2nd Act Film Festival presented by The Jasper Project

7 pm | October 19th

701 Whaley Market Space

$10 – $75

2nd Act Website

 

Introducing the 2017 2nd Act Filmmakers

In its fourth year of production, The Jasper Project’s 2nd Act Film festival, under the direction of Emmy-nominated filmmaker and Jasper Magazine film editor Wade Sellers, is a one-of-a-kind event. Ten artists are chosen from among dozens who apply. The artists are given the first and third acts of a screenplay and asked to write the second act and create the film in its entirety. Films must be 6 minutes or less, including credits. Past films have included everything from slapstick comedies to experimental montages to LGBTQ psychodramas, with a smorgasbord of other genres mixed in. It’s exciting to see how, each year, the ensemble of filmmakers work with their prompts to create an evening of some of South Carolina’s best independent film entertainment.

From seasoned professionals to novices in the field to professionals in other fields who are new to filmmaking, the 2017 2nd Act Filmmakers bring diverse and exciting perspectives and skill sets to this year’s festival. Jasper is proud to introduce this year’s slate of 2nd Act Filmmakers.

Smith Austin

Smith Austin is a 19 year old Psychology major at the University of South Carolina who has always been interested in writing and loves watching movies. Austin worked on a few short film sets and made his own short film during his senior year of high school at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts summer program. 

Justin Brown

Justin Brown was born in Rochester, New York, in 1985. Whenever his parents got out the big, bulky video camera that recorded to VHS, he always asked to use it. In 1996, his parents moved his family to Columbia where he wouldn't pick up a camera until the early 2000s. A decade later, after an attempted music career, he enrolled in the University of South Carolina to earn a Bachelor's degree in Media Arts. Initially his thought was to make music videos and documentaries, but the more he learned about film making, the more he became drawn to creating narrative films.

Chad Henderson

Chad Henderson is the Artistic Director of Trustus Theatre and has directed dozens of theatrical productions in SC including The Brother/Sister Plays, Passing Strange, Avenue Q, Anatomy of a Hug, Assassins, and Dog Sees God. He is the co-creator and book writer of the original musical The Restoration’s Constance which will be fully staged in spring 2018 at Trustus Theatre. Chad will also be making his debut at PURE Theatre in Charleston, SC to direct Fun Home in winter 2018. His production of The Brothers Size was invited to the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in 2016. Henderson also wrote and directed a new one-act play called Reese and June with Hope in a Bunker, which was part of the Jasper Project’s Syzygy – an original play festival.  This is his first foray into film since making an egregious rom-com in high school called Story of a Nobody – it was terrible and he hopes he’s learned a lot since then.

Carl Heyward

Video Producer Carl W. Heyward, Jr. is from South Carolina’s Lowcountry, raised in the small town of Cross, SC. Understanding the importance in creating a strong community of family and friends that truly support and care for one another, Carl pursued his Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication at Benedict College in Columbia, where he also served as the Station Manager for BCTV Productions, the college’s news station. After dabbling in Sports Broadcasting, Carl realized his passion for creative storytelling and made the switch to a career in Video Production. Since graduating, Carl has managed the video production and photography company, CHQ Productions LLC.

Cory John

Born and raised in Columbia, SC, Cory John started his career in music where he won several awards with his singing group and record label, Real Records. Real Records later produced four television programs regularly airing on local television networks. The Jamal Bates Show, Spare the Rod, Columbia Christian Countdown, and Metro Music Movies. Cory served as producer, writer, and often actor and director of these shows. He currently runs a solo business called, A Cory John Story, which has spearheaded projects such as Bird's Eye View, a DVD of music videos. He directs the television series Evolve with Tiffany J and Breaking the Barrier. He is the director for the Empowerment Corp and has directed, written, and produced several plays and films.

Mario Johnson

Mario Johnson was raised in Fort Lawn S.C. He is married with one child.  He first got into shooting film about three years ago and started posting funny videos on Facebook using a Samsung Galaxy S4.  He found himself watching movies and picking out errors. Mario graduated from York Technical College with an Associate’s degree in Teleproduction Technology.

Rachel Napolitano

Rachel Napolitano is a freelance screenwriter living in Columbia, South Carolina. Last year, Rachel participated in Jasper’s 2nd Act Film Festival and wrote/co-directed the short that won Director’s Choice at Lander University Film Festival. Her short script, Paper Sunday, has been an official selection in various festivals across the country. 

Ethan Ravens

Twenty-one year old Ethan Ravens grew up in Ohio and is in his senior year at the University of South Carolina where he is a business, economics, and finance major though he admits that his true passion is film making. He is the executive co-producer of 1080c, USC’s only short film club and his goal with the club is to get people as excited about film making as he is.

Gail Shields

Raised in Spartanburg SC, Gail Shields attended the University of South Carolina Upstate, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in mass media and a minor in film production. While in college, Gail worked as a student media producer for ETV and as a reporter for ESPN Spartanburg. After graduation in 2014, Gail started writing short films. Her first film, Listen to His Silence, won the Adjacent Film festival in Spartanburg.

Collins Abbott White

Collins Abbott White is a film and video producer from Greenville, SC. After receiving a master’s degree in film and video production from Bob Jones University, he founded Other Vision Studios in 2011 where he currently serves as Producer/Director.  Since 2011, he has primarily used his film and video talents to produce videos on behalf of corporate clients throughout the South East. Last year he entered the 2nd Act Film Festival as a way to start transitioning from the world of commercial advertising to the world of narrative film. He hopes to continue that journey with this year’s entry.