Full-length feature to be filmed in and around Franklin

Franklin is once again stepping into the spotlight as the city’s Film Franklin initiative partners with a new production team planning to shoot a full-length feature in Franklin and across St. Mary Parish.
Morgan City native Matison LeBlanc and her crew recently spent a weekend scouting locations around town for the upcoming project. Mayor Eugene Foulcard credited the strong sense of community and teamwork for making Franklin a standout choice for filmmakers compared to larger Louisiana cities.
The filmmakers will return to Franklin on Saturday, September 20 at 7 p.m. for a special screening of their award-winning short film Ada and the Doc at the Teche Theatre. The film, which has already appeared at major festivals including Cannes, revisits a story well known in St. Mary Parish history—one that played a major role in Franklin’s Bicentennial Celebration.
Set in Morgan City in 1927, the film tells the true story of Ada LeBoeuf, a housewife caught in an abusive marriage who became embroiled in one of Louisiana’s most infamous murder trials. Convicted alongside Dr. Thomas Dreher and James Beadle for the killing of her husband, Ada ultimately became the first woman executed by the state in Franklin under Governor Huey P. Long’s orders.
Mayor Foulcard noted that the Film Franklin initiative is about more than storytelling—it’s also an economic boost. By attracting productions, the city provides filmmakers with affordable, accessible locations while ensuring that spending on catering, lodging, services, and local hires stays in St. Mary Parish.
“This kind of collaboration doesn’t just showcase our history and culture,” said Foulcard. “It puts real dollars into our economy and helps position Franklin as a welcoming hub for future productions.”