Filmmakers: What is your primary skill and where do you work most?
Writer Norcal
My current Project Title:
The Not-Dying Girl
About me - current project:
** Thank you to Martin Anaya and SFF for the selection of our latest project LADY JESSIE to the 2020 Sacramento Film Foundation! **
This is one of those stories that might have disappeared if not for the love and loyalty of squadron mates, family members, a few historians, journalists and a wonderfully talented artist ...thank you to everyone who revived and recaptured their memories, emotions, details, mementos, pictures, friendships and more.
This was a passion project started by Jim & Suzanne Eckes - to whom I am so grateful!
... a weaving of devotion, honor and courage, generosity, legacy and love.
Jessie Beck of Reno, Nevada was working in her husband's gambling business when she met Richard Perry, a college student from nearby Carlin.
During their few years of working together, they forged a real and enduring friendship. But by 1965, Dick's casino years and his college days were far in the past; he was now LCDR Richard 'Dick' Perry, one of the Navy's fiercest fighting Ghost Riders pilots in Vietnam. Jessie, meanwhile, was on her way to becoming the first woman to own a major casino in the state of Nevada. She began sending care packages to her casino friend, Dick Perry. She sent more and more and more: a new chapter in their friendship and fate had begun. Jessie's name would someday become a legacy in the sky.
This is LADY JESSIE.
Laurels, awards and other accomplishments:
We were THRILLED to have our previous documentary The Not-Dying Girl selected and screened in the:
*2020 Portland Film Festival (pdxff.com)
and the
*2019 Sacramento Film Festival (californiafilm.net)
Most Inspirational Award from SFF - many, many thanks!!!
This project tells the story of a young, vibrant athlete from Elk Grove, CA, named, Lauren McCullough. In the midst of her cancer battle, she courageously used a blog, a bucket list and a tireless campaign to give voice to funding and research needs for childhood cancer. This film continues to air on PBS stations, including the film's home station, KVIE Sacramento. You can see more at: https://www.ruyakmedia.com
Our next documentary is in production and we are looking for funding!
If you have a passion for the social narratives and music of the late 1960's and can support our work, let's talk!
As always, we stay devoted to telling true stories about surprising people.
