PLUS Ç A C HA NGE
Natural Storytellers
force, have created a fertile terrain for the film industry. Advances in technology have put the tools for shooting and editing into the hands of those who may not have had the means to procure them otherwise. Coupled with an Lafayette artists Syd Horn opening towards the Francophone world, more and Olivia Perillo make and more young cinéastes are exploring the questions of local identity in a global environmultidimensional magic ment and transforming the culture along the way. The time is ripe for a new generation to by David cheramie emerge, like Lafayette natives Syd Horn and photo by Romero & Romero Olivia Perillo, who pull their inspiration from the spiritual realm and the natural world. Syd and Olivia approach their work from multiple directions, but like a Venn diagram Music and cuisine are the main pillars of overlapping influences, they create an inner of our culture in South Louisiana. There is no space where the magical and the real meet. lack of opportunity to learn the chords and Artists in other disciplines as well — music, lyrics to “La Porte en Arrière” or a recipe for photography, painting — they chose film as a shrimp creole. There are however many other multidimensional way to document the spirits ways to express the rhythms, colors and sounds of women with varying cultural backgrounds of Acadiana. South Louisiana has been the set- in full spectrums of sound and color. Their ting for movies almost since the beginning of first collaboration, a five-minute short called the Seventh Art. Later, Louisiana filmmakers “Migration,” tells the story of three women like Pat Mire and Glen Pitre offered us a cin- from three different continents and who speak ematic image of our lives and our stories. Tax three different languages, exploring the notion credits for movies and TV shows, along with of home and where it lies. Appropriately, this our picturesque landscapes and talented work- work was the result of 10 days of filming in
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AC ADIANA PROFILE AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020
South Louisiana during a workshop sponsored by a non-profit organization from Québec. That experience sparked a desire to go further and seek out new avenues of collaboration with local and international organizations supporting the arts. That drive led them to their current project, a feature-length film titled “Intention,” which deals with women who practice healing arts from various disciplines. Traditional healers are known as “traiteurs” of course, but also the healing power of art, poetry, cooking and other forms of creation not usually associated with health and well-being are featured. “Intention” promises to be an evaluation of the delicate balance between nature, language, culture and tradition, and their relevance in the modern world. The role of women in the future of the state is central to this undertaking as well. “We wouldn’t want to live anywhere else where music and food aren’t dominating elements of bringing people together.” These young women have plans to continue telling stories and creating art informed by a sense of community and the connections created between people and nature. Wherever that journey may take them, Acadiana has supplied them with the roots necessary to branch out. n