The making of "Vindication to Victory" was as much a journey of faith and perseverance as the story it tells.

Inspired by CREST and the Ares Charitable Foundation’s commitment to storytelling about how the initiative helps change lives for the better, the film encourages resilience in the face of adversity and champions a commitment to never giving up. The Ares Foundation’s vision motivated the team to develop the creative brief for the film, which Brundige Creative brought to life through time, talent and compassion.

Over the course of more than two weeks, Brundige Creative filmed throughout New Orleans, capturing moments in neighborhoods, churches, one historic courtroom and a quiet cemetery that stands as a reminder of lives and legacies long past. Every frame was approached with intention; every conversation carried weight.

From sunrise to sunset, the days were long and unpredictable. The Brundige Creative crew – frequently joined onset by the Ares Foundation team – worked through the heat, tight windows of time and emotional moments that required stillness and sensitivity. Yet, each challenge reminded everyone why they were there: to tell a story of redemption, resilience and the power of grace.

From the beginning, no one wanted "Vindication to Victory" to rely solely on traditional sit-down interviews. It was without question that Raymond’s story needed to unfold through real discussions among friends, mentors and those who had walked his journey with him. These natural interactions allowed truth and emotion to emerge organically, giving the audience a window into not just what happened, but how it actually felt.

Working alongside Thrive New Orleans and the Greater New Orleans Foundation, the goal was to do more than document a story; people needed to experience it. Months of preparation led to those two immersive weeks on the ground, which required researching records, capturing conversations and following Raymond as he revisited the places that shaped both his pain and his purpose.

Additional months following the filming saw Brundige Creative and the Ares Foundation deeply engrossed in thoughtfully reviewing, analyzing and debating every frame, jointly determining what content mattered most and how best to fine-tune the production to make the original vision a reality.

Composer Adrian Disch’s original score echoes the heart of the film — blending ache with hope — while color grading and sound design weaves the visual and emotional layers together into a cohesive, deeply human portrait.

When the final frame faded to black, all involved realized they hadn’t just filmed a documentary — they had lived one.

"Vindication to Victory" is not simply a film about hurricanes and freedom. It’s a testament to the courage it takes to keep walking when the storms don’t seem to end.