A movie made entirely in Southwest Louisiana, “Charles Claiborne: Sojourn in Lake Charles,” won two major awards at the Big Easy International Film and Music Festival in New Orleans last weekend.

The awards were for Best Cinematography and Best Editing.

Chris Lognion, owner of Lake Charles video production company MediaPost, was both the director of photography and editor for the film.

“I was a little taken back after winning. I wasn’t expecting to win anything,” Lognion said. “There were a lot of high-quality productions from around the country and the world. When I received the award I had to make sure it was me they were pointing at.”

Lognion said the filming was done methodically to get the movie done within a three-day production period.

“We couldn’t have done it without the help of volunteers and the professionals in town who we’re used to working with,” he said.

The film stars local talent Jared Bankens, a professional actor from Westlake, and Meghan Alice Penn, a nursing student at McNeese State University.

After reading the full script a few years ago, Lognion said he knew wanted to participate in the movie.

Jace Douglas Johnson, the film’s writer and director, said he’s pleased to finally have some accolades to come along with the hard work.

It was made as a short film in anticipation for funding that would make it a full-length movie.

“Winning the awards creates a little buzz and that’s what distributors are looking for,” he said. “On the festival circuit, an accumulation of awards definitely helps.”

Johnson has been working on the film for the past five years.

“The cinematography really was stunning and it made my story come to life,” he said. “I appreciate all the work Chris did. I was pretty lucky to have him on board.”

Johnson added that he’s confident the film will do well in the future.

(American Press Archives)