You don’t always need a cute cat or a quick laugh to become a YouTube sensation. Just ask Sharon Wright.

The Grandview native has reached almost 1.5 million hits for her short film. Not bad for a 10-minute drama about change for a dollar.

“Sure, people go on Youtube to see a guy fall off his bike in 30 seconds, but they also want to see something that inspires them,” said Wright, who now lives in Los Angeles.

“In the comments section, there are people from all over the world telling me how my film has changed them. They’re seeing life in a different perspective and as a filmmaker that is the biggest compliment I could receive.”

Her film, “Change for a Dollar,” is about a homeless man who spreads kindness.

Wright was inspired to create the film when she encountered the theme of changing lives with a dollar during a film festival a couple years ago.

She was so touched by the idea that the model and actress decided to direct the short film herself. She rounded up some well-respected filmmakers in Kansas City and shot her film in Osawatomie in March of 2010.

The film won Audience Choice awards at various independent film festivals that summer, and then sat on Wright’s computer for a year. It wasn’t until last summer that she decided to upload the video to YouTube, thinking it would garner a few hundred hits.

She couldn’t have been more wrong.

“Change for a Dollar” went viral and even caught the attention of Roger Ebert.

In his December newsletter, the famous film critic wrote that her film touched him. “Sharon Wright. Remember that name,” the newsletter said.

His words shocked Wright.

“Having praise from Ebert is a studio’s dream come true, so for him to randomly say he liked my short film is miraculous,” she said. “No award in the world can top that.”

The praise boosted Wright’s confidence. She’s currently working in pre-production on her next short film. This time, she’s working with dogs and children.

She understands her sophomore film may not be as wildly successful as her first, but said she hopes it still inspires her fans.

“Thousands of people are anticipating this film,” she said. “That pressure gives me a far bigger weight to carry. I don’t want to disappoint anyone, especially now that I know Roger Ebert is watching me.”