Hi, I’ Dr. Joan Montreuil

I’m Dr. Joan Montreuil, a filmmaker, author, playwright, and director from New Orleans. My work in storytelling began on the stage. Through Sister to Sister, an early outreach ministry, we went into neighborhoods to share resources and put on stage performances. Those early years taught me how a story could bring people together and give them a way to talk about what they were going through.

In 1997, I started Wisdom Production. Over nearly three decades, my work has grown from stage plays to independent films and books, including films such as Walk by Faith, Beyond the Vows, and Closer to Home. Faith informs the stories I tell, especially when I’m writing about family, loss, forgiveness, and the choices we face when life takes an unexpected turn.

I also share what I’ve learned through The Newbie Film Academy, where I help aspiring filmmakers and writers take practical steps toward completing their first project. I remember what it felt like to have a story I wanted to tell and questions about how to bring it to life. That’s why I enjoy walking people through those early steps and watching them find their own voice along the way.

Whether you came here to explore my work or because you have a story of your own to tell, I’m glad you’re here.

My Approach

I start with the people at the heart of the story. What are they carrying? What are they afraid to say? What choice do they have to make? Whether I’m writing a stage play, directing a film, or working on a book, those questions help me find the moments that feel true. My faith shapes how I tell stories about family, loss, and forgiveness, and I make room for the hard conversations that come with them.

Dream it

Some stories start with a conversation you can’t stop thinking about. Others begin with a question you’ve carried for years. Give yourself time to explore what drew you to the idea, whose story you want to tell, and what you hope someone takes away from it. That’s where the work begins for me.

Build it

Once you know what story you want to tell, give yourself one concrete step to take. Write the opening scene. Outline the first chapter. Make a list of what you’ll need for your first shoot. Through The Newbie Film Academy, I share what I’ve learned from writing, directing, and producing to help you take your first film, screenplay, or book from an idea to a finished project.