Animated short film by Tony Award-winner from Fort Worth will screen in her hometown

A new animated short movie by Tony Award-winning and Fort Worth native Betty Buckley screens at the Lone Star Film Festival on Friday, Nov. 1.

“The Mayfly” was written and narrated by Buckley, who is also the executive producer. It was directed by Sue Perrotto, an Emmy Award nominated animator. It recently premiered at Tribeca Film Festival in New York City and won the Best Animated Film Award at the Lady Filmmakers Festival in Los Angeles.

The movie is about a mayfly, a species of insect known for fluttering in the air during their short lifespan. Buckley first learned about the species at a Judy Collins concert at the intimate Café Carlyle in New York City in December 2019.

“There was this golden creature floating above her. At the end it suspended in the air and fell on her hair,” Buckley recalled. She remained fascinated by the symbolism and discovered the species, which typically flutter in groups.

“I kept hearing a voice saying, ‘Write my story,’” Buckley said. She began working on it in 2020. After two years and eight months of production, the movie premiered in February 2024. The movie is its 13th screening on the festival circuit.

The main character is Megalyn Mayfly, who in her brief life breaks from her flock and follows Collins to her concert. The movie is about resilience, passion and a love of music, dance and the city.

The venue is the main setting. But it also carries some weighty symbolism. Murals of animals cover the walls, including depictions of white rabbits, which in many cultures represent time and longevity. Megalyn in her final hours confronts the rabbits. “She’s transcending time. She’s confronting time. And she wins,” she said.

Screening the movie in her hometown, where she still lives, is important. But it’s also important because it screens on her mother’s 99th birthday. Betty Bob Buckley is an avid moviegoer and was once known as one of the party girls with the late Bobbie Wygant.

But that night the Buckleys will both be party girls. “I’m attending the festival’s annual gala and my mother’s birthday party,” she said.

That’s of course after both see the movie.

This story was originally published October 30, 2024 at 11:52 AM.