Last week our team at Fine Grain Pictures had the privilege of traveling with producer/musician Marc Capelle to Louisville, Kentucky, as part of our ongoing work on a documentary about the influential Trappist monk and writer Thomas Merton.
Our journey took us to the Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University, where we conducted in-depth research into Merton’s writings, correspondence, and legacy. The center houses a remarkable archive that gave us deeper insight into the spiritual and social dimensions of Merton’s life.
We also captured stunning aerial drone footage of downtown Louisville—where Merton experienced his famous moment of spiritual awakening on the corner of Fourth and Walnut—as well as the peaceful grounds of Gethsemani Abbey, where he lived for 27 years as a Trappist monk.
It was a moving experience to walk the same paths Merton once did, and to begin stitching together the visual and emotional landscape of a figure who still speaks so powerfully to the world today. Stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes updates as this project continues to unfold.
