Following in Her Footsteps: A Kentucky Story is inspired by the true story of the filmmaker’s mother. Near the climax of WWII, Nona Burns left her home on a tobacco farm in Washington County for Louisville, Kentucky where she found work at the DuPont Chemical Plant. DuPont had just developed a synthetic rubber, Neoprene, that was integral to the war effort. Also integral to the war effort – women. Like Nona, women from Kentucky and across the country worked outside the home for the first time during WWII, removing barriers for future generations of women. This hybrid narrative/documentary recreates Nona’s journey and celebrates her life.
Written, Directed and Edited by Ron Schildknecht
Produced by Amy Foos Kapoor
Associate Producer Flora K. Schildknecht
Featuring Lilly Cotton, Elizabeth Medley, Ava Foos and Meghan Potts
Produced by Amy Foos Kapoor
Associate Producer Flora K. Schildknecht
Featuring Lilly Cotton, Elizabeth Medley, Ava Foos and Meghan Potts
Digital, 30 minutes, color and black & white
Supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Arts Council with the America250KY Celebration of the Arts.
CREDITS
Written, Directed and Edited by
Ron Schildknecht
Ron Schildknecht
Produced by
Amy Foos Kapoor
Amy Foos Kapoor
Associate Producer
Flora K. Schildknecht
Flora K. Schildknecht
Director of Photography
Reid Olson
Reid Olson
Camera Operator
Justin Gustavison
Justin Gustavison
Executive Producer
Ron Schildknecht
Ron Schildknecht
Based on the memoirs of Nona Burns Schildknecht
as told to Flora K. Schildknecht
as told to Flora K. Schildknecht
Nona Burns
Lilly Cotton
Lilly Cotton
Voice of Nona Burns
Elizabeth Medley
Elizabeth Medley
Minnie Russell
Ava Foos
Ava Foos
Nancy Bishop
Meghan Potts
Meghan Potts
Ron Schildknecht
Himself
Himself
Additional Camera
Lloyd Schildknecht
Ron Schildknecht
Lloyd Schildknecht
Ron Schildknecht
Hair and Make-up Artist
Andrea Ahl
Andrea Ahl
Hair and Make-up Assistant
Mars Mercury
Mars Mercury
Costume Designer
Molly Morgan
Molly Morgan
Key Costumer
Owen Ash
Owen Ash
Research and Props
Flora K. Schildknecht
Flora K. Schildknecht
Production Assistant
Quinn Miller
Quinn Miller
Colorist
Justin Gustavison
Justin Gustavison
Sound Recording and Mixing
Jared Foos
Jared Foos
8mm Film Scans
Matthew McWilliams
Mono No Aware
Matthew McWilliams
Mono No Aware
Burns Family Tree courtesy of Cecil Murdoch, Jr.
DuPont Images courtesy of the Hagley Museum and Library
DuPont Images courtesy of the Hagley Museum and Library
Funded in part by a grant from
the America250KY Project with funds from
the America250KY Project with funds from
Kentucky Arts Council
Kentucky Historical Society
National Endowment for the Arts
Kentucky Historical Society
National Endowment for the Arts
My deepest gratitude to my first cousins,
without whom this film would not be possible.
without whom this film would not be possible.
Bob and Ginger Burns
Jerry and Peggy Burns
Larry and Pat Burns
Martin and Mary Jane Burns
Randy and Cathy Burns
Terry and Amy Burns
Reneé Burns and Mark Hinton
Karen and Gary Carney
Alice and Emmitt Gaines
Janice and Tim Hall
Beverly and Bobby Humes
Donald Wayne and Judy Jenkins
Gary and Judy Jenkins
Gayla Jenkins
Jackie and Bobby Lee Russell
Jerry and Peggy Burns
Larry and Pat Burns
Martin and Mary Jane Burns
Randy and Cathy Burns
Terry and Amy Burns
Reneé Burns and Mark Hinton
Karen and Gary Carney
Alice and Emmitt Gaines
Janice and Tim Hall
Beverly and Bobby Humes
Donald Wayne and Judy Jenkins
Gary and Judy Jenkins
Gayla Jenkins
Jackie and Bobby Lee Russell
Special Thanks
Angela Richardson and John Dodson
Aaron Givhan
Michael Fitzer
Doug McQuirter / Hagley Museum and Library
Cecil Murdock, Jr.
Sena Jeter Naslund
Lisa and Steve Nilli
Mark Roberts / Pleasant View Farm
John Russell
Hugo Schildknecht
University of Louisville Photographic Archives
Fred Whittaker
Aaron Givhan
Michael Fitzer
Doug McQuirter / Hagley Museum and Library
Cecil Murdock, Jr.
Sena Jeter Naslund
Lisa and Steve Nilli
Mark Roberts / Pleasant View Farm
John Russell
Hugo Schildknecht
University of Louisville Photographic Archives
Fred Whittaker
© Germantown Films 2027