A WELL-VOICED DOCUMENTARY: Actor Liam Neeson narrates the documentary ‘Resting Places.’ To learn more visit, www.restingplaces.com.
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Resting places
BY: Charles Redfield, Staff Writer
Prairie Village native Melissa Villanueva said she has a passion for producing films that touch the heart.
The Kansas City resident recently completed a documentary called “Resting Places,” about roadside memorials.
The 48-minute documentary tells the stories of several people who constructed roadside memorials and memorial opponents.
The Avila University graduate obtained the services of Oscar-nominated actor Liam Neeson to narrate the documentary.
The film will debut Sept. 20 at the Kansas International Film Festival at the Glenwood Arts Theater in the Metcalf South Shopping Center, Overland Park.
The project started about five years ago with filmmaker Joe Kipikash, then living in Kansas City. He often drove by a roadside memorial in his neighborhood, Villanueva said.
“It was not well-kept,” she said, “He couldn’t understand why someone would want to advertise death to the world.”
Kipikash learned the memorial marked where a 3-year-old child had died.
“The family moved away because of the grief,” Villanueva said. “It changed his view of roadside memorials.”
Kipikash did a screenplay about the experience.
“I felt it would take a documentary to tell the stories about people who feel a need to maintain memorials and the people who want to take them down,” Villanueva said.
The five-year effort culminated in February with the completion of “Resting Places.”
“I wanted to take a balanced look at roadside memorials,” Villanueva said. “A lot of people think they are great while others think they should be regulated. Some states already regulate roadside memorials.”
There are no regulations in Kansas, but in Missouri people who put up a roadside memorial must sign a contract to maintain the site.
Villanueva said people create the memorials in order to feel closer to a loved one who has died.
“People want to go to the spot where they lost someone to an accident or murder,” she said. “This is a place where they can say goodbye and they can maintain a connection there.”
Scholars are not sure where the idea originated.
Such memorials may have originated with the Spanish Conquistadors, who buried their dead where they died, said Silva Grider, associate professor of cultural studies and anthropology at Texas A&M in College Station.
“This is a very young subject,” Villanueva said. “Scholars have just been studying it for 15 years.”
Flagler Productions in Lenexa handled the high-definition production and post-production services for the documentary.
Villanueva is exploring distribution.
“We hope to have it on TV in six months to a year,” she said.
Villanueva received a nonprofit grant from the Kansas City Filmmakers Jubilee.
“This allowed us to raise tax-deductible donations,” Villanueva said. “A portion of the money raised has been given to the Jubilee so they may continue to support our film community.”
Villanueva called working with narrator Neeson in New York a highlight of her career.
“I approached Liam through an industry contact,” she said. “He embraced the project immediately. His remarkable talent and lion-like voice weave together the moving stories and passionate arguments in ‘Resting Places.’”
Villaneuva received bachelor’s degrees in English and theatrical direction and production from Avila in 2000.
Her credits include several productions for Wal-Mart and opening game video for the Kansas City Royals and Houston Astros.
“Melissa is a dedicated artist and a talented filmmaker,” said Robert Foulk, Avila associate director of theater. “She is an example to all artists that hard work and persistence can help them achieve their goals.”
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The Kansas City resident recently completed a documentary called “Resting Places,” about roadside memorials.
The 48-minute documentary tells the stories of several people who constructed roadside memorials and memorial opponents.
The Avila University graduate obtained the services of Oscar-nominated actor Liam Neeson to narrate the documentary.
The film will debut Sept. 20 at the Kansas International Film Festival at the Glenwood Arts Theater in the Metcalf South Shopping Center, Overland Park.
The project started about five years ago with filmmaker Joe Kipikash, then living in Kansas City. He often drove by a roadside memorial in his neighborhood, Villanueva said.
“It was not well-kept,” she said, “He couldn’t understand why someone would want to advertise death to the world.”
Kipikash learned the memorial marked where a 3-year-old child had died.
“The family moved away because of the grief,” Villanueva said. “It changed his view of roadside memorials.”
Kipikash did a screenplay about the experience.
“I felt it would take a documentary to tell the stories about people who feel a need to maintain memorials and the people who want to take them down,” Villanueva said.
The five-year effort culminated in February with the completion of “Resting Places.”
“I wanted to take a balanced look at roadside memorials,” Villanueva said. “A lot of people think they are great while others think they should be regulated. Some states already regulate roadside memorials.”
There are no regulations in Kansas, but in Missouri people who put up a roadside memorial must sign a contract to maintain the site.
Villanueva said people create the memorials in order to feel closer to a loved one who has died.
“People want to go to the spot where they lost someone to an accident or murder,” she said. “This is a place where they can say goodbye and they can maintain a connection there.”
Scholars are not sure where the idea originated.
Such memorials may have originated with the Spanish Conquistadors, who buried their dead where they died, said Silva Grider, associate professor of cultural studies and anthropology at Texas A&M in College Station.
“This is a very young subject,” Villanueva said. “Scholars have just been studying it for 15 years.”
Flagler Productions in Lenexa handled the high-definition production and post-production services for the documentary.
Villanueva is exploring distribution.
“We hope to have it on TV in six months to a year,” she said.
Villanueva received a nonprofit grant from the Kansas City Filmmakers Jubilee.
“This allowed us to raise tax-deductible donations,” Villanueva said. “A portion of the money raised has been given to the Jubilee so they may continue to support our film community.”
Villanueva called working with narrator Neeson in New York a highlight of her career.
“I approached Liam through an industry contact,” she said. “He embraced the project immediately. His remarkable talent and lion-like voice weave together the moving stories and passionate arguments in ‘Resting Places.’”
Villaneuva received bachelor’s degrees in English and theatrical direction and production from Avila in 2000.
Her credits include several productions for Wal-Mart and opening game video for the Kansas City Royals and Houston Astros.
“Melissa is a dedicated artist and a talented filmmaker,” said Robert Foulk, Avila associate director of theater. “She is an example to all artists that hard work and persistence can help them achieve their goals.”
Comments on "Resting places"
Comments are limited to 200 words or less.Robert Sergent wrote on Aug 13, 2007 11:22 PM:
" I read your article regarding roadside memorials on your website with great interest. It was well written and informative.
Your readers would benefit from the knowledge there is an alternative to displaying a roadside memorial on public roads or right of ways. The National Memorial Registry (www.NationalMemorialRegistry.com) is Internet based and offers free of any charge, the opportunity for any individual to dedicate a memorial location to a loved one. With the help of our extensive database of mapping software, a person can dedicate a specific address, site, or location in honor of, or to validate, the life of an individual that has an influence on their lives. Every memorial dedication is displayed on our maps for the world to view.
It is a well known fact that many individuals need to experience the grieving process through the display of a roadside memorial. All too often, local jurisdictions are regulating this practice. Some are limiting the time a memorial can be displayed, others are banning them. Some jurisdictions have regulations regarding the placement of memorials but local enforcement is not done, often by choice to help the grieving family. "