’s parallels. Played by the charming Maybrie Grace.