In Part 3 of this series with Award-winning Filmmaker Nicholas Franghias, learn about the founding of his company, Ember Frames, inspiration, new “American” projects, and more.
On the one-year anniversary of the launch of the motion picture company Ember Frames, I had the opportunity to chat with its founder, Award-winning Filmmaker Nicholas Franghias. In Part 1, we revealed his journey to storytelling, with all its twists and turns. Part 2 shared his early works and awards, and what brought him to the US. In this final installment of the series, he reveals the story behind the founding of Ember Frames, new projects, and what’s next.
Goodbye Chicago, Hello Hollywood
After several years in Chicago, Nicholas relocated to the Los Angeles area, which is widely considered the mecca of American filmmaking. During this time, he became a naturalized citizen. Now with two distinct homelands, he melds both. As an American filmmaker, he approaches story through an immigrant-inspired lens while remaining true to his calling of crafting stories that are deeply humane.
Founding Ember Frames
Nicholas’ approach to story and filmmaking attracted Canadian entrepreneur James Pappas, who had been active in the local Winnipeg arts community. Ember Frames was born in July 2021, however with Pappas’ sudden passing, all plans were on hold. Losing his dear friend came with another blow. “Without him, there was no investment planned for the development of our first project,” Nicholas explained. Other setbacks contributed to a delay in the company’s start. But characters and stories swirl in their creator’s head. Many are so persistent, they do not allow you to stop until their stories are told. Like embers that refuse to be extinguished, that was not the end of this story. It was simple time to recalibrate.
Ember Frames officially launched on October 8, 2025 with a development slate of three projects over the next five years. “What remained constant throughout is the commitment to the work grounded in history, music, and the human themes that connect us. The name itself gestures toward warmth—frames on embers—a quiet nod to the glow that stories can carry.”
Nicholas and Ember Frames gravitate to stories that are humane, that can be viewed through an unforced lens. “Stories that remind us of the common threads we share—stories that reveal something essential about being human, with room to reach audiences broadly and meaningfully.”
New projects with American connections
While working through the nationalization process, he said that Immigration recommended that his application would be stronger with a “true American project”. This meant one, that when developed, would require an American crew and filming location in the US rather than in Greece. And he had to come up with something in two weeks. As he sought a new “American” story that stayed true to his work and goals, one resonated. It carried both American and Greek elements. And excited him.
The Billy Goat Curse
While living in Chicago, Nicholas had lunch at the popular Billy Goat Tavern. There, he met the late owner Sam Sianis, who shared the history of the establishment. And its original owner, Sianis’ uncle, the man behind the legendary goat curse. As the story goes, during Game 4 of the 1945 World Series, William Sianis brought his pet goat, Murphy, into Wrigley Field. Due to complaints about the smell, both William and Murphy were ejected from the stadium. William cursed the baseball team, and declared they’d never win a World Series again. They did not. The curse has since been lifted. Tales of William’s life as an immigrant and business owner, stirred something inside Nicholas.
“His whole life, he embraced struggle and the precious values Lady Liberty stands for: the pursuit of belonging, liberty, and happiness, with a sense of humor included.” The story, with its international flare and empowering themes is precisely the type that draws Nicholas.
It follows a series of events from 1934-1945, that led William “Billy Goat” Sianis to defend his goat by cursing the Cubs. Nicholas said that it reimagines William’s origin story as an upbeat musical about belonging, humor, and immigrant resilience. The production touches on many topics: the era’s xenophobia, the Great Depression, Chicago Mob attacks, and more.
“It’s not just a comedy,” Nicholas added. He called it “an underdog’s biography.”
Goddess of America
While living in Chicago, Nicholas stumbled upon an essay entitled, “It’s the Goddess of America”, written by Maria A. Karamitsos. The piece shared the story of her father’s arrival in the US in 1960, in which he and his friends dubbed the Statue of Liberty, ‘Goddess of America’, plus their offering to the goddess for prosperity in America. “The title, emotional truth behind it, the humor,” stayed with me.”
The story inspired Nicholas to celebrate American immigrant stories from diverse cultural backgrounds. Ember Frames acquired the rights to a short film/pilot, with the long-term vision as an anthology series with each 30-minute episode introducing new characters and situations. The pilot episode is set against at 1966 New York City blizzard, as a diverse group of legal immigrants—divided, newly arrived, and penniless—rally around a shared dream: finding an offering for Lady Liberty by the next morning, despite having nothing to give. Nicholas added that as they overcome their differences, they ignite the first chapter in the series, that dramatizes the pursuit of inclusion and belonging. “It’s their story, and America’s story”.
Each episode will spotlight different characters and cultures. And for authenticity, Nicholas plans for them to be written by storytellers who represent each culture. The project is in early development, but has gained visibility this summer, when Goddess of America was chosen as an Official Selection at the 2026 Burbank International Film Festival.
Lone Meals of Grace
This project, near and dear to Nicholas’ heart, has been brewing for several years. It began as his first narrative feature. Lone Meals of Grace follows Theo, an obese arrogant New York bestselling cookbook author and TV food critic, whose near fatal stroke during his European promotional tour leads to an unexpected hospital bond with Prodromos, a humble Greek monk. Under the guise or recipe research, Theo trails him to his strict 14th century monastery. There, this unlikely friendship compels him to confront his inner demons, uncover ancient culinary tradition, and undergo a profound reckoning with spirituality and friendship.
“It’s not a faith-based story,” Nicholas said. “It’s a divine drama exploring the terrain where a hubris-driven, materialistic business-class ideology can be brought back into balance.”
As Nicholas’ first narrative feature, years ago, “Grace” received a script-development award from the Greek Film Center. It later became a beneficiary of the EU’s MEDIA Program for production development. Due to the limitation of the Greek funding landscape at the time, he signed with a British company. Though enthusiastic, they wanted to take the story in an entirely different direction. “I couldn’t agree to altering the story and uprooting it from its cultural setting. Both were fundamental to its identity and resolution.” He stood his ground and pulled it back, “to protect it and keep open the possibility of returning to it in the future.” It’s one of those stores that stayed with him and is determined to be told.
One year and into the future
As he reflected on his journey thus far, Nicholas noted the people who shaped his life and work, “and a steady gratitude” for it all. He credited his early family experiences and his friends from different sides of the political spectrum. They taught him to be more interested in people than ideology. “Their presence has challenged me. It has steadied me, and expanded my sense of what it means to live alongside others with conviction and healing.” This is precisely the ethos we want in a filmmaker, someone who can see the human side, which is the tie that binds. And where the heart of stories exists.
A prolific storyteller, Nicholas has already completed two additional short-film scripts and has begun work on another feature. The ideas continue to flow as Nicholas and Ember Frames work toward the production of projects already announced and in varying stages of development. And we hope to see them all on a stage and screen very soon.
To learn more about Ember Frames projects in development, click here.
Read more:
Part 1: Award-winning Filmmaker Nicholas Franghias’ Unorthodox Journey to Storytelling
Part 2: Filmmaker Nicholas Franghias: Early Works, Awards, and a New World
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