In May 2025, I participated in a challenge. Director Olaf De Fleur pushed filmmakers to make a 10-second micro short film, making bold creative choices to reveal their voice and experiment visually. The expectation was to craft a clear, compelling story—with a beginning, middle, and end—within a tight container.
Thinking at frist that the notion was… ludicrous, I prayed about the challenge and soon began to imagine a story that sprang from some of my recent anxieties as a parent. The micro narrative unfolded and I got started.
In the end, I enjoyed writing, directing, and editing this experimental micro short in which a young man is observed through time. The actual script for the film can be read here: WANDER.pdf.
The challenge also gave me the opportunity to work with DaVinci Resolve Studio, a non-linear editing platform that I had been considering for the production of a future short film.
I submitted my humble little short and moved on, grateful for the opportunity to create and understand a bit more about myself as a filmmaker.
About a month later in June, Olaf announced that my micro short won the competition. What a nice surprise. Here’s what Olaf and his panel of judges said about WANDER:
Ralston’s film stood out for its eerie world-building, emotional resonance, gripping storytelling, and striking cinematography. In just ten seconds, “WANDER” managed to transport us into a fully realized moment—unsettling, beautiful, and memorable. It’s a true testament to the power of vision and precision, even in the shortest format.
See the announcement of the film’s win on Olaf’s website here.
While I was certainly happy for this recognition for the film, the challenge’s to-the-frame 10 second mandate yielded an experience that fell short of my vision. So I got back to work on it.
In mid July, I quietly released a director’s cut version of WANDER. It’s an expanded experience that attempts a more accurate expression of the story I imagined at the start of the original project. An experience that wasn’t possible inside of 10 seconds.
At one minute and 12 seconds, WANDER – DIRECTOR’S CUT better realizes my original and evolved vision for the character of Evrywun, played by my son Caleb who was 16 at the time of filming. The expanded experience introduced a second, unseen character’s perspective and led to the composition of a score for the film—an exciting first for me.
I’m grateful for the absurdity of Olaf’s challenge, the courage God gave me to participate, and the chance to finally work with Caleb on the performer’s side of the camera. Good times.