Love Never Dies - A Film Project

10/28/2025

Wow! The filming of Love Never Dies had a huge emotional impact on our cast and crew.

Check out this powerful account from Carrie Stone of Bellingham, WA, who was our “clapper loader” or the person who handles “the slate” 🎬 on set, and who is married to the film’s songwriter, composer and sound mixer, Rod Stone. Carrie shares how being a part of the film changed her life, as well as the inspiring story of how God connected her and Rod with Marching Through Culpeper author Virginia Morton over 16 years ago.

To hear Carrie sing “Waitin’ on You,” a beautiful song that will be featured in the movie, as well as see a montage of behind-the-scenes photos taken during filming, go to the 22:19 mark of Carrie’s video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POPZ3yiLAUI

At 56, I said yes to something that terrified and transformed me — being in a movie and working on the set. What I learned on that set changed how I see myse...

10/21/2025

🎬 THAT’S A WRAP! 🎬

We did it! Filming has officially concluded on Love Never Dies. As a parting shot, feast your eyes on this final glimpse of our two magnificent leads—Riley Brazell and Damien Chinappi—dressed in their elegant ball attire. In one of the film’s most memorable scenes, they flirt and waltz across enemy lines at a real-life Union ball held in Culpeper, VA, during the Union occupation.

This unforgettable indie journey has been powered by passion, grit, and an extraordinary team. 💖A gigantic thank you to every single person on our cast and crew. Stay tuned to our page as we head into postproduction, as we’ll be sharing editing updates and sneak peeks. 🗓️ When will the finished film be screened or released? Sometime in 2026 we hope, but you’ll hear it here first! 📣

Thank you all for being part of this filmmaking adventure!

10/16/2025

👒 WEARING MULTIPLE HATS🎩

As we mentioned in our last post, many of the amazingly dedicated people working on our film have been pulling double duty—for example, as both actors and crew members.

Here we see the talented regional actress Lillyana Anderson, who is playing the role of Amanda, our protagonist's older sister, applying her behind-the-scenes skills with hair and makeup. And in another case of double duty, she's getting Virginia Morton, our screenwriter and executive producer, ready to portray Granny Ashby, who fans of Marching Through Culpeper may remember for her unfiltered comments.

These are just two examples out of many, and we couldn't be more grateful to those who have given their time and energy both on and off screen. Our indie production wouldn't have been possible without you!

One day of filming left to go. We're almost to the finish line, folks!

10/15/2025

🎬A GIRL DID THIS?!

In this uproarious scene, Confederate spy Frank Stringfellow (played by Chris Nagle) and his comrade (played by Rob Chambers) come upon a hog-tied Yankee (played by Doug Black) at Duck Rock. Imagine their surprise when they find a note revealing that it was none other than Constance Armstrong, Frank's childhood friend, who captured the Union soldier and gained vital intelligence in the process!

A special shoutout to Doug Black, who is working tirelessly on our camera crew AND acting in several small roles, for giving it his all as the humiliated Yankee. Later this same day, Doug was the one who made sure all of the footage from the day was uploaded and backed up safely. During post-production, we'll take this footage (shot in front of green screen) and use AI to add a historically accurate background for Duck Rock.

Stay tuned to see it all fully realized! Just 2.5 more days of filming to go!

10/12/2025

🎬MEET THE CAST!

Who out there saw the 2012 stage play of Marching Through Culpeper, the novel that our movie is based on? If you were among the audience of 2,000+ people, then you already know who the #1 scene stealer was—the immensely talented actress Patricia Hill-Davidson!

As the Armstrongs' loyal servant Sadie, she received standing ovation after standing ovation for her unforgettable and often hilarious performance. So, naturally, we couldn't be more delighted that Patricia, a regional model and actress from Warrenton, VA, is back to reprise her role in the feature film, where she is once again garnering applause.

Thank you for taking this journey with us again Patricia—we're so honored and grateful to have you!

https://loveneverdiesfilm.com/meet-the-cast

10/11/2025

🎬✨ Week 2 of filming Love Never Dies is in the can! ✨🎬

We’re more than halfway through production, and hearts are already stirring. In this pivotal scene that sparks our star-crossed romance, Constance Armstrong (played by Riley Brazell), a Southern woman of faith, tends to the wounded Captain Aaron Ames (played by Damien Chinappi)—her enemy in a bloody war between the states. As she nurses him back to health out of Christian compassion, humanity transcends conflict, and Constance begins to see the man behind the musket: honorable, kind, and much more intriguing than expected.

