Upcoming documentaries
Stories in the making.
Three documentaries now in production, each preserving a legacy that deserves to be remembered for generations to come.
In production · Festival submission targeted for 2027
01
The Story of Louise
A true story of love, law and liberation in antebellum Louisiana
In 1833, a girl of twelve or thirteen named Louise was sold for $500 in St. James Parish. Twenty years later, after three wills and an eleven-year legal battle, a Louisiana court declared Louise and her children statuti liberi, the first step to legal freedom. She fought through Louisiana's own legal system, and won.
- Built from
- 180+ pages of primary source documents
- Narrated by
- Leonard Smith III, Louise's third great-grandson
- Companion
- The book, From $500 to Priceless, available now
In production
02
Leading to Glory
The forgotten heroes of the Louisiana Native Guard
The story of five Louisiana men who volunteered to fight for the freedom they sought and cherished. Their stories have often been forgotten, shared only by word of mouth or hidden deep within public and private archives, but the impact of their lives is still felt today.
- Director
- Leonard Smith III
- Producers
- Larry Everage, Leonard Smith III, Tod Smith
In production
03
The Power of One
The musical legacy of Yvonne Busch
Yvonne Busch was one of the most inspirational, respected and impactful figures in New Orleans music education. A musical prodigy and sought-after jazz performer as a child and young teen in the 1940s, she set aside a promising career to teach others, and shaped the lives of thousands of New Orleans music students.
- Director / Producer
- Leonard Smith III
- Producer
- Lynette Dolliole Johnson
- Builds on
- A Legend in the Classroom (2007), our award-winning first film about Miss Busch
Our production process
The same standard, every film
Whether it's one life, a community's triumph or an artist's lasting impact, every LS3 Studios production is built to broadcast standards, so important legacies are never lost to time.
Research-driven
Thorough historical research and archival gathering before a single scene is cut.
Cinematic quality
Broadcast-standard production values in every frame.
Award-winning
Recognized with multiple Telly Awards, plus AVA Digital and Communicator honors.
See the awards →
Follow the journey
Behind the scenes, premieres and screenings
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Ready to preserve your legacy?
We're also accepting new projects.
While these three films come to life, we're taking on new Living Legacy, Ancestral Legacy and Institutional Legacy projects.