Empty America: COVID 19 and the War for Right by Barry Walton

Empty America, a short documentary by Barry Walton, captures a haunting snapshot of the United States during the height of COVID. Told through the point of view of a lone driver beginning in California, the film unfolds as a road trip across a nation brought to a standstill.

Through a mix of time-lapse photography, aerial drone footage, and organic handheld shots, the film presents striking images of emptiness. Closed beaches. Locked parks. Frozen construction zones. COVID warning signs. Times Square without crowds. The National Mall is absent of visitors. Familiar American landmarks become symbols of a country on pause.

What sets Empty America apart is its use of regional AM and FM radio sound bites layered over the visuals. These fragmented broadcasts ground the film in the political, cultural, and emotional noise of the moment, creating a powerful contrast between silence on the streets and chaos on the airwaves.

Beyond documenting the pandemic, the film has undertones of deeper themes of collectivism, centralized decision-making, and the weight of bureaucracy. Religious sound bites from old school preachers close out the piece with moral warnings suggesting a broader reflection on where society is headed, leaving viewers to question the cost of compliance and whether the crisis could have been handled differently.

Empty America has won 18 film festival Best Documentary Short awards, including Mindfield Film Festival, Golden Wheat Awards, Cooper Awards, Only the Best Awards, American Golden Picture Film Festival, and Florence Film Awards, quickly establishing itself as a rising presence on the festival circuit.

Director Barry Walton, a working-class filmmaker with over 20 years in the industry and an Emmy to his name, takes a grassroots approach to distribution, building momentum through smaller festivals and inviting the industry to take notice.

More than a documentary, Empty America functions as a time capsule. It captures a version of the country few ever witnessed firsthand and asks a lingering question. How did we get here, and what is the road back home?

Today, Walton is expanding the project into a short novel based on the experience. The book will explore the passage, intent, and motivation behind the film, examining American history, technology, media, marketing, and the forces that shaped this moment. The novel is positioned as a compelling reflection on who we are as Americans and is expected to be released in 2030.

Empty America is not just a documentary. It is a mirror held up to a nation in crisis, a record of silence, fear, and reflection, and a reminder of a moment that reshaped how America sees itself.