By CALEB FREY

Staff Reporter

VACHERIE – More than 200 years of history are to be explored in an upcoming documentary that will focus on the longstanding Laura Plantation and its unique history, thanks in part to a grant provided by the Louisiana Endowment For the Humanities.

First-time producer and former WWL-TV news reporter Jennifer John is heading production for the film, the subject of which is very near and dear to her heart, John said.

&#8220I chose Laura Plantation because I had always enjoyed the plantation tour and the architecture/courtyard tour that used to be offered in the French Quarter by Le Monde Creole,” John said. &#8220I always thought the tours were so interesting because they brought Louisiana Creole culture to life through the actual stories of one family.”

When John heard about the fire at Laura Plantation in 2004, she finally had the right angle to create a documentary about the plantation – that angle being to document the restoration of the home, while reconstructing its unique Creole heritage.

John explores the history of plantation namesake Laura Lecoul Gore through the memoirs she kept of plantation life. The film also touches on the sharecroppers who worked the grounds until only fifty years ago.

John also explores the issues of race, past and present. Something she said was not a factor when she began the film but it became more prevalent as the history unfolded.

The most notable of questions stemming from race John asks is whether Laura’s own family was of mixed heritage.

John was able to create the film thanks to a $25,000 grant received from LEH, which works closely with local community organizations, university faculty, teachers, individual writers and film producers to provide Louisianians with access to their own rich heritage through outreach programs and grants that explore the unique history and culture of Louisiana, according to LEH executive director Michael Sartisky.

John said the film is nearing the editing process and should be completely done by September.

&#8220We expect to air it on PBS, and we also plan to screen it at the party celebrating the completion of the restoration sometime this October at Laura Plantation,” John said.

A short clip of the film can be watched at www.getfreshmedia.com and for more information on the plantation go to www.lauraplantation.com.