Scarabic Serenades chronicles two artists’ collaboration inspired by the mating songs and dances of the Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle. Part documentary, part art-film, this film braids together researchers from the Emlen Biology Lab at the University of Montana, music by composer Jessi Harvey and dance by choreographer Julynn Wildman into a story as captivating as the beetle itself.

With their oversized, pitchforked horns and an enigmatic mating ritual that includes both battle and a courtship song/dance, the Japanese Rhino Beetle captures hearts and  imaginations alike. Scarabic Serenades is a tongue-in-cheek film featuring over 20 Montana artists and researchers exploring the quirks of and questions about these charismatic critters.

This feature documentary came out of Wildman and Harvey’s experience as Open AIR Artists-in-Residence and was produced in collaboration with the University of Montana Emlen Evolutionary Biology Lab and Open AIR.

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SCARABIC SERENADES credits

Directed by Julynn Wildman and Lenny Eckhardt
Conceived and Created by Julynn Wildman and Jessi Harvey
Produced in part by the University of Montana Emlen Evolutionary Biology Lab and Open AIR.

Featuring:
Doug Emlen
Julynn Wildman
Jessi Harvey
Sophie Fitzgerald
Oren Jaffe
Stoney Samsoe

Cinematography: Lenny Eckhardt
Audio: Lenny Eckhardt
Editors: Julynn Wildman and Lenny Eckhardt