“Painting depends on freedom. When you’re feeling completely free, you can create, and this power to create is, in turn, the greatest freedom of all.”
-George Rodrigue
This award-winning one-hour special is perfect for arts, culture, and history programming, blending inspiration and insight.
From his Cajun roots to global acclaim, George Rodrigue’s journey is one of resilience and creativity. Self-taught while battling polio, he defied critics, Hurricane Katrina, and cancer, transforming a Cajun folklore figure into the iconic Blue Dog.
Featuring rare footage and interviews with family, friends, and icons like Emeril Lagasse and Drew Brees, this documentary offers an intimate look at a legendary artist.
Watch the Trailer
presented by:
additional funding provided by:
DON A. SANDERS FAMILY FOUNDATION
HAYNIE FAMILY FOUNDATION
HENRY & PAT SHANE
Gallery:
All photos of George Rodrigue are courtesy of Jacques Rodrigue (the artist's son) and Executive Director of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts.
The photos provided may be used with his permission in the promotion of "Blue: The Life and Art of George Rodrigue."
Crew:
Executive Producers Jim Dotson and Ron Yager
are the power team responsible for dozens of award-winning films and series for WLAE. Their individual and collaborative careers include extensive experience and expertise producing entertaining and informative content for television audiences.
Their Telly award-winning films, Fats Domino – Walkin’ Back to New Orleans, Leah Chase: The Queen of Creole Cuisine and the Emmy- Award winning A Tribute to Toussaint and Irma Thomas: The Soul Queen of New Orleans have enjoyed national distribution through American Public Television and NETA (National Educational Telecommunications Association), and George Dunbar: Mining the Surfaces and Battlegrounds: The Lost Community of Fazendeville are receiving statewide distribution through all Louisiana Public Broadcasting affiliate stations. Most of these films are also available worldwide on WLAE’s YouTube Channel, @WLAETV. Other highly acclaimed releases include Fitz! The Life and Political Legacy of Jimmy Fitzmorris and their multi-Emmy Award-winning travel series Go Coast: Louisiana which celebrates Louisiana music, food and culture and runs locally on WLAE and statewide on LPB. Ron and Jim invite you to be a supporting partner in this tribute celebrating George Rodrigue’s illustrious career.
Producer, Writer, and Director Sean O’Malley
established O’Malley Productions in 2005 in Los Angeles, California. He has written, directed, and produced series and specials for Food Network, Cooking Channel, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Univision’s streaming platform ViX, and Discovery+, including over 175 hours of Food Paradise, one of Discovery’s longest running food series. Sean served as Executive Producer and Producer for LAE Productions’ nationally distributed, award-winning, PBS documentary, Fats Domino: Walkin’ Back to New Orleans.
Produced by: Trisha Reece
Coordinating Producers: Christopher Kramer & Megan Havner
Director of Photography: Michael S. Dean
Edited by: Jeremy Ashcraft
Featuring Original Music by: Lost Bayou Ramblers
For inquiries please fill out the form below:
Upcoming Screenings:
more info coming soon.
Available May 29, 2025
An intimate, never-before-seen feature documentary of the life and art of George Rodrigue.
“Painting depends on freedom. When you’re feeling completely free, you can create, and this power to create is, in turn, the greatest freedom of all.”
-George Rodrigue
Connect With Us
George Rodrigue Blog
georgerodriguefoundation.org
legacyarttour.org
RodrigueBlueDogFilm
lifeandlegacytour
WLAE TV
@rodriguebluedogfilm
@life.and.legacy