Colleen Furlotte , an independent Moncton-based filmmaker has released a trailer for her upcoming feature-length film, Petal & Moth. The film, inspired in part by the music of Andrew Moore, is presented as a romance on its surface, but Furlotte describes it more as a complete experience for the audience to check out and unwind.
Filmed last summer in Riverview, Shediac and Shenstone, with an all local cast and crew (give or take one camera person) and an indie budget (give or take a little support from Equifilm in Moncton), the trailer itself gives away very little. Furlotte, in the meantime, makes it sound as though Petal & Moth is something between Garden State, Easy Rider and an ASMR video.
“‘Petal and Moth’ is a film about human connection – both established and unexpected. In its center is Petal, a woman wounded by not so distant betrayal and loss. She has come to her cousin Hannah for healing. The safety and comfort of this well-rooted relationship helps nurture the opening of Petal towards others again. This “other” arrives in the form of an unusual man by the name of David; an airy and gentle artist aptly suited to his alter ego – Moth. Trust is a challenge for Petal. To trust a man again, a steep mountain. But courage can spring forth in the most unexpected places. Like a tiny wildflower boldly pushing through stone, Petal slowly turns towards David’s light.”
Furlotte, who wrote and directed the film, also plays the female lead, Petal. Opposite her is David (Jordan Jardine), an artistic musician who works under the moniker of his alter ego “Moth.”
The story for Petal & Moth grew out of a concept for a music video that Furlotte was working on for Andrew Moore. What began as a spark for one project grew into a feature-length film as one idea eclipsed the other. But not quickly. Furlotte began writing the script for Petal & Moth two years ago.
“Andrew was part inspiration for the character of David – his look and his talent,” explains Furlotte. “But the deeper characteristics of David’s personality, his idiosyncrasies, were inspired by another friend of mine who is also tall and creative, also slim with long dark hair.
At the same time that I was working on a concept for a music video for Andrew, I wrote a song about this other friend. It is what converged with Andrew’s music to inspire the film. And full circle – that song is part of the soundtrack and very integral to the story.”
Moore’s album, which perhaps unsurprisingly is also named Moth, played a large roll in inspiring Furlotte‘s script – Moore’s songs appear no fewer than three times on the film’s soundtrack. Moncton’s Ryan Hillier also makes an appearance in the film, performing and simultaneously providing the backing music with his song “Apple Tree,” to the otherwise silent trailer.
Despite the lack of dialogue, the trailer offers an ambiguous but emotionally charged preview. The two characters give nothing away except for an unfolding romance.
“But the bigger story is about human connection,” says Furlotte. “What I love about it most is it shows the unfolding of a very meaningful connection based on time spent and openness in the real world. ”
Furlotte says that she intentionally left out the appearance of any technological devices, including cell phones, and computers, as a visual cue to audiences to take time out and do the same.
“It is a bit timeless in this sense, a throwback to the days when people met face to face and got to know each other without any technological interference. Like a bud opening or a seed taking root – slowly. The film slows us down as we watch this relationship develop against a backdrop of nature and simplicity.
I hope that viewers will be carried by the experiences of the characters – like being carried by the tide. I am biased, of course, because this is my baby, but I do feel there is a lulling to the story, a gentle rocking along; by the characters, the scenery that surrounds them, the honesty of the dialogue.”
Despite the evidence of the trailer, Furlotte says that she still spends most of her days editing.
“We are still in post right now,” says Furlotte. “A fair bit done and a fair bit left to do. We are only a team of two, so it’s a big job – somewhere around an hour and 45 minutes in the end.”
Petal & Moth is expected to premiere in Moncton sometime in May before submitting for festivals. Furlotte says she hopes that the film will screen at Silver Wave film festival in Fredericton next year and a number of other Atlantic Canadian film festivals, but, “we’ll have to wait and see.”
Petal & Moth: FACEBOOK