My Grandmother’s Sketchbook will explore the challenges of learning to navigate a changing plant. Each film will be a new example and demonstration of creative persistence and grit to find very specific locations sketched by award-winning artist Lucretia Leonard Romey. Lovingly known as ‘Lu’. Viewers will be brought on an adventure as they witness filmmaker Max Romey reconnect with what inspired her, and along the way evoke a sense of wonder, curiosity and hope for the future.

Filmmaker Max Romey, Lu’s grandson, will be relying solely on the clues Lu left behind in her prolific collection of sketchbooks. He will have to overcome the emotional challenges of reconnecting with his late grandmother, who inspired him to become an artist. All the while, deeply connecting with her artwork to uncover important clues that will help him retrace her travels. Ultimately finding the exact locations she stood to create her drawings.

However, in most cases decades of time have passed. Many of the locations will have been impacted by a changing climate, environmental degradation and human development. Max will have to look beyond each sketch to understand what his late grandmother found magical and inspiring about the places she felt called to draw. He will have to see past the changed place to find the magic that remains to create a watercolor sketch of his own.

It won't be enough to redraw what Lu drew. Max will have to step into the unknown, forging his own path to fill his own sketchbook with drawings and paintings to leave behind for his own grandchildren. To inspire a future generation of global art citizens who will remain curious and hopeful for the changing planet. This series of films, and the subsequent collection of artwork produced by Max, himself, will leave the viewer feeling inspired and empowered to navigate a changing world.

With the ever changing climate and natural landscapes of the world, this series is highly relevant and important for evoking hope in those who are stewards of these places, and for inspiring the next generation to embrace a sense of adventure when looking to the future version of planet earth.

This story will speak to an audience that cares about family history, is environmentally conscious, enjoys stories of adventure, and wants to learn more about natural history, art, and travel. We believe it will spark engaging and important conversations within families, classrooms and among the stewards of the places featured.

Looking For Lu is a hero’s journey. Max will uncover the history of a place, portray an adventure and illustrate hope in a changing planet by creating original artwork in-the-field.

The journey will be cinematic, observational and include hand-drawn overlays with animation.

Imagine, if you will, if Mr. Rogers, Reading Rainbow’s LeVar Burton, and artist/educator Bob Ross came together to embark on a real-life quest similar to The Secret Life of Walter Mitty — A welcoming production that invites the viewer to join Max on a creative endeavor that leaves them filled with curiosity and awe.

Max has begun filming and sketching locations Lu visited and documented within his home state of Alaska; Lu’s home and art studio on Cape Cod, Massachusetts; and in the region of Chamonix, France.

Estimated release of the pilot film is Fall 2024.

Budget Requirements Include:

Research & Development

Production Team

Rights, Music, Etc.

Production Expenses

Travel

Post Production

Insurance

Office & Administration

Publicity, Promotion, Website, Festivals, Impact, and Distribution

For a beautifully written account of Lucretia Leonard Romey (1934-2012), please visit her obituary (opens a new window).

Max formally began researching the life of his late grandmother in 2016 while a full-time film student at Western Washington University. He has since, through dedication to the art of both watercolor painting and cinematic film production, made a name for himself as an award-winning Alaskan filmmaker.

His production style blends hand-painted watercolors and animation with cinematic videography to create films that help make environmental challenges more relatable.

More about Max

Notable Films by Max