Louisiana
A Louisiana-shot Doritos commercial is in the running to air during Super Bowl in New Orleans
John Paul Summers has always watched the Super Bowl more for the commercials than the action on the football field. This year, one of those spots could be his.
Summers, an Abbeville-based filmmaker, has written and directed a semifinalist entry in the Doritos Crash the Super Bowl contest. Earlier this month, a panel at Doritos selected the 25 semifinalists from around 2,000 entries in its revived Super Bowl contest that offers viewers the challenge of making a better commercial than Doritos can.
On Tuesday, three finalists will be announced, and the public will have the chance to vote online for the winning commercial. The creator of the top vote-getting spot will receive $1 million and an all-expenses paid trip to New Orleans for the Feb. 9 Super Bowl — and of course, the thrill of seeing their commercial air during the big game.
Also making the top 25 is a spot called “Home from Work,” FUGO Productions’ humorous take on the return to the office post-COVID. Longtime Lafayette actor Bruce Coen, who now lives in Georgia, stars in that commercial … in his boxers, no less.
Meanwhile, Becca Begnaud, a traiteur, or faith healer from Scott, is the sole cast of Summers’ “Ashes to Ashes” commercial.
In search of someone to act in the spot, Summers called John David Mahoney, a Lafayette producer who he’s worked with for years.
“And he was like, ‘What about Becca Begnaud?’ And I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, she’s perfect,’” Summers said.
Becca Begnaud works as a traiteur and more recently as an actress.
“I met Becca in 2017 on a short film, ’17 Year Locust.’ And then, we had also collaborated on a documentary she’s in,” he said. “Becca is a lot of things — she does healing work, and she also deals with death and dying, which ended up being a good synchronicity for the content of this commercial idea.”
In the spot, the ashes of Begnaud’s character’s loved one and Doritos manage to collide in humorous fashion.
“When he asked me to do this, he knew that we have an understanding of death and dying and people need to start understanding that, you know what I’m saying?” Begnaud said. “So it’s a dark, humorous take on it, but it’s like we are all going to die and we need to own that.”
Summers said “Ashes to Ashes” was a group effort by his employer, Baton Rouge-based Movee Media, which produced it, and his boss, Stuart Poulton, executive producer, along with on-set sound man Lance Willie.
Actress Becca Begnaud stands on the beach at Fontainebleau State Park for filming of a commercial for a contest by Doritos.
“It was a lot more homegrown than a normal commercial set, you know what I mean?” Summers said.
On the day of the shoot, Begnaud said Summers chose the earrings and shirt that she would wear for filming, and inquired if she had capri pants. A quick wardrobe change and they were off to Fontainebleau State Park in Mandeville. They set up on the park’s beach for the shoot.
“It was a really simple idea,” said Summers. “That was kind of what was great about it, is that it really didn’t require a lot of resources to pull off.”
And Begnaud didn’t disappoint.
“A lot of times I feel like you really have to force things to happen, but this, everything just came together, the idea came to me very easily — JD recommending Becca, and she was perfect,” he said. “I really believe, you know, if somebody would’ve come up with this idea in a boardroom somewhere, they couldn’t have found a better person in the whole world to play it than Becca Begnaud because I feel like that’s something that would actually happen to her.”
Becca Begnaud, from left, JP Summers and Lance Willie on the set of ‘Ashes to Ashes.’
Summers has worked in the industry since 2011 doing regional, national and international projects — most notably filming famous flamboyant designer Iris Apfel for an Apple commercial called “Behind the Mac,” as well as music videos with Sir Paul McCartney. He’s also done many commercials for The Ochsner Health System, several for Gulf Coast Bank & Trust, and a national PSA for the Wounded Warrior Project.
Sizing up his competition for the Doritos prize, Summers thinks “Ashes to Ashes” stands out.
“It’s the only one with no dialogue and I think it has its own unique style,” he said. “It’s been super well-received by all the people that we’ve shared it with. We’re honored to have gotten this far, obviously, but also still very much holding out hope that we can win. And with the Super Bowl being in New Orleans and us kind of being the home team, I think is cool too.”
To check out the other semifinalists’ entries, go to doritoscrash.com.
Louisiana
Leadership Louisiana Health Fellows Welcomes Inaugural Class – Leaders for a Better Louisiana
Nearly 40 years after launching Louisiana’s premier statewide leadership development program, Leaders for a Better Louisiana is proud to announce the inaugural class of Leadership Louisiana Health Fellows, marking an important new chapter in the organization’s longstanding commitment to developing informed, connected leaders equipped to address the state’s most pressing challenges.
Building on the proven model and legacy of Leadership Louisiana, the Health Fellows program brings together leaders from across healthcare, business, public policy, higher education, philanthropy, and community organizations to gain a deeper understanding of the systems, opportunities, and challenges shaping health outcomes across Louisiana. Throughout the year, fellows will participate in immersive sessions across the state, engaging directly with healthcare providers, researchers, policymakers, workforce leaders, and innovators while exploring the issues that influence the health and well-being of Louisiana’s people and communities.
