Nicholas Campbell, Liane Balaban and Tara Spencer Nairn in Allan Moyle's New Waterford Girl, Written by Tricia Fish
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All images courtesy of Odeon Films Nicholas Campbell, Liane Balaban and Tara Spencer Nairn in Allan Moyle's New Waterford Girl, written by Tricia Fish. 32 WINTER 2000 an American even then. Here I was at the age of 14, reading Alexander Korda's book on power that I got out of my par- ents' issue of Reader's Digest in Shawinigan Falls." In hindsight, he had unerring ability to move to the right place at the right time. At the impetuous age of 16, he first wan- The Rules According to Moyle dered south to do summer stock in New Hampshire at the New . London Barn Theater. This intrigued him enough to return for a second summer as prop mas- By Cynthia Amsden ter. After that experience, he upped the ante by running away, not to join the cir- cus, but to travel to Europe for a year with a girlfriend. After Moyle's European jaunt, he blended together three elements here must be something in the Allan Moyle is the Canadian-born direc- that were classic ingredients for life circa tor who fled south in the 1970s, drawn to early 1970s: university life; San Francisco water of Shawinigan Falls. For higher-energy centres of creativity. He at the Berkeley Hippie House with has approached and abandoned the film- Jefferson Airplane; and New York City's making process repeatedly, transforming Greenwich Village. During this period, a village in the countryside of himself into a cinematic Bedouin, moving he did due diligence and attended McGill from the States, back to Canada, to in Montreal where he helped found The Quebec, the municipal equiv- Europe and the Far East. He rebuffs sin- Players' Theatre, which continues to gular labels such as "teen-movie direc- flourish. Formal education was not T tor" or "eccentric screenwriter" because, Moyle's forte; although, it is difficult to alent of WKRP in Cincinnati, it produces a on any given project, he immerses him- say if this was because he intrinsically self into the role for the duration of the knew more than his instructors or disproportionate number of celebrities. task. Allan Moyle is not the sum of his because, for an individual who enjoys a parts but rather a part of his sums. modicum of outrage in his life, university Jean Chretien grew up drinking the town presented too easy a target audience. The directorial balance sheet, in reverse chronological order between 1978 and The youth-quake milieu of Moyle's San water, and it inspired him to get political. now, includes: Jailbait (2000), New Francisco experience shook him loose Waterford Girl (2000), Empire Records from the last vestiges of Shawinigan Falls An impressive move, "although we (1995), The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag while permitting him to participate in the (1992), the award-winning Pump Up the American rebel yell. Years later, his psy- che shows evidence of his early days on know he's from Shawinigan sud which Volume (1990) Times Square (1980) and The Rubber Gun (1978). The list of his the Left Coast, as indicated by his open- written accomplishments demonstrates ness to personal spiritualism, his affection isn't as cool as Shawinigan," qualifies the overlap of talents: Love Crimes (1991), for teen-dissident dramas and his eternal Pump Up the Volume, Red Blooded quest to live a life less ordinary. Shortly director Allan Moyle about his home- American Girl (1990) Times Square, The thereafter, he travelled east to New York Rubber Gun, East End Hustle (1976) and and worked as psychiatric technician at Montreal Main (1974). St. Vincent's Hospital before moving on to town compatriot. For Moyle, who also work at Beth Israel Psychiatric Institute, It's the glasses that stood out at the which jelled perfectly with time spent at spent his formative years there, the water Alliance Atlantis party at the Royal Max's Kansas City. Moyle was at ground Ontario Museum during the 1999 zero of a cultural explosion. Right place. had the same effect, creating an urge to Toronto International Film Festival. The Right time. It was the confluence of all the glasses that walk, the glasses that social- best factors: Andy Warhol, John Cassevettes, ize, the glasses that Allan Moyle confess- the theatre, the street. He studied acting go global. One chose politics; the other es that he hides behind—"Swifty Lazar" with legendary director Nicholas Ray of the Great Frozen North. Moyle takes (Rebel Without a Cause) and had a role in chose film. And both understand that in pleasure in his ability as a deip- the original production of American