GRUFF is a handmade, paper short film I've been designing, building, puppeteering, and editing across almost three years. It's a story about the people you know love you, but aren’t exactly verbal about it. It’s how I've processed my dad’s passing, and learned how to love people who don't love exactly like me. I believe we all have individuals in our lives, related or not, that pride themselves as the "strong silent types". Through this short film, I hope all of us can learn to empathize, connect, and more deeply love the those who have so much more to say than we think, and just need us to listen. I hope you enjoy "GRUFF". Written, Directed, & Animated by JULIAN CURI Starring JOEY MARIE URBINA as Hazel AVILA KAST as Bo CHARLES CARPENTER as Abuelo With BRADFORD LOOMIS as the Narrator VINCE MELAMED as El Mayor/El Pistolero KRISTIN CURI as Bonita KAISER JOHNSON as Farmer Jim KEELEY JOHNSON as Farmer Jane Produced by JULIAN CURI, KEELEY BRIGHT, KAISER JOHNSON, & IVY ISENBERG Director of Photography, Editor, Production Design, Visual Effects & Puppeteering JULIAN CURI Original Score ROLAND BINGAMAN Casting Director IVY ISENBERG Production Assistant, 1st Assistant Camera KRISTIN CURI