Peter Jackson Homage - Lovely Memories

All the music in the video above is Brian Eno, who is a master musician. Look his music up!

Our Story

My name is John Lerchen and I am the Director/Writer of Lovely Memories.

I am currently a student at Columbia College Chicago, and I have been making films since the fifth grade. I am already an award winning filmmaker. I won best High School Short at the Memphis International Film Festival, I was shortlisted in a mofilm festival, and I won the Legend of the Seeker Online Contest.

My favorite director has always been Peter Jackson. I love the subjects Peter takes on, and the ways he conveys them on screen. My two favorite Peter Jackson movies are The Lovely Bones & Heavenly Creatures. In all of my films you can see Peter Jackson influence. 

Lovely Memories

Lovely Memories is my personal homage to Peter Jackson. 

Simply put this is what its about:

 A young girl must accept her murder by her stepfather and undertake moving on from her loving mother and sister. 

Want to know more in depth what the film is about? Here is the treatment:

It’s 1978. After Laura has been murdered she walks around a grim in-between contemplating the aspects of life she has taken for granted. Before Laura’s death she was interested in film.  Laura enjoys making short films with her friends using her super 8 camera. Laura is optimistic as she sits with her family on the living room couch.

Laura, a few weeks later, sits on the couch with her mother, Linda. The families only phone rings. Linda answers the phone and begins crying. Laura and her sister, Laurie, run to their mother as she falls to the floor. The girls are shocked to learn their father, John, has died in a car accident. Linda goes to AA meetings to find comfort from her loneliness. Linda meets Stanley, an alcoholic and veteran. 

A few weeks later Stanley comes home with Linda; they are now married. Stanley still has a drinking problem and is constantly drinking Scotch. Stanley scowls at Laura in disdain. Laura sits in the in-between again deep in thought.

Before being murdered Laura listens to 70’s music in her room. Stanley drinks a Scotch and shaves in the bathroom down the hall. Stanley is so drunk he gets frustrated with Laura’s loud record player. Stanley pounds on Laura’s door and insists she turn her music off. Stanley bursts into Laura’s room with his shaving razor still in hand. Stanley spews his hate for Laura and begins to stumble over towards her. Stanley kills Laura.

Minutes later Stanley drags Laura’s body in a bag out to the cornfield behind the house. Stanley digs a hole underneath a very big tree and plops the bloody bag in it. Stanley staggers home where he burns his clothes, washes the blood, and calls the police.

Laura is back in her in-between where she is shocked to find John. Laura and John watch as Linda cries on the front porch.  A car pulls up and Laurie gets out. Laurie comforts Linda in place of Stanley. Stanley is upset with the whole situation and continues to drink Scotch. Stanley punches walls and screams when nobody is home.

Laura and John sit outside of the house. Laura confesses that she wants to go in the house but couldn’t gain the courage in the past. Laura enters the house where a ghostly light beams in through all the windows. Laura walks back to her room and walks up to a picture of her family next to her bed. Linda walks in the garage door and the ghostly lights are gone. Linda feels a presence and heads back to Laura’s room where she heads to the family photo as well.

When Linda touches the photo she is sucked into the moment when the photo was taken. Laura, John, Linda, and Laurie are all lying on a blanket underneath a giant tree behind the house in the cornfield. The family runs around laughing as Laura films them with her super 8.

Linda is on the floor of Laura’s room crying. Linda looks at the picture one more time and then heads out to the cornfield. Linda finds the tree from the photo and looks around it. Linda finds a shaving razor covered in crusty blood on the ground beneath the tree. Linda runs back to the house where she sees Stanley pulling out of the driveway; he is watching her the whole time. Linda screams; she knows what Stanley has done. While Linda is crying she sees the ghostly appearance of John and Laura. Laura confesses she can finally move on. 

What you are Helping us Pay for: 

Paying for a film is expensive. There are so many small production costs that go unseen. Lovely Memories takes place in the 70’s so the production is even more difficult. We have put together a budget sheet that includes everything we need to make our film a success. By donating to our film your money will directly go to one of the following: Transportation (From Chicago to Indiana) for all cast and crew, Rental Equipment (Jib Arm, Dolly System, Slider),  Costumes (70’s outfits), Props (We have lots of decorating to make the house look like its from the 70’s), Catering (Over 12 people to feed for three days), Film Festivals (Student Festivals all around the United States).