05/11/2026
True Story Films wouldn’t exist without three amazing mothers.
Barbara Truelick. My mom has been a hard-working creative her entire life. She’s had many outlets for this talent, but interior design was at the forefront. While I was still in elementary school she would take me to the Merchandise Mart in Chicago to look at lighting, fabrics, furniture…and then to her job sites. I was so bored in those early days! But as I got older, I was struck by her work. How she transformed spaces to not only be visually beautiful, but to make you feel differently as you moved through them, I thought she was a magician. I didn’t know I was learning so many lessons about creativity, hard-work and determination back then, but I most definitely was and it’s something that I think about almost everyday in my work.
Julie Truelick. We were pregnant with our first child, Caden, and I knew I had hit a ceiling at my job. The time felt right to try it on my own, but taking that step away from security at that moment was intimidating. When we talked about it, without hesitation she said, “You should do it. You’ll be great and we’ll figure it out.” Her unflinching confidence changed my whole mindset from uncertainty to excitement. Since those days it’s been her who has been especially great. As a business partner, running the ‘back of house’ at TSF and, as a mom, never compromising to ensure our kids had the best. I'm a lucky guy.
Katelyn Fukayama. Fresh out of college, Katelyn came to True Story as a fiery PA. Or should I say a ‘kick ass’ one? It wasn’t long before she started to crush it, take on more responsibility and soon, run the whole show. In her time at True Story, (now 16 years!) we’ve also watched her start a family and become an elite mom in her own right, while never missing a beat on set. That’s a tough thing to do.
So on this Mother’s Day, we salute our moms and moms everywhere. The world wouldn't be the same with you!
