Son of a legend making movie on Eunice icon

Eunice native Gerry McGee is a music legend to many in his hometown. He’s known as a session musician who has played and recorded with the likes of Elvis Presley, The Monkees, Bobby Darin, Roseanne Cash, The Ventures and Kris Kristofferson. McGee is well known for playing the guitar. But he’s soon to be known for playing his father, the legendary Denus McGee, in an upcoming movie called “Amede and Denus” – which is based on the life of Cajun French music pioneers Denus McGee and Amede Ardoin. “I like to call it Louisiana French music because that’s what my father called it,” said McGee as he spoke before the Kiwanis Club of Eunice at Ruby’s last week. “My father and Amede Ardoin, who was a black man that my father met while they were both picking cotton, found out that they both had an interest in music, which was something that they could really identify with. “The music brought them together during The Great Depression and they became friends. Which was really rather unlikely in that period time, to have a black man and white man play together. But they managed, along with others, to make the first recordings of Cajun music.” Gerry McGee said that the film started out as a documentary but soon turned to a dramatized film about the lives of the music men in the 1930s. Gerry said that the two men are considered to be one masters in the history of Cajun music. Gerry noted that his father and Amede Ardoin had once performed across the street from Ruby’s current location. The duo performed at the historic Second Street dance hall, Abe’s Palace, on the site of what ltater became Ardoin’s (no relation) department store. Gerry said that he became familiar during the 1980’s with movie production as he was living in Hollywood and working as an extra, doing bit parts in television shows like L.A. Law, Simon & Simon and Night Court. “I figured that one day I would be able to use that experience and do something with it,” said Gerry. “And I had this idea of writing a story about my father and Amede Ardoin. I thought it would be a great story about these two men that came together and created this great music.” Gerry said that his period piece film still has a few scenes left to shoot. He said that capturing the 1930s feel of the movie required many of the scenes to be shot in Chataignier, Ville Platte and Bunkie while some scenes were shot at Lakeview Campground in Eunice. “The film should be a great boon to this part of Louisiana,” said Gerry. “And I think that a lot of people will probably enjoy the film.” Gerry said that any film goes through a process of seeking distribution, financing and film festivals to promote the film. He said that he hoped that the film “Amede and Denus” will be out by the beginning of 2015 or the end of 2014. He said that ultimate goal is to have the film shown in theaters nationwide rather than just regionally. “Some of the film makers down here in Louisiana just want to show films locally,” said Gerry. “I think it’s important to have the culture promoted not only in this area, but nationwide. If nothing happens with it, I can always say that it was a labor of love and a credit to my culture and my family as well. If not, I’ll just show the film at The Liberty or The Queen.” Gerry said that he projects that the film will be completed by August or September as he is filming a few days at a time, using his own funds to complete the project. He said that he has been working on the movie since June of 2013. The official Facebook page for the movie is located at https://www.facebook.com/AmedeAndDenusAFilmByGerryMcgee