The coastal prairie is an imperiled ecosystem in our backyards here in Southwest Louisiana. LOUISIANA GRASS ROOTS tells the story of our forgotten prairie lands and the people working to save them. The film seeks to redefine our perception of the prairie, transforming it from a mere backdrop to an intricate tapestry of human connection and ecological significance.

LOUISIANA GRASS ROOTS

LOUISIANA GRASS ROOTS tells the story of our forgotten prairie lands and the people working to save them.

“As far as I know it, I was born on a horse” G’Khyri C. Patterson speaks only in silver tongued one liners and southern metaphors. Hailing from Houma, Louisiana - he’s got an accent that makes his sentences sound like songs, and the sly smile to match. He’s the president of the Morehouse Polo Team, the first polo team at an HBCU (Historically Black College or University) - and the entry point to our film. “Black people have always celebrated firsts” Archivist and librarian of African American Studies Thomas Jackson traces the historical roots of Black horse riders in America from enslavement to emancipation, contextualizing the importance of the team as being the first HBCU polo team.

FROM RODEO TO POLO: THE FIRST HBCU POLO TEAM

The first Black collegiate polo team at Morehouse College chases national USPA certification, training a rag-tag team of charismatic cowboys into pioneering polo stars.

A down on his luck oil worker, married to a woman that hates professional wrestling, some how becomes one, and makes a name and career for for himself, losing professionally.&nbsp;

GORGEOUS JOURNEY

Sometimes the biggest fights in pro-wrestling, take place outside the ring.

This short documentary tells the story of Kathleen Whitehurst, a Cajun artist from Arnaudville, Louisiana. Born deaf and searching for her place in the world, Kathleen chose an unconventional path—building a handcrafted bungalow on the water with no formal education. Over 20 years, she turned her life into art, creating a home that reflects resilience, individuality, and the beauty of standing out. She hopes her story plants a seed in others to live life a little differently, too.

I LEAVE A SEED

This documentary follows Kathleen Whitehurst, a deaf Cajun artist from Arnaudville, Louisiana, who builds a unique home, embracing her individuality and resilience. Her inspiring journey encourages others to live life unconventionally.

Sallie Smith doesn’t know how to retire. The 80-year old from Alabama admits “when I see something that’s a problem, it tends to call my name… and once it’s done that, I need to see it through.”&nbsp;&nbsp; The problem now is threatening her beloved Mobile Bay. Alabama Power’s ‘Plant Barry’ – Southern Alabama’s largest coal-fired power plant – has been depositing its waste ash into an unlined pit next to the plant for decades. It’s a ticking time bomb; if the levees were to be breached, 21 million tons of toxic ash would be released into the Mobile River and Bay. Sallie recruits fellow retirees Diane Thomas and Savan Wilson to her cause, and together they set off on a late-life crusade to try and force the plant – and the EPA – to move the ash to safer ground.&nbsp; But Sallie is racing against more than one clock. The cancer she once beat has returned and metastasized. With only months to live, can she and her friends pull off one final fight for their community, the Bay, and for the generations to come?

SALLIE'S ASHES

Faced with terminal lung cancer, 80-year-old Sallie Smith rallies an unlikely team of fellow Alabama grandmas to fight for the removal of a toxic coal ash pit that threatens the waters of their beloved Mobile Bay.

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Southern Screen is a multi-disciplinary 501(c)3 not-for-profit arts organization that supports and celebrates artists and their work. We provide a platform for emerging and established storytellers of all types to sharpen their skills, showcase their craft, and share their creativity. 