Ruining Purple
An interview with filmaker Walt Cannoy

Andrea Calcano Cruz
pOke writer

Image by Walt Cannoy

Some see the world as a black and white place, colors only an afterthought. But local artist Walt Cannoy sees colors as more than just accidental hues and he's producing a local, independent film to tell a story that needs telling.

Cannoy's film called "Ruining Purple" is still in the writing process. A creator by nature, he says he takes his time and does things in his own way so as to not compromise the creative process. Writing scenes on impulse - sometimes seeing them played out in his head first - is sometimes the method to his self-described madness.

The plot of the black and white production, that will reference the color of purple in dialogue only, follows a young female artist, a painter named Layla, who lives with her blue-collar boyfriend and his child. They have a strong connection but her artistic ways somehow come between them. Her painting success fades and she becomes what Cannoy describes as "almost depressed."

In the movie, the boyfriend character decides to make his child the priority, he dissolves the relationship with Layla and she moves out - this is where the film actually begins and the previous details are presented in flashbacks. Cannoy, a chain-smoker like his main character, says that the plot draws strongly on his own experiences, but it is still a work of fiction. "They say 'write what you know,'" Cannoy says. He adds that the name of the movie "Ruining Purple" has to do with the plot but he is hesitant to reveal exactly in what way; he doesn't want to spoil it.

So, the plot thickens when the character Layla gets a "real" job but still wants to create her art. She meets a genuinely nice guy but knowing herself and her past, she wants to avoid breaking his heart and her own. Cannoy says Layla has pretty much sworn off relationships and is hesitant to get too involved.

The struggle that arises is the inner conflict of Layla's need for emotions that inspire her art and yet without a relationship she risks being at a creative standstill.

"For somebody like her it's as important to love as it is to breathe. That is her purpose," Cannoy says of the fictional Layla. Having began forming scenes in his head years ago, Cannoy says he just started putting it down on paper in the summer of 2007. What started out as a short film has developed into what Cannoy hopes will be a feature-length presentation.

As an artist, Cannoy says that he is not producing this film for the money -- he simply wants to tell the story. And from the many avenues he could have chosen to tell "Ruining Purple," he says he chose the medium of film because the complexities of the characters can be better described in a cathartic way. "There's an empathetic value there," Cannoy says.

Cannoy himself values the catharticism of music and plans to use it frequently to help tell the story of "Ruining Purple." He says that he has been known to write a scene around a song. "Some people say that I can make something out of nothing," Cannoy says.

Using local bands for the film, Cannoy is on the lookout for more musical additions to his project. The bands he has lined up now are mostly Lakeland-based, save for an Orlando band called Vagabond. The Lakeland bands include Woodale and another called Denison Marrs, which Cannoy says gave permission to use their music before disbanding.

Local songwriter Tim Rhinock is writing something especially for "Ruining Purple."

"Tim is probably the next Bob Dylan," Cannoy says.

As an independently produced film, Cannoy has a budget smaller than he'd like. At this point he is offering bands good exposure for their work instead of cash. The same goes for any actors in the film, which he is actively seeking. Cannoy would like to meet anyone interested in working in front of or behind the camera. Currently accepting headshots via e-mail at wcannoy@hotmail.com, Cannoy says that he'll meet with actor-hopefuls informally for an audition.

He still needs actors to play the parts of the ex-boyfriend, ex-boyfriend's child, and the current boyfriend. Extras will also be needed for various scenes. "I know the types I'm looking for," Cannoy says. Having already filmed a one minute and 50 second trailer that can be viewed on the film's MySpace Web page (http://www.myspace.com/ruiningpurple).

Cannoy says that the only part already cast is that of Layla, which will be played by Kyleigh Creech, 18, of Lake Alfred. Cannoy spotted Creek walking out of Richard's Coffees of downtown Winter Haven in the fall of 2007 and knew she was perfect for the part of Layla. By Cannoy's own estimation, he is using inexpensive equipment, including a digital video camera. However, he hopes that the quality of the story will make up for that and hopes to begin shooting this summer. The scenes of the story, like the bands and actors used, will all be filmed locally, many in Winter Haven. Cannoy, who grew up in Winter Haven, says that he has some interior shots in mind and is working out the details with local business owners that he knows.

"There's a variety within a few square miles," Cannoy says of his hometown. A well-known tobacco pipe sculptor that created elaborate smoking instruments at one time, Cannoy wants the film to look and sound as good as possible. He says post production will be an enourmous task.

"I'm guessing four to six months of post-production -- and that's being optimistic," Cannoy says.

Kicking around various ideas about how to distribute the film, Cannoy is hopeful that "Ruining Purple" will do well on the Indie circuit and the story that needs telling will finally be told.

http://www.myspace.com/ruiningpurple, www.RuiningPurple.com wcannoy@hotmail.com