Sierra leone project
Project Type / Feature Documentary
Role / Full Production
Currently in Production
The Francis Rogers Story — Sierra Leone Documentary
photo & video production by JE Films
Project Focus: Francis Rogers / Humanitarian Relief Post-Civil War
Location: Shot on location in Sierra Leone, Africa
Production Footprint: Remote international logistics, historical investigative direction, cross-cultural sensitivity, and high-end documentary cinematography.
About the Project
When a devastating civil war erupted in Sierra Leone between a corrupt military regime and a brutal rebel faction known as the RUF, local tribal chiefs were forced to mobilize traditional village warriors—the Kamajors, to safeguard their people. Embedded deeply in mystique and ancient secret societies, these warriors endured a harrowing initiation process, believing they were chewed up by darkness and reborn as men. By the time the conflict ceased, the nation was left shattered, with hundreds of thousands dead and an entire generation of orphans roaming the streets.
Amidst this residual trauma and the complex hold of village secret societies, Francis Rogers walked away from his life in the capital city of Freetown. Driven by a radical mission of healing, Rogers entered these fractured communities to confront the darkness head-on, stepping directly into the path of secret societies to bring long-term aid, restoration, and education to hurting men, women, and children. This film is his story.
To document a narrative of this magnitude, JE Films deployed directly to West Africa, navigating remote terrain and deeply sensitive cultural landscapes. As a premier narrative film production company based in VA with an uncompromised commitment to global humanitarian storytelling, our team paired rigorous on-the-ground logistics with an art-forward, deeply compassionate lens to honor the resilience of the human spirit in Sierra Leone.
Credits ◿
Executive Producer / Josh Etheridge
Producer / Eli Perdew
Production Company / JEFilms
Director/DP / Josh Etheridge
B Cam / Abigail Etheridge