Love, Fate and Fashion
Monica Serene Garnich, an acclaimed actress, sits perfectly poised on an antique couch in Huntington Beach’s charming Monkey House Café. She wears a Tatyana Peter original design: a fun, flirty off-shoulder cocktail dress with detailed black lace trimming. The golden brown shades bring out the chestnut tones in her long blonde hair. Garnich’s spirit matches the ambience of the Monkey House Café; both are warm, welcoming and full of smiles. When Garnich speaks, her light blue eyes are sincere and her is voice soft, comforting. She is like a classical song; with light notes and
melodic harmonies. Listening to her speak is a soothing lullaby. If Garnich is a classical song, Philippe Durand is jazz. Durand, an actor, writer and director, sits next to Garnich, wearing a deep brown men’s business blazer with blue detailing, specially designed by Tatyana Peter. Everything about Durand is mesmerizing; from his flowing dark hair, hazel eyes and handsome features to his charismatic, captivating demeanor. Durand expresses his thoughts with intelligent eloquence, adding punch to his main points with enthusiastic, but enamoring, hand motions. His French accent, enough to make any girl swoon,
adds to his charm; when Durand speaks, those around him hang on every word. This striking pair is starring in “The Innocent Love of a Butterfly,” a spellbinding love story drama. Not only is Durand playing the leading man, but he also wrote the script and is co-directing the film with Reza Badiyi, an award-winning director. Durand, Garnich and the cast will travel across international borders to Jordan, where the majority of the film will be shot. The dénouement is reserved for a location close to Durand’s heart; a beautiful beach in the South of France, where he grew up. Durand speaks fondly of his childhood in the South of France. Born in beautiful Carras, just outside of Nice, Durand’s childhood was a dream. “The scenery is amazing ; you have the sun, ski and sea. Growing up there affected who I am as an artist; the scenery is inspiring,” stated Durand. After acting in several local plays, Parisian agents and producers spotted his talent and took him to Paris, where Durand cultivated his acting career and plunged into writing and directing. Durand took his work to Los Angeles where acted on popular television shows such as “Frasier”. Durand also directed and starred in “Black and Blue”, a 2006 feature about organ trafficking. “I feel so at home in Los Angeles. Like in the south of France, you have the sun, ski and the sea. I
am inspired by California and am living out my dream,” said Durand.
Two Artists Encounter
Garnich was born in Milford, Ohio, a small town outside of Cincinnati. She grew up with three siblings in a large, but close-knit family. As a young girl, Garnich fell in love with music and acting. “I think it’s very important that your inner child lives on inside of inside of you. It’s a passion we should nurture, and never forget,” stated Garnich. With this mentality, she embarked on her acting career early, gracing the stage in high school and local performances. Along with acting, she specialized in piano, guitar, singing and songwriting. “Music and acting are a part of my being, and pursuing them always just felt right,” said Garnich.
After graduating high school, Garnich moved to Los Angeles to continue her acting career. Although her family was halfway across the country, Garnich felt at home in Los Angeles. “We have a really close bond in our hearts, so my family never felt far away,” said Garnich. Upon arrival to Los Angeles, this talented blonde-haired beauty quickly picked up roles and became a favorite among fans . She appeared on such shows as “The Young and the Restless”, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, and took a leading role on MTV’s hit series, “Undressed.” From two corners of the world, Durand and Garnich are combining their talents to star in the riveting drama, “The Innocent Love of a Butterfly.”
The Plot The film is about a beautiful American woman whose journey tests her boundaries and leads her to exotic lands. She experiences love, passion, sadness, despair, craziness and addiction, all the while dealing with the inner demons of her shadowy and mysterious past. “As we go though the story we realize that the outside beauty and happiness we see hide something else,” explained Durand about the plot. With her soft skin and big blue eyes, Garnich is a perfect fit. When preparing for a role, Garnich empathizes with the character and seeks connections between her own life and the script. “To give an honest performance, you have to feel it . There must be real emotions behind your acting; you have to jump into the role with your whole being,” stated Garnich. “Sometimes costumes can help.”
The Passion Durand believes that fashion plays an integral part in the success of a film. Without costumes, the scene would not be set, the characters would not be believable, and the film would not be as eye-catching. Fashion puts the magic in on-screen magical moments. Durand views the fashion of Hollywood’s golden years as inspirational. He believes that the femininity and glamour of the fashions featured in 1940’s Hollywood films thrilled and captivated the audience. As a director, he is looking to work with designers that can bring elegance and grace back to the screen.
“I found this in Tatyana Peter . Her designs are so feminine, so sensual and so creative that they make an artist dream,” stated Durand. “A special element is added to film when two actors wear beautiful designs like Tatyana’s. I’ve experienced this as an actor myself, and as a director capturing a moment between two other actors.” Not only does fashion influence our connection with a film, but it also promotes our connections with other cultures. Like a classical film, fashion transcends international boundaries. “Fashion is an absolute cultural connector. It is art . Creative inspiration can be borrowed from past centuries and other cultures, connecting people with one another,” said Durand. “Likewise, Tatyana Peter is a main connector in fashion.” “Her designs are sassy, spirited and vibrant. They make a woman feel feminine,” Garnich added. Tatyana herself is a crosscultural woman, originally from the city of Nalchik, located in the beautiful mountainous region of North Caucasus. She came to Los Angeles with plans to create an international high fashion forum. Her designs are a favorite among celebrities, models, actors, directors, politicians, even royalty. Tatyana’s designs add sophistication and grace to women’s closets around the world. “Tatyana Peter’s elegant European flavor matches the American grandiose image of
Hollywood, adding a special spark to an American film,” stated Durand.
The Ideal Partner
Like in the m ovies, fashion is an important part of our everyday lives. It can help us catch the eye of that cute guy or gal, create an image for ourselves, and connect with another individual. “The first thing you notice about a real woman is her look , of course. Her essence,” sated Durand. “A real woman is a woman who can make a man dream. She is somebody who is there for a man, but who at the same time is a bit of a mystery . She has passion and sensuality. She can be fragile and strong. She is unpredictable, yet predictable.”
Although Durand believes there many ways to be a “real man”, from how one handles his life and responsibilities to how he interacts with others, he thinks that love is the ultimate test of manhood. “You don’t prove you’re a man by going to war, you prove you’re a man by trying to apprehend the art of loving,” stated Durand. “Being a man means being able to bring to a woman what she expects sensually , to fulfill her dream. Being a man is to love a woman and to show a woman that there is always a man next to her, who can help her.” However, don’t go searching for these definitions in “The Innocent Love of a Butterfly.” In this story, Durand didn’t try to make the characters perfect. “The characters are meant to be realistic; but you might find the answer of what true love is,” stated Durand. For Garnich, true love is having a man’s friendship, support and care. “I believe that people are connected with each other. Some are connected within their soul, energy and being and they gravitate together,” stated Garnich. Monica Serene Garnich and Philippe Durand share a similar
special connection. Durand and Garnich complement one another perfectly, he with passion and spice, she with warmth and benevolence. Together, they create an irresistible harmony sure to transfer on screen. Article by Alissa Lentz