contemplating color
THE CONSTABLE'S CHRONICLES
Episode One: LOUP GAROU
Loup Garou (werewolf in French) is the pilot episode of The Coleman Chronicles. It is a production of N.E.K. Flix, a community-based ensemble of performers and filmmakers in Caledonia County and other parts of the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. This is the fourth film produced by the group. There are more than 30 roles mostly performed by local actors. There are 16 scenes recorded in different locations in Caledonia County. It has a unique style, authentic characters, humor, tragedy, and a home-made quality.
Something is killing farm animals, pets, and a child. The town of St. Johnsbury is divided between those who believe it is a mutant coy-wolf and others who believe that it is a werewolf. Jude Coleman, a soldier who saw atrocities in Afghanistan, is bitter and angry. His high school friend, Sarahrose Blake, a death doula and midwife, is the only one who is able to clearly see what he witnessed. They become targets of Mrs. Pembroke and Pastor Matthews who are local fundamentalist Christians. There are rumors that Mrs. Pembroke is not simply a religious zealot. Jude doesn’t want to get involved in another war but is forced to decide to save Sarahrose when they are confronted by the mutant beast.
Based on a story by Eddie Garcia and directed by Shalom Gorewitz, there are many appealing performances by young and old actors in surprising scenes throughout the film. Like all good horror genre films, this one is also parabolic. The narrative confronts alcoholism, guns, ecological terrorism, the meaning of friendship, and ancient myths. It ends with a cliff-hanger that will leave viewers wondering about the fate of a character they’ve grown fond of.
Community-based filmmaking is a subgenre of Independent Film. Productions have extremely low budgets, use low end technologies for recording and editing, and are targeted toward specific audiences. N.E.K. Flix is committed to telling stories that reflect and comment on life in rural America. Why, in the midst of so much beauty, do people still divide and attack, rather than identify and deal with the real culprits? Werewolves are symbolic of the unknown potentials of Mother Nature to change and adapt as She repels the violence endangering its very existence.
Loup Garou: Cast (in order of appearance)
Julia O'Toole Bonnie Mac
Peter Johnson Jude Coleman
Eddie Garcia Constable Gardner
Stephen Wisker Nigel Johnson
Christopher Haggett Sports Store Owner
Elena Jara-Williams Sarahrose Blake
Jessica Jara-Williams Pregnant Woman
Janet Holden Old Woman
Marty Gil Son
Eva Holden Daughter
Joe Godwin Farmer Joe
Barry Glick Farmer Barry
Melanie Doherty Abbey Edwards
Rachel Hadas Ovid Expert
Calvin Longe Farmer Luke
Madeleine Winfield Pagan Friend
Melinda Mason Woman in the car
Dave Young Father Coleman
Cindy Young Mother Coleman
Sean Morgan Jude's Stepbrother
JT Dodge Dr. Nicholls
Susan Montague Reporter
Julie Knight Mrs. Pembroke
Michael Farrand Pastor Matthews
Ursula Malabre Speichern Woman in Crowd
Autumn Chamberlain Market Singer
Carlinne DeLima Woman in Crowd
Michael Barros Man in Crowd
Meg Kistin Anzalone Woman in Crowd
Eric Knight Man in Crowd
Soundtrack
Menace Ultimo Ben Neill
Lightning Crashes Live
Lonely The Lovin' Spoonful
Walking Down the Country Shuggie Otis
I Wanna Run Autumn Chamberlain
Alpha Dub Ben Neill
Forging the Beast Johann Johansson
Hey, Jude Lennon/McCartney
Performed by Wilson Pickett
Assistant Director
Elena Jara-Williams
Puppet Fabrication and Performance
Julia O'Toole
Additional Camerawork
Jessica Jara-Williams
Production Assistant and
NEK FLIX Animation
Sean Morgan
Special thanks to
St. Johnsbury Athenaeum
St. Johnsbury Police
SMD Outdoors/ St. Michael's Defense
Boxcar and Caboose Bookstore
Eastern and Main Market Deli
Primal Botanical
Limbo Line Genuine Jamaican
Produced in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, July 2022
Recorded on Canon XA11 Camcorder
Edited on Mini Mac using Final Cut Pro
Note: Participation in this project was voluntary. No one was paid. There was no budget or support by public or private funding agencies.