“The strength of Leadership Louisiana has always been its ability to bring together accomplished leaders from different sectors and regions to learn from one another while developing a broader understanding of our state,” said Sheree Blanchard, Director of Leadership Louisiana. “The Health Fellows program extends that tradition by focusing on one of Louisiana’s most significant opportunities for improvement. We are excited to welcome this outstanding inaugural class.”
The inaugural class represents a broad cross-section of Louisiana’s healthcare and civic leadership, with participants serving in hospitals, health systems, higher education, business, nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and community-based organizations throughout the state. Together, they bring diverse expertise and perspectives that will strengthen dialogue and collaboration around Louisiana’s health challenges and opportunities.
“From the beginning, our vision was to create a program that mirrors the excellence and impact of Leadership Louisiana while taking a comprehensive look at the many factors that influence health outcomes,” said Blanchard. “This first class reflects the caliber of leadership we hoped to attract, and we look forward to watching these fellows build lasting relationships and develop new ideas that will benefit communities across Louisiana.”
Leadership Louisiana has graduated more than 1,600 leaders over nearly four decades, creating one of the state’s strongest cross-sector leadership networks. Leadership Louisiana Health Fellows builds on that foundation by providing participants with a focused exploration of Louisiana’s healthcare landscape while reinforcing the program’s longstanding commitment to collaboration, informed leadership, and service to the state.
The 2027 Health Fellows class will begin its yearlong experience this summer with sessions held in multiple regions of Louisiana.
View the complete roster of the Leadership Louisiana Health Fellows inaugural class.
NEW ORLEANS, La (WVUE) – A new education center in the town of Jean Lafitte is giving visitors a chance to learn about south Louisiana’s coast.
Dave McNamara explores how the center combines history, culture, science, and a walk through a cypress swamp in the heart of Louisiana.
For more, visit the Heart of Louisiana archive here.
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Luxury resort in Sarasota County ranked among South’s best new hotels
Luxury resort in Sarasota County ranked among South’s best new hotels
When you think of resorts, you probably think of hotels with expansive grounds, upscale amenities and all-inclusive packages.
While these types of resorts can surely be found in major-destination cities and foreign countries, Louisiana has its own resorts that are just as nice.
At Louisiana’s resorts, you can enjoy all the same amenities and stay at locations that are just as luxurious.
Plan your stays with Booking.com
Why these 6 resorts are the best in Louisiana for 2026
Travel US News has ranked the six best resorts in Louisiana based on hotel class rating, property type and guest reviews.
1. L’Auberge Casino Resort in Lake Charles
L’Auberge Casino Resort in Lake Charles is the best resort to stay in Louisiana, with a guest rating of 8.7 out of 10. More than just a nice place to stay, this resort offers premiere casino games, plenty of shopping, golfing opportunities, a spa, relaxing cabanas and upscale restaurants. The hotel also has business and fitness centers, and the rooms are in the modern arts and crafts style.
2. Caesars in New Orleans
Caesars in New Orleans is the second-best resort in Louisiana and has a guest rating of 7.9 out of 10. This resort has a great location within the Central Business District, making it near all the top attractions in the Crescent City. Here, there are plenty of dining and gambling opportunities. The rooms are equipped with standard amenities and are in a Louisiana-inspired style.
3. Margaritaville Resort Casino in Bossier City
Margaritaville Resort Casino in Bossier City is the third-best resort in Louisiana, with a guest rating of 8.7 out of 10. Strategically located across the Red River from Shreveport, this resort offers plenty to do, like testing your luck at the casino, spending a day by the pool, relaxing at the spa, eating delicious food at one of the restaurants or enjoying live entertainment at the performance hall.
4. Bally’s Casino & Hotel in Shreveport
Bally’s Casino & Hotel in Shreveport is among the best resorts in Louisiana and has a guest rating of 7.6 out of 10. Bally’s offers plenty of casino games and dining opportunities, and you can keep the night going with drinks and dancing at one of the lounges. The hotel offers business and fitness centers and the rooms come with standard amenities, like flat-screen TVs and minifridges.
5. Nottoway Plantation Resort in White Castle
Nottoway Plantation Resort in White Castle is one of the best resorts in Louisiana, as it is among the 4.0 star hotel class. This historic antebellum plantation, originally constructed in 1859, includes nine Acadian-style cottages, a salon, an outdoor pool, a fitness center and tennis courts. Visitors can tour the plantation house itself and embark on a guided tour of the on-site museum.
6. Cypress Bend Resort, a Wyndham Hotel in Many
Cypress Bend Resort, a Wyndham Hotel in Many is among the best resorts in Louisiana, with a guest rating of 7.7 out of 10. This hotel features two restaurants, a golf course, fitness center indoor and outdoor pools, as well as a bar and lounge. Belonging to the 3.0 star hotel class, this casual resort is the perfect spot for a quick getaway, as it’s set on 600 acres on Toledo Bend Lake.
Presley Bo Tyler is the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team for USA Today Network. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com
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