South Putnam graduate to appear in 'The Dead Files' this Saturday

Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Courtesy photo South Putnam graduate and professional artist Susan Shorter on the set for episode 609 of the Travel Channel's "The Dead Files."

South Putnam graduate and professional artist Susan (Anderson) Shorter will appear in episode 609 of the '"The Dead Files" this Saturday.

The Travel Channel show features Amy Allan, a medium, and Steve DiShiavi, a retired homicide detective. Together, the two investigate paranormal reports throughout the U.S. When Allan sees an apparition, the Travel Channel finds a local artist to sketch her vision.

"It's kind of like a sketch artist in court," Shorter told Sabrina Westfall, the original reporter, in July. "She will describe it, then I will draw it."

The Travel Channel had initially contacted Shorter's husband, who thought it was a hoax, but after being reassured that it was not, he sent them Shorter's web address. The rest is history.

Shorter was required to memorize two lines for her part, and to keep her sketches a secret until the airing of the show, which was originally supposed to be in December.

She had never seen the show when the Travel Channel contacted her for the part, and she decided to keep it that way until after filming.

"At first I was petrified," Shorter said about appearing on set. "But after I got there, everyone was so personable. Actually I really enjoyed it."

She also said that keeping the secret has been the hardest part, especially since she's had to keep it so long.

"It's been stressful because you just want to see it so bad," Shorter said. "And after a while my friends and family were like, 'Did I miss it?'"

After the episode airs, she plans to frame the sketches Allan had drawn for her as a guide.

"I wondered what they would go for on Ebay," she said. "But I'll probably frame them and keep them in my studio."

Shorter lives with her husband in Spencer and works as an illustrator for Author Solutions, where she draws "people's ideas and characters every day."

Since her role in "The Dead Files," Shorter has also been an extra in the horror movie "Headless" and a finalist in the "Game of Thrones" Compendium competition. The drawing she created for the competition is now owned by Jason Momoa himself, whom she met at last year's Comic Con. She also has a celebrity fan in Ilan Mitchel Smith, who played Wyatt in "Weird Science."

"Honestly, it is a combination of two things: Who you know, and the internet," Shorter said. "I met Scott Schirmer, the director of 'Headless,' when he was still working for Author Solutions creating their mini videos for their websites. He always films his movies locally, so when he said he needed some friends who knew how to roller-skate for his new movie, I jumped at the chance."

Of meeting Momoa, she said, "He was just lovely in person, such a nice guy."

With the help of the internet, Shorter connects with her fans and sells her work to people in Germany, France and other countries. Art lovers can view her work on her website at www.susanshorter.com, or at The Vault in Bloomington this August, where she'll be hosting a solo show.

Shorter credits her success in part to her time as a student at South Putnam.

"I've always been into art," Shorter said. "My mom got my first gallery when I was three years old. I remember in high school Mrs. Weber gave me a scholarship from Herron Art School for Saturday courses. There was always no doubt that's what I wanted to do, but that gave it some substance. She was an amazing art teacher. She had me more than prepared for art school."

Shorter is the daughter of John and Carole Riggs of Greencastle.

Sabrina Westfall, former staff writer for the Banner Graphic, contributed to this article.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: