The Last Butterflies

{{Short description|2023 film by Patrick Rea}} {{Infobox film | image = The Last Butterflies.jpg | caption = Poster | director = Patrick Rea | writer = Whitney Wegman-Wood | producer = {{Plainlist| *Cooper Andrews *Jake Jackson *Whitney Wegman-Wood *John Wood }} | starring = {{Plainlist| *Whitney Wegman-Wood *Cooper Andrews *Merrick McCartha *Adam Boyer *Amber Grayson *Ivy Hickman *Herb Jackson Jr. }} | cinematography = Taylor Snyder | editing = Patrick Rea | music = {{Plainlist| *Ben Adams *Bobby Brader }} | studio = {{Plainlist| *Barnacle and Spoon Productions *Heartland Films }} | released = {{Film date|2023|09|19|Arizona Underground Film Festival}} | country = United States | language = English | budget = $36,000 }} '''''The Last Butterflies''''' is a 2023 short survival drama directed by Patrick Rea and written by Whitney Wegman-Wood. The film stars Wegman-Wood, Cooper Andrews, Adam Boyer, Merrick McCartha, Amber Grayson and Ivy Hickman.

==Plot== A mother and child seek shelter in a dystopia after environmental disasters caused society to plummet.

==Cast== {{cast listing| *Whitney Wegman-Wood *Cooper Andrews *Merrick McCartha *Adam Boyer *Amber Grayson *Ivy Hickman *Herb Jackson Jr. }}

==Production== Wegman-Wood was inspired by nightmares and anxiety dreams she experienced in 2019 about "world rife with drought, famine and environmental devastation." Principal photography occurred in 2022<ref name=":0" /> in Kansas City,<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Hurrelbrink |first1=Bill |last2=Chapin |first2=Grace |date=2022-11-07 |title=Short film being filmed in KC |url=https://www.kctv5.com/2022/11/07/short-film-being-filmed-kc/ |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=KCTV |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mackie |first=Michael |date=2022-11-16 |title=Apocalypse Wow: Walking Dead fan favorite Cooper Andrews films in the metro |url=https://www.thepitchkc.com/apocalypse-wow-walking-dead-fan-favorite-cooper-andrews-films-in-the-metro/ |access-date=2024-01-11 |website=The Pitch |language=en-US}}</ref> Mound City, The Mildred Store in Mildred, Kansas,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-17 |title=Mildred in spotlight |url=https://www.iolaregister.com/news/mildred-in-spotlight |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=The Iola Register |language=en-US}}</ref> and Oceanside, California.<ref name=":0" /> Wegman-Wood co-starred in the film with Cooper Andrews.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Sinks |first=Sydney Sinks |date=2024-02-08 |title=Filmmaker to Come to Godfrey with Apocalyptic Story Starring "The Walking Dead" Cast Member |url=https://www.edglentoday.com/articles/details/filmmaker-to-come-to-godfrey-with-apocalyptic-story-starring-the-walking-dead-cast-member-70855.cfm |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=EdGlenToday}}</ref> Patrick Rea directed and Sue Vicory was the executive producer.<ref name=":0" />

==Release== The film premiered in 2023 at Arizona Underground Film Festival<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Hardison |first=Ryan |date=2024-01-10 |title=Local filmmaker turns personal nightmare into an artistic feat in 'The Last Butterflies' |url=https://www.northcoastcurrent.com/north-coast-beat/2024/01/local-filmmaker-turns-personal-nightmare-into-an-artistic-feat-in-the-last-butterflies/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111012709/https://www.northcoastcurrent.com/north-coast-beat/2024/01/local-filmmaker-turns-personal-nightmare-into-an-artistic-feat-in-the-last-butterflies/ |archive-date=2024-01-11 |access-date=2024-01-11 |website=North Coast Current}}</ref> and screened at Coronado Island Film Festival,<ref>{{Cite web |last=McIntosh |first=Linda |date=2023-10-27 |title=Community events in San Diego County: from Bike the Coast to Light Up a Life |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/local/story/2023-10-27/community-events-in-san-diego-county-from-bike-the-coast-to-light-up-a-life |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> Culver City Film Festival<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-07 |title=Culver City native featured in film festival Dec. 1-7 {{!}} wavepublication |url=https://wavepublication.com/culver-city-native-featured-in-film-festival-dec-1-7/ |access-date=2023-12-12 |language=en-US}}</ref> San Diego Film Week, Borrego Springs Film Festival,<ref name=":0" /> and Always Late TV Movie Awards.<ref name=":1" />

==Reception== {| class="wikitable" |+Accolades !Festival !Year !Award !Recipient(s) !Result !Ref. |- |Arizona Underground Film Festival |2023 |Best Narrative Short |''The Last Butterflies'' |{{won}} |<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-19 |title=2023 Arizona Underground Film Festival Award Winners |url=https://azuff.org/awards/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119213604/https://azuff.org/awards/ |archive-date=2023-11-19 |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=Arizona Underground Film Festival}}</ref> |- |Coronado Island Film Festival |2023 |Frances Marion Award for outstanding achievement in screenwriting by a woman |Whitney Wegman-Wood |{{won}} |<ref name=":0" /> |- |San Diego Film Week |2023 |Best Drama Short Film |''The Last Butterflies'' |{{nom}} |<ref>{{Cite web |title=2023 San Diego Film Week Award Nominations |url=https://sdfilmweek.com/2023/2023-san-diego-film-week-award-nominations/ |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=San Diego Film Week |language=en-US}}</ref> |}

== References ==

==External links==

* {{IMDb title|22770182}} * {{Letterboxd title|id=the-last-butterflies}} * [https://twitter.com/AlanKMBC/status/1592617518962999296 Interview with Andrews] on KMBC-TV Twitter * [https://www.borregospringsfilmfestival.org/filmmakersentries/2024115qs-wwhitney-wegman-wood-the-last-butterflies-writer Interview with Wegman-Wood] at Borrego Springs Film Festival

Category:2020s dystopian films Category:2020s survival films Category:2023 drama films Category:2023 independent films Category:2023 short films Category:American dystopian films Category:American post-apocalyptic films Category:American survival films Category:Films about environmental issues Category:Films about mother–daughter relationships Category:Films directed by Patrick Rea Category:Films shot in Kansas Category:Films shot in Missouri Category:Films shot in San Diego