19th Annual
Louisiana's Reel Festival
Festival starts in
MYRTLE / UNITED KINGDOM / LOUISIANA PREMIERE
SHORT NARRATIVE
Myrtle, a trailer park mom from Indiana, cooks dinner for her son. But something’s not quite right. This kitchen is anonymous, industrial, and Myrtle’s working to a deadline. As her composure unravels, it is realized that 21 grams is all that separates life from death.
Director's Biography:
Patricia was born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland and trained as an Actress at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh. Previous acting credits include ‘Pit’ at The Traverse Theatre, 'Lost At Sea' Finborough Theatre, The Field Of Blood 2 (BBC1), River City (BBC Scotland). She has featured in several Afternoon Play's on BBC Radio 4 and appeared in long-running series McLevy starring Brian Cox. She is also an accomplished voice-over artist. For the last few years, she has worked in Advertising, whilst developing several film projects. This is Patricia's directorial debut.
Director's Statement:
MYRTLE is an adaptation of a play that Megan Barker and I worked on. I broached the idea of developing it into a film as I loved the premise and thought it had real dramatic potential. We felt it important to keep the audience in the dark initially, as to where we are and why Myrtle is preparing this meal, in order for the final moments to (hopefully) have a stronger impact. It was essential for the kitchen to be as much of a character in the film, cold and intimidating as this adds to Myrtle's disorientation. There is a back story weaved in, the memory of a murder, the intention being to write a feature film, where we will revisit the clues in MYRTLE and reveal what actually took place.
To me, Myrtle is a character that asks for love and understanding, possibly in spite of herself and I like people like that, my hope with this film is that the audience will have compassion for her in the end. The main themes being, the brutalising effect of poverty, the deprivation of choice and a mother's unconditional love.
Director's Biography:
Patricia was born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland and trained as an Actress at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh. Previous acting credits include ‘Pit’ at The Traverse Theatre, 'Lost At Sea' Finborough Theatre, The Field Of Blood 2 (BBC1), River City (BBC Scotland). She has featured in several Afternoon Play's on BBC Radio 4 and appeared in long-running series McLevy starring Brian Cox. She is also an accomplished voice-over artist. For the last few years, she has worked in Advertising, whilst developing several film projects. This is Patricia's directorial debut.
Director's Statement:
MYRTLE is an adaptation of a play that Megan Barker and I worked on. I broached the idea of developing it into a film as I loved the premise and thought it had real dramatic potential. We felt it important to keep the audience in the dark initially, as to where we are and why Myrtle is preparing this meal, in order for the final moments to (hopefully) have a stronger impact. It was essential for the kitchen to be as much of a character in the film, cold and intimidating as this adds to Myrtle's disorientation. There is a back story weaved in, the memory of a murder, the intention being to write a feature film, where we will revisit the clues in MYRTLE and reveal what actually took place.
To me, Myrtle is a character that asks for love and understanding, possibly in spite of herself and I like people like that, my hope with this film is that the audience will have compassion for her in the end. The main themes being, the brutalising effect of poverty, the deprivation of choice and a mother's unconditional love.
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