Behind the Scenes of The Fois: Cajun Horror-Comedy with a Louisiana Soul

South Louisiana has always been a place where food, folklore, and storytelling collide-and now, a local filmmaker is bringing that magic (and mayhem) to the big screen. The Fois is a Cajun horror-comedy feature film currently in production, written and directed by Louisiana's own David Rabalais. The story follows Beau Boudreaux, a washed-up pilot who inherits a cursed gumbo pot and accidentally unleashes a supernatural stomach plague known as "the fois" on his unsuspecting hometown.

Equal parts scares and satire, the film blends Cajun culture, supernatural legend, and Louisiana humor into a story that feels as wild and authentic as a Louisiana Saturday night.

On Set: The Projector Sequence at the Cajun Archive

I had the chance to go behind the scenes during the filming of the projector scene at the Cajun Archive. In this eerie setting, decades of south Louisiana history flash across the screen, slowly revealing the origins of the curse.

Hick Cheramie filming his scene

Actors Nick Manning (as Beau Boudreaux) and Kristen Renton (as Allie Thibodeaux) are led into the archive by Cory Ledoux, who plays the Cajun Archive administrator. There, they encounter Hick Cheramie as the mysterious Archivist, a role that brought both chills and curiosity to the set.

Watching Hick transform into his character was one of my favorite parts of the day. Before filming, he shared his script with me and explained how he planned to improvise parts of the scene to make it feel more real. Seeing him slip into the eerie mindset of the Archivist was nothing short of fascinating.

A Louisiana Cast with Star Power

One of the things that makes this film so special is the cast, which brings together both Hollywood names and Louisiana talent. Kristen Renton who I've watched for years on shows like Sons of Anarchy and The OC, was such a fun person to meet on set. Nick Manning- who many of ya'll might recognize from the series Nightwatch that followed New Orleans emergency responders-is taking on the lead role of Beau Boudreaux.

Then there's Hick Cheramie, who has appeared in Showtime's Your Honor and even in Will Smith's film Emancipation. Seeing him fully step into the eerie Archivist role was one of my highlights of the day. And rounding it out is Cory Ledoux, a Louisiana content creator who focuses on Cajun culture and brought that authenticity right into his role as the Archive administrator.

A Fun Surprise

At one point, I looked up at the screen where they were playing back a previously filmed scene and almost laughed out loud- there was Cooking With Hoss! I wasn't expecting to see a familiar content creator pop up in the middle of this horror-comedy, but that's so Louisiana right?

Cooking With Hoss

A Big Merci

Being on the set gave me a whole new appreciation for the process of making a film. Seeing the lights, cameras, and creativity in action made me realize just how much talent we have right here at home.

A huge thank you to Hick Cheramie for inviting me along and to director David Rabalais for letting me be part of the experience. I had the best time and can't wait to see the finished product. Stay tuned for my interviews with the individual cast members for my series Louisiana Back Porch Talk you won't want to miss them.