The Jewel of Main Street

There’s a beloved old theater in Franklin, Tennessee, that has outlasted developers, depressions, natural disasters, and most recently, a pandemic. So as the tenth anniversary of The Franklin Theatre’s restoration approached – just as the world was beginning to re-open after COVID – the event came to symbolize much more. For organizers, it became a celebration of the theater’s very survival.

 

  • Client: Franklin Theatre
  • Agency: Stonecastle Pictures
  • Type: Brands, Non-profits
  • Deliverable: Short Documentary
  • Services: Creative Strategy, Video Production, Scriptwriting

Project


A short film to celebrate an historic theater

 

The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County, which owns the Franklin Theatre, asked Stonecastle produce a short documentary that would anchor a red carpet fundraising gala celebrating the theater’s history. Working with the marketing team, we dove into a research phase that produced a cast of characters upon which we were able to build a rich and entertaining story.


Uncovering surprises like this one along the way

 

Our research led us to wonderful characters, but perhaps the most memorable wasn’t even on our list. As the production crew was setting up for an interview, our director Barry chatted backstage with a theater employee who began to tell a story that stopped Barry in his tracks. Quickly gathering the crew before the employee could say more, Barry captured this scene which you can watch here.


A gift no one saw coming

 

Another favorite scene of ours features Emily Magid, a long-time volunteer who still answers the phone at the Heritage Foundation’s front desk. What no one knew for many years is that she is also a multi-millionaire. In fact, most people would probably still be unaware if she hadn’t stepped in at the very last moment to purchase the Franklin Theatre. Reluctantly, Emily allowed us to interview her at her desk one day. Watch her scene here.

The Campaign

Watch “The Jewel of Main Street” here. Length: 13 mins.

From The Client

"Barry Simmons and Stonecastle have done a number of vital promotional and documentary video projects for us and we whole-heartedly recommend him. Barry has a knack for uncovering the humanity of a story and telling any narrative in a compelling and heartfelt manner. He is diligent in his preparation, a calming presence on set, and delivers work that resonates every time, for a long time."


Steve Citerin, Assistant VP, Marketing & Communications
Steve Citerin, Assistant VP, Marketing & Communications