nosophist. Schmoozing is one of his tal- Hurrah. Another element which is part of the legend that is Moyle is his role in John their respective businesses, you're only ents. But there was pitifully little social- izing potential in that little town north of G. Avildsen's hippie cult classic Joe, which Trois-Rivieres. He had no alternative was Susan Sarandon's film debut and as good as your last gig. but to head out. "I must have been born brought Peter Boyle to prominence. TAKE ONE 33 This erstwhile flower child came back to Canada to act in Richard Benner's Outrageous in which he had a substantial role opposite Craig Russell and Hollis McLaren. But he did more. He was writ- ing. Montreal Main, East End Hustle and The Rubber Gun were three of his screen- plays in which he also acted. The Rubber Gun was his directorial debut. To date, it remains his favourite film. It was also the beginning of a creative life cleaved into halves. After that film, he retreated to Greece for two years to write a novel, which eventually became the basis for the screenplay of Pump Up the Volume. This brought him back to civilization Liane Balaban with Tara Spencer Nairn where he worked in Los Angeles. After directing The Gun in Betty Lou's the most spiritual, as a substantive sign. In the case of New Waterford Girl, the Handbag, he hightailed it out to Bali, But the inner battle rages on. Mies van der Rohe theory of "less is only to return again to work as a script more" comes into play. Capitalizing on doctor. After directing Empire Records, Moyle certainly does not view himself the raw beauty of the Cape Breton coast- Moyle again wanted out. That was as "the supreme commander," as he line, the raw talent of the young cast and when New Waterford Girl fell into his describes blockbuster film directors. If the raw impetus of a low-budget pro- hands. anything, he is fond of underplaying his duction, Moyle delivered a film layered profile, claiming difficulty with the sim- in uncontrived freshness. This quality As much as Moyle clings to his "type B" plest of tasks, such as ordering break- was noted and awarded at the 1999 writer's persona, he cannot divorce fast. (In spite of his deftly commandeer- Toronto International Film Festival with himself from the "type A" director per- ing the menu from this journalist's a Special Jury Congratulations to Liane sona which vies for control within him. hands and ordering eggs and salmon Balaban in the Best Canadian First He is his own doppelganger. "I'm a with the decree: "You'll enjoy this.") Feature Film. A month later, New writer as well as a director," Moyle What is likely at the core of this attitude Waterford Girl won the Best Canadian explains from the restaurant at the top is that he'd rather just direct a film in a Feature Award at the Atlantic Film of the Park Hyatt during the Toronto relaxed, supportive environment, some- Festival in Halifax. Odeon Films has festival where New Waterford Girl had its thing he doesn't see happening with a picked it up for distribution in Canada. world premier. "I say to myself, 'I could studio production. In his mind, "The make two-thirds of the money writing antidote to the studio film would be Moyle seems to take his inspiration and have a lot less stress.' While writ- New Waterford Girl." He then adds, wherever he can get it. Sighing wistfully, ing, you're in a committee of one and "How could I possibly screw up a he stares into the distance. "I'm looking that's a delicious moment. And then, of movie this small?" behind you at this rain and it's such a course, you have to sell yourself like the tonic." And then begins the lullaby hooker that you are. But I write on spec Written by Tricia Fish (a Canadian Film about weather. Moyle is having a because no one is telling you what to Centre graduate whom he regards as the moment—with nature. "Look out there, do, at least until you take it to the first spirit and soul of the film), New it's amazing. You're so used to Canada, person who says, 'No one will ever buy Waterford Girl is set during the 1970s in you don't care." He speaks as the newly this." the coal-mining town of New returned son, not realizing that The Waterford, Cape Breton. Fifteen-year- Weather Channel is a success in this He cannot explain, or rather, refuses to old Moonie Potter (beautifully played country because it approaches religion. seriously consider the process by which by newcomer Liane Balaban) is a misfit The moment ends. But his enthusiasm he gets his directing jobs, preferring to stuck in her own hometown where remains and this may be the key to why chalk it up to the mysteries of the young women leave in only one way, he directs.