Prison, Death and Love

Would you have the strength to nurse someone to their death? Would you trust a killer to nurse you to death? Turn to OWN, Channel 279, Direct TV for "Serving Life," a documentary that pushes past prison boundaries and stereotypes about Angola inmates and a vastly different DEATH ROW.

The 50-year-old Overdue Apology

Sometimes alcohol and arrogance serve as a platform and opportunity mixed with an excuse for many people to spew insults, disrespect and offend those they profess to love dearly. Could you forgive a recovering alcoholic for throwing you out of your hotel room naked? If a man tells you every time you had sex it was just sex and never love-making, how would you respond? What do you say to your former best friend who owes you thousands of dollars, disappears and shows up 20 years later at your door?

In the documentary Despicable Dick and Righteous Richard, a 68-year-old recovering alcoholic vehemently and personally apologizes to a select group of family, friends and foes. For nearly 50 years, Richard Kuchera conned, rejected and humiliated everyone from his siblings and children to business partners, ex-wives and ex-mistresses.

His nickname amongst those he’s hurt is “Dick.” “I’m trying to change my life and become Richard,” Kuchera says in the film that follows his road to redemption. As he travels from his home in North Dakota, crosses the Great Plains region and closes out his apology tour in Vegas, Kuchera meets acceptance and resistance. During his visits, Kuchera gets a taste of what he dished out so freely for years, as some find his request for forgiveness laughable, while others feel it’s long overdue.

When this film comes to your local theatre, film festival or gets picked up by a broadcast network, tune-in for a raw peek into how one man’s desire to make amends teaches us all a valuable lesson about choices, consequences and courage. You will laugh, cry and scream a few select words throughout the 70-minute documentary.  Despicable Dick and Righteous Richard is directed by Joshua Neale. Here’s the trailer: http://vimeo.com/22607337.

Please feel free to contact Maniko Barthelemy at NewsHeels@gmail.com.

FIlm Producer Celebrates in New Orleans with Family and Friends



Maniko Barthelemy (in Jovani)

 Cake designed by Kimberly Gibson, http://www.kutekreations.com/

No, it wasn’t the Oscars. But when guests hit the red carpet in New Orleans for a private screening of two documentaries, the tone of the private event had all of the glitz, glamour and elegance reflective of a dazzling Hollywood premiere and awards show.



Richard Baptiste



Yvette Crocker and Lisa Williamson

Sherinell Allen

Blanche Vaughn and Kendall Richardson

Jordan and Joshua Hughes

 

Debra and Ken Barthelemy

Rodney and Janice Baptiste

Talib and Natalie Abdulkhabir

   

Desiree Mason and Lawren Mason



Connie Jacobs



From left: Keyiana Williams, Amanda Washington and Brandon Williams

  

Tanya and Gary Evans

  

Dana Kaplan

  

Deidra Sampson

 

Dedra Sampson

 

Chelsia Hughes

  

From left: Johnette Dillon, Mariah Dillon and Chelsia Hughes



Veronica Burgos

  

Merrell Merricks and Kelly Steed

 

Robin and Stevie Jenkins

  

Kevin Westhues and Les Meyers

 

Ralph Vaughn and Kendall Richardson

 

Trene Jenkins and Norman Stovall

 

Jewel Doyle-Cozart



Nedra Bell

Nyoka Ormstead

   

 

Donna Smith and Maniko Barthelemy

 

Kayla Barthelemy



Johnel Washington



Colenz Breaux



Natalie Moser

  

Erin Terveer



Robyn Stone



From left: Maniko Barthelemy, Kayla Barthelemy and Farrell Barthelemy

 

Darryl Lumpkins


 

Lisa Tahir

 

Tiffany and Josh Barthelemy



Omar and Carla Mason

 

Mariah Dillon

 Once guests screened “The Unlikely Sex Offenders” and “From Wrong to Right,” film producer and New Orleans native Maniko Barthelemy was greeted with a standing ovation, as she entered the ballroom at the New Orleans Renaissance Arts hotel. “A party in my hometown is perhaps the best way to say thank you to people who have supported my transition from television reporter to film producer. I did not expect to cry when I entered the room but I couldn’t hold back the tears,” Barthelemy said.



 

She made it a point to extend her southern hospitality by hugging every guest and personally thanking them for their support. The evening of well-wishes, emotional speeches, dancing and of course New Orleans cuisine, ended with a traditional New Orleans second-line to rhythmic and intoxicating sounds of the Stooges brass band.



After a quick wardrobe change, it was time for Maniko to end the party with a New Orleans second-line.

 




The Stooges Brass Band gave everyone an intense and energetic workout.

 



Guests joined Maniko in her high stepping in high heels from the dance floor into the hotel lobby.

 

Barthelemy recently received a master’s degree from American University in film producing. She is currently the CEO of Southern Belle Productions, LLC and in pre-production on two films. “Louisiana’s Juvenile Reform Puzzle,” examines the problems, plight and progress of the Louisiana juvenile justice system. “After I’m Free” is a film about life after an inmate is exonerated.

Event photos provided by New Orleans photographer Zee Amir (504) 319-5730. Feel free to contact Maniko Barthelemy at Newsheels@gmail.com.