Marching Through Culpeper - A Film Project

01/25/2026

NEW TITLE. NEW POSTER. NEW WEBSITE!

Happy New Year, everyone!

After much consideration, we’re making a change to our film’s title. Due to trademark issues, we’ll be retiring the name Love Never Dies. We know many of you have been following along under that title, and we sincerely apologize for any confusion.

The good news? We’re embracing the name of the beloved Civil War novel that our film is based on: Marching Through Culpeper by Virginia Morton, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. With over 10,500 copies sold and a passionate following among history lovers and readers of all ages and genders, Marching Through Culpeper brings a built-in recognition factor and historical resonance that we’re proud to carry forward.

Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm. We invite you to visit our updated website (https://marchingthroughculpepermovie.com/) and view a slide show of scenes from the movie. Plus, we have a new poster, shown here, which features our amazing stars Riley Brazell and Damien Chinappi. Let us know what you think!

12/26/2025

📰 We made the front page on Christmas Day! 🎺

Thank you to the Culpeper Star-Exponent for sharing behind-the-scenes photos and a sneak peek of our film, now in post-production. Stay tuned for more glimpses of how things are taking shape!

See the link in the comments below for a free PDF version of the article.

Movie based on Virginia Morton's "Marching Through Culpeper" in post-production, AI image portrays Union soldiers moving northward on Main Street, heckled by the locals.

12/15/2025

SNEAK PEEK: Civil War Culpeper comes alive!

The Virginia House Hotel on the left is still standing on north Main Street and now houses The Culpeper Music Center. The Shackleford house, directly across the street, is gone, and Quail in the Woods Antiques and other shops occupy the site.

Constance Armstrong, the movie’s heroine, is based on Bessie Shackleford, and thus this real-life building is the Armstrong town home in our film. This scene took place on October 11, 1863, when the Union Army rapidly retreated northward. Elated townspeople heckled the enemy soldiers as they skedaddled.

Later that day the town was shelled and the 4th Battle of Brandy Station, the opening salvo of the Bristoe Campaign, took place on the rolling fields of Auburn plantation at Brandy Station.

--Description by screenwriter and executive producer Virginia Morton, author of "Marching Through Culpeper"

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!

💫

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.