About Us:
Welcome to Rosie & Ernie Productions! Growing up, some of my fondest memories revolved around film and music, having inherited a shared love of both from multiple family members, tracing back most directly to my late grandparents, Rose & Ernest.
My grandmother, Rose, was a huge appreciator of film, and would take every opportunity she could when I was young to take me out to the theaters, which quickly became one of my favorite things in the world! My first movie theater experience (at least that I remember) was going to see Steven Spielberg’s Hook, and from that point forward, every time I stayed with my grandparents, I’d ask if we could go see a movie. I was introduced to many of my favorite films thanks to her.
It was also at my grandparent’s house that, at the age of 9, I started making my first videos with my grandmother’s camera, letting my imagination run wild; dressing up in costumes, creating characters, doing voices, and performing skits, etc.
Similarly, my grandfather Ernest was a guitarist and loved music, and he passed that love down to my father, who subsequently passed it down to me. My Grandfather thoroughly enjoyed the acoustic guitar and bluegrass music. I only got to hear him play one time before he left us — but from what I recall, and from what I hear from others, he was an absolutely beautiful player.
When I first started learning guitar at the age of 11, my dad used to tell me stories about what my grandfather was like when he was growing up, and what it was like listening to him playing casually with his bluegrass buddies — the most notable of which being the bluegrass duo, Jim & Jesse McReynolds. According to dad, it wasn’t uncommon for Jim & Jesse to eat breakfast at the house, and they even offered my dad a spot on the road as a touring guitar player — but my grandmother wouldn’t hear of her 16-year old boy going out on the road.
Luckily for me, that didn’t deter dad from keeping up with his music and from establishing himself as a loved and respected friend and participant of the local Pensacola music community. My mom, also having come from a musical family and background, and being a very talented pianist and keyboardist herself, has also been highly elemental in shepherding and nurturing my love of music. I’m extremely grateful that it’s something both of my parents and I continue to bond over very strongly.
Now that my grandparents are no longer with us, I still find great comfort in thinking back on all of the memories we created in bonding over our love for film and music. It’s because of the depths of the joy I experience from the memories created and the lasting bonds shared that I’m determined to make it my life’s work to help spread that joy through film and music, and to encourage others to create bonds and memories that will have a lasting and positive impact.
-Jonathon Thames
(Founder & Owner)