Slidell Residents Prove It's Never Too Late to Pursue Your Dreams

A local movie location manager and a former reporter turned novelist share their inspiring stories of following their passions.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 3:23pm

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph in soft pools of warm light and color, depicting a person's hands holding an open book, symbolizing the pursuit of creative dreams.The vibrant dreams and creative passions of Slidell residents continue to blossom, even later in life.New Orleans Today

This article profiles two Slidell residents who refused to give up on their dreams. Gill Cureau, a 38-year-old location manager, landed his dream job in the movie industry after offering to work for free to get his foot in the door. Don Redman, a former reporter, pursued his lifelong goal of writing a novel and published his debut book 'Travis Moon and the Ghost Train' in 2026 after a 30-year career at AAA. Their stories demonstrate that it's never too late to chase your passions.

Why it matters

These stories of perseverance and determination inspire readers to keep pursuing their own dreams, no matter their age or circumstances. They show that with hard work and a refusal to give up, people can achieve their goals and find fulfillment, even if it takes decades. The article reinforces the importance of following your passions and not letting life's obstacles stand in the way of realizing your dreams.

The details

Gill Cureau, a 38-year-old Slidell native, landed a job as a location manager on a recent Netflix movie filming in Olde Towne Slidell. Cureau's dream of working in the movie industry started 13 years ago when he offered to work for free on another Slidell-based film production to get his foot in the door, despite having no prior experience. His persistence paid off, and he has since worked his way up to a supervisory role in the industry. Don Redman, a former reporter who worked at the Slidell Sentry-News in the 1990s, recently published his debut novel 'Travis Moon and the Ghost Train' after a 30-year career at AAA. Redman never gave up on his lifelong dream of being a novelist, writing through various outlets over the decades before finally completing his book in 2026 to widespread acclaim.

  • Cureau started working in the movie industry 13 years ago.
  • Redman published his debut novel 'Travis Moon and the Ghost Train' in 2026.

The players

Gill Cureau

A 38-year-old Slidell native who works as a location manager in the movie industry, landing his dream job after offering to work for free 13 years ago to get his foot in the door.

Don Redman

A former reporter who worked at the Slidell Sentry-News in the 1990s, Redman pursued his lifelong dream of being a novelist and published his debut book 'Travis Moon and the Ghost Train' in 2026 after a 30-year career at AAA.

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What they’re saying

“My dream was always to be working in the movie industry.”

— Gill Cureau, Location Manager

“I asked God to help me find direction for the novel in 2023, and suddenly things came together.”

— Don Redman, Author

The takeaway

These inspiring stories of Slidell residents who refused to give up on their dreams, no matter the obstacles or how long it took, encourage readers to pursue their own passions and not let life's challenges stand in the way of realizing their goals. Their perseverance and determination prove it's never too late to chase your dreams.