📸 The image says it all—tenderness, tension, and the first flicker of something deeper. Stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes glimpses as we head into our final week of filming!

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10/09/2025

🎬 MEET OUR CAST!

What kind of Yankee could steal a Southern girl's heart?

Learn more about Damien Chinappi, the Massachusetts-based actor playing our romantic lead, Captain Aaron Ames of Maine, in this engaging interview with Boston Voyager.

https://bostonvoyager.com/interview/meet-damien-chinappi-damien-chinappi-boston-ma/

Today we’d like to introduce you to Damien Chinappi. So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story. I will always say my first acting gig was that of an insurance salesman, so a quick shout out to Northwestern Mutual fo...

10/08/2025

🎬 What a beautiful day for a picnic...and an ambush!

Week 2 of filming is underway, and this week we're shooting live action scenes at locations around Culpeper, VA. In this scene, our protagonist Constance Armstrong, played by Riley Brazell, enjoys a romantic picnic with Captain Aaron Ames, played by Damien Chinappi. Only problem is: he's the enemy, and their rare respite from the stresses of war is short-lived when Confederate soldiers come upon her socializing with a (gasp!) Yankee. Will Constance be able to stop them from taking Ames as a prisoner of war?

Fans of Virginia Morton's Civil War novel Marching Through Culpeper, which our film is based on, should already know the answer. If you can't recall, however, it may be time to re-read the book in preparation for the movie! 🎥

10/05/2025

🎬 That’s a wrap on week one of filming Love Never Dies — and this photo says it all!

Local actor Chris Nagle, seen here coated in feathers, is bringing real-life Culpeper resident and intrepid Confederate spy Frank Stringfellow to life. In this scene, Stringfellow narrowly escapes the Union army (again!) by hiding inside a feather mattress. The result? One very triumphant — and fluffy — getaway.

We’re thrilled by the energy, grit, and humor our cast and crew have poured into this first week. If this image captures how we feel, it’s equal parts exhausted, exhilarated, and ready for more.

10/02/2025

🎬 It's day 3 of filming on Love Never Dies!

None of this would be possible without our incredible camera department. Pictured: Jeremiah Morrison, our Director of Photography (DP), and Joe Carney, our B Camera Operator, on set in Culpeper, VA.

They’re the eyes behind the lens, capturing every emotion and framing every moment with precision and creativity. We’re honored to have their assistance in bringing our epic story to life, one frame at a time.

A big cheers to the camera department, which also includes Jeremy Murray (who took these behind-the-scenes photos), Doug Black and Carrie Stone. Thank you all for your invaluable contributions!

09/30/2025

🎬✨ Day 1 is officially in the books!

Today marked the start of filming on Love Never Dies, our independent feature film based on Virginia Morton’s beloved Civil War novel Marching Through Culpeper. With 13 more days of filming to go, we’re diving headfirst into a story that’s as gripping as it is heartfelt.

Pictured: Director/producer Stephen Pappas setting the stage—literally—before a green screen that will soon transform into a rich, period-specific backdrop straight out of the 1860s. Also pictured: background actor Ben Murray and crew member Carrie Stone, who captures each scene's essential information—such as the scene number and take number—on the "slate" prior to cameras rolling.

The magic of filmmaking is underway, and we couldn’t be more excited to see this journey realized on the big screen. Stay tuned for behind-the-scenes moments, cast highlights, and more as we march forward together. 🎥

09/30/2025

🎬 SNEAK PEEK!

We’re thrilled to announce that the legendary storyboard artist David Russell has been an instrumental part of the Love Never Dies team—all the way from Queensland, Australia!

David’s career is the stuff of Hollywood history: from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi to Batman to Moulin Rouge, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Wolverine, his dynamic compositions and masterful storytelling have helped shape some of cinema’s most iconic moments. With over $7 billion in box office success and 18 Oscars tied to his work, we’re honored to have his talent guiding our visual journey.

This stunning scene rendering—showing Confederate spy Frank Stringfellow escaping death as well as capture by the Union army—is just one of many that David has helped us bring to life. His ability to capture tension, emotion, and movement in every frame ensures Love Never Dies will hit the screen with heart-pounding impact.

Thank you, David—we’re so lucky to have you! 🎥✨