By Crystal McGough, Editor
PINSON – Two years after filming began, Pinson-based movie “Frienemy For Life” is set to premiere at the Pinson Rock School Center this Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023.
The movie, which was set, cast and filmed in Pinson, tells the story of childhood friends Alice and Emma, who once made a vow to be friends for life. Twenty years later, however, their vow of eternal friendship is put to the test.
“Frienemy for Life” is the first film produced by local indie film company KeiDie Ruff Films, founded by local Blues power duo DieDra and Keithen Ruff.
“We’re bringing Hollywood to Pinson,” said DieDra Ruff, adding that her husband Keithen is a Pinson native. “My husband, his ultimate goal with us touring and doing what we do, he always wants to make sure that he brings what we’re doing back home. We work for Morgan Freeman twice a year and they had asked us to do it at his club in Biloxi (Mississippi), but my husband wanted to do it here.”
Keithen and DieDra have been in the music entertainment industry for decades, with Keithen both producing and performing for over 35 years and DieDra performing for over 24 years.
While traveling to North Carolina for another movie DieDra was cast in, she and her husband decided it was time to start their own film company and put their hometown on the map.
“I just sat down and started writing the movie,” DieDra told The Tribune in 2021. “As I was writing the movie, I was just thinking about filming here in Pinson and thinking about Alabama, in general.”
She began researching movies set in Alabama and discovered that another movie was supposed to be based in Pinson but was actually filmed in Louisiana.
“I was so mad,” DieDra said. “I know that Hollywood does that a lot, but it meant a lot to Keith and I to do (‘Frienemy for Life’) here.”
Doors will open for the “Frienemy for Life” premiere on Saturday at 3:30 p.m., and the movie will begin promptly at 4 p.m. The showing is open to the public and admission will be $20/person at the door, with all proceeds going to the Pinson Valley Arts Council. Children ages 10 and under get in free.
The Rock School Center auditorium is located at 4509 Pinson Blvd, Pinson, AL 35126, and will seat approximately 300 people. If the first showing sells out, the Ruffs have planned to offer a second showing at 7 p.m. Barking Bee Coffee will also be on site, giving moviegoers the opportunity to purchase refreshments.
KeiDie Ruff Films already has plans for a second Pinson-based film, entitled “Turkey Creek,” which will be filmed at the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve.
“Turkey Creek” will tell the story of a man who purchases a house in the woods after his marriage falls apart and soon discovers he has cancer.
“He has a life-changing experience while living at Turkey Creek,” DieDra said. “It’s going to be heartfelt. Probably in November, we will start doing a casting call … We’ll need kids and people of all ages.”
For more information, visit Frienemy For Life The Movie or Pinson Valley Arts Council on Facebook.