Our Story

Kerry J Villnuve - Director

     From the time Kerry was about 10 years old, she had a hobby as a writer. She finished her first novel at the age of 12, and continues to write today. While working on her bachelor's degree at LSU, she began the novel Remember My Isa. The story began by bouncing ideas off her family members and roommates, one of whom later went on to play the role of Anne Bonny (Kristin Bodin). The brainstorming eventually led to a road trip to St. Augustine, Florida, where her friend Necia Cassidy (who later played the role of Bill Brewer’s wife) helped Kerry to explore the area and learn about the time period.
Mary Agnes Beatty - Kerry's grandmother
     Once the novel had a few chapters written, Kerry’s family received devastating news that her grandmother, Mary Agnes Beatty, had terminal lung cancer. Grandma Beatty was very excited about the novel Kerry was writing, so Kerry began to read the chapters to her while she was sick. Each time she wrote a new chapter, she would visit and sit by her bed and read. Her grandmother loved the story, and it was a memory Kerry will have forever. Grandma Beatty encouraged her to continue writing, and although she was never able to hear the end of the story, her motivation kept Kerry going.
     While Kerry was writing the novel, her brother Ryan Jenkins began to explore the world of video editing. A recent Redemptorist High School graduate, and an information technology professional by trade,
Ryan, Kerry, and Corey Jenkins he was naturally very good at learning new technologies and software programs. The family’s home videos of vacations and holidays turned into mass productions that were put to music and distributed to friends and family. The family had an inside joke that, no matter what happened, Ryan always made good DVDs. Ryan began to teach Kerry the basics of editing, which as an Information Systems and Decision Sciences Major at LSU, she loved right away. Wanting to expand his experience, Ryan asked Kerry to write a few scenes of a dramatic nature so he could experiment with filming something other than family vacations.
Margaret and Bart Beatty Kerry decided to convert the beginning of the unfinished novel into a few scenes for filming. Because the scenes were set in the 1700s, and because Kerry was never one to do anything small, she decided they needed costumes. She contacted her cousin, Jennifer Galster, who was a high school student in Iowa at the time (she later graduated with both a bachelors and masters in Fashion from LSU), and asked her if she could sew a few costumes together if she was mailed some materials. Next the family team needed a few actors. At a family party, Kerry began talking with her younger cousins Margaret and Bart Beatty, thinking this film would be a great way to keep the family close after the passing of their grandmother. Having no idea how much would eventually be involved, her cousins and two uncles joined the team. Using a friend’s camera, they set out to film the first scene (the scene of the race) at the family camp owned by Bubba and Lisa Beatty. By the time they started filming, Kerry had graduated from LSU (she would later return to receive her masters in Communication Studies). She began to work full-time as an Applications Developer, but instead of saving for a house, she moved home to save for the project.
Kenny Jenkins operating the boom mic She built a website, and soon their small family project was gaining attention all over the state. Not even having a completed script, they took a break from filming to hold a casting call, finish the script, and do this thing for real. Kerry’s parents, Kenny and Cathy Jenkins, helped by making costumes, funding the project, running the sound, cooking for everyone after filming, and anything else they could do to help. Every day after filming, the group would meet at the Jenkins home to watch the footage, feast on home-cooking, laugh at the bloopers, and plan the next film day.
Kerry and Alicia preparing for a scene Kerry cast the lead actress, Alicia Hanley, after her brother Corey Jenkins recommended Kerry go scout the actress at her high school play (Alicia later went on to receive her bachelors and masters in Theatre Directing). Kerry knew immediately that Alicia was the one for the part. Alicia became an Editor of the script and an Assistant Director in addition to her contribution as the lead role. They held a cast and crew call with the help of the LSU Cinema Club president Matt Dolney (who eventually became the technical director of the film) and Dr. Trish Suchy (who later became Kerry's Advisor in the LSU Masters program). They gained numerous actors, actresses, and crew members whose experience and knowledge was integral to finishing the project. From there, the project soared. There were as many as 100 dedicated individuals working on the project at any one time. Although it was a first-time project for many of the people involved, it was one that was done with hard work and dedication.