SC Humanities Partners with USC for 3rd Annual Better Together Film Festival with a Screening at All Good Books

From our friends at SC Humanities …

SC Humanities is partnering with USC's Office of Community Engagement for the 3rd Annual Better Together Film Festival to host a free screening of 9/11: Reclaiming Ground Zero on Friday, July 31, from 6–8 p.m. at All Good Books (734 Harden St., Columbia).

The film explores what happened after the September 11 attacks, focusing on the rebuilding of Ground Zero and the resilience of New Yorkers in the years that followed. After the screening, SC Humanities Executive Director, Bingo Gunter will facilitate a community conversation about the film. 

About the Film — 9/11: Reclaiming Ground Zero, 2026, 69 minutes

After the 9/11 attacks, after the smoke was gone, after the rubble cleared away, New Yorkers had a city to rebuild. After the towers fell, no one could agree on what should be done with Ground Zero. In response to fast tracked redevelopment plans, New York decided to do one of the bravest – or maybe one of the most unconventional – things in the history of city planning: they gathered 5,000 representative New Yorkers for the largest town hall in American history and asked them to decide. They came to vote on the city’s six proposals for rebuilding Ground Zero. But instead, the people rejected the top down approach and successfully charted a new path forward. Their work determined what is at Ground Zero today. People expected chaos, yelling, maybe even a fistfight. But what happened was democracy. ‍Director: J.B. Sabey | Executive Producers: Sarah Perkins, J.B. Sabey, Carolyn Lukensmeyer | Producers: Robbie Shinder, Lisa Sabey

About the Project — Better Together Film Festival

At a time when Americans’ trust in others - and in our institutions - is at an all time low, and our media is plagued by toxically polarizing narratives, the social fabric of our nation can feel beyond repair. Now is a time for Americans to hear, see, and experience the stories of people coming together across their differences to solve problems together in their neighborhoods and build feelings of belonging in their communities. In alignment with America’s 250th Anniversary this year, local organizations across the country will host screenings of films that inspire hope, celebrate freedom, and model people uniting across differences to make their communities stronger. Audiences will have the opportunity to meet neighbors, reflect together, engage in conversations, and ultimately build relationships with fellow community members. 

Dr. Jennifer “Bingo” Gunter

About SC Humanities Executive Director — Bingo Gunter

Jennifer “Bingo” Gunter, PhD is an historian of the US South with a foundation in Southern Studies. She is an educator as well as a scholar, having spent the last decade in classrooms teaching history, media studies, Southern Studies, ethics, philosophy, and public speaking. After serving in various roles at the University of South Carolina, she applied for the position of Executive Director at SC Humanities. She had been on the board of directors for five years and developed a deep appreciation of the importance of the organization. After a nationwide search, she began the role with SC Humanities in July of 2025.

She earned a B.A. and M.A. in Southern Studies from the University of Mississippi and a Ph.D. in History from the University of South Carolina. 

The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

You can learn more and reserve your seat here.

Jasper Partners with SC State Museum to Present Screening of the New Iteration of Wade Sellers' Film PETER LENZO: IN MEMORY OF HIS MEMORY

Friday July 17th @ SC State Museum

12 pm — Artist Talk with Roxy Lenzo Douthit

6 pm — Screening - Peter Lenzo: In Memory of His Memory

by Wade Sellers

IF I ONLY HAD A BRAIN BY PETER LENZO

Join the Jasper Project at the South Carolina State Museum (301 Gervais Street) in the Lipscomb gallery on Friday night, July 17th at 6 pm for the screening of Wade Seller’s expanded film Peter Lenzo: In Memory of His Memory.

Originally created for the Jasper Project’s February 2026 exhibition Peter Lenzo: A Retrospective and Remembrance at Stormwater Studios, Sellers says, “This current screening expands on the existing film by adding interviews with his brothers Anthony and Steven, as well as his sister, Lisa.” He expects there will be a third and final version of the film at a later date.

“I never knew  Peter Lenzo,” Sellers says. “There were many moments we were probably in the same room, but we never met. I knew his work through his notoriety and through his art dealer and never quite understood why it drew me in so much. This film allows me the luxury to not only meet the man through his family and those that loved his work, but also through his own thoughts and words.”

Lenzo, known world-wide for his reliquaries and facejugs that married his unique style with traditional ceramic vessels prominent in the southern US, came to South Carolina in the 1990s. As Paul Matheny, Chief Curator and Director of Cultural affairs at the SC State Museum, writes in the book, Peter Lenzo: In Memory of His Memory (The Jasper Project, 2026), he “had an almost immediate impact in a state already rich with ceramic history.”

Lenzo, born in 1955 in New York died on October 6, 2024, after decades of seizures and their repercussions from a bike incident early in his life. He grew up in Detroit, and later lived in California, Illinois, and Columbia, SC.

Filmmaker Wade Sellers reflects on his film project, “I am fascinated by why artists, artists who have no choice other than to create, are drawn to the work they make. Peter’s story of a lifetime as an artist, a lifetime of seizures and dependency on others, and finding a home in the work was a story I couldn’t resist exploring and sharing with others.”

Sellers is an independent filmmaker and producer based in Columbia, SC. He is a four-time Emmy nominee whose production company, Coal Powered Filmworks, focuses on producing documentary and independent film projects. His work has been seen on cable and PBS stations nationwide and independent theaters and festivals throughout the United States and Europe. He began work in independent film as a cinematographer and in the late 1990s he followed this work to New York City, where he began establishing a strong resume of work with independent film and corporate clients. After returning to the south he turned his focus to producing and directing, and founded Coal Powered Filmworks, producing work for local, regional, and national clients. His work has been recognized with Addys, Tellys and numerous other awards and he is the 2025 recipient of the SC Governor's Award for the Arts.

The celebration of Peter Lenzo’s contribution to culture will begin at noon on July 17th with an artist talk presented by Lenzo’s daughter, Roxy Lenzo Douthit. Both events are free and open to the public.(Full disclosure, Lenzo Douthit is a member of the Jasper Project board of directors.)

To purchase the book, Peter Lenzo: In Memory of His Memory, scan the QR code below. 

One Columbia Announces Cultural Layers Community Celebrations, Unveiling New Public Murals Honoring Columbia's African American History

"For us, public art is more than just what you see; it's about creating connections …" — Xavier Blake

Artist - Daniel Esquivia-Zapata

From our Friends at One Columbia …

One Columbia for Arts and Culture will host the Cultural Layers Community Celebrations, two free public events marking the unveiling of new public artwork honoring the stories, people, and places at the heart of Columbia's historically African American neighborhoods. The celebrations take place Saturday, July 18, at 2:00 PM at Richland Library Edgewood and Sunday, July 19, at 3:00 PM at the Richland Library Main Auditorium. Admission is free and open to the public.

The new artwork honors former residents and legacies of the Booker T. Washington, Ward One, and Wheeler Hill neighborhoods. Cultural Layers is a public art and storytelling initiative led by One Columbia and funded by the Knight Foundation and the Central Carolina Community Foundation. The project preserves and amplifies histories from these communities through photography, videography, oral histories, archival research, and public art, centering the individuals who shaped the city and the schools and neighborhoods that served as cultural and social anchors for generations.

At each celebration, attendees can view the completed murals and public artwork, meet several of the individuals depicted in the work, and connect with the community members, historians, and cultural partners who helped bring the project to life. The events are designed as community gatherings grounded in memory, local history, and collective pride.

Featured artists include Daniel Esquivia-Zapata, Visual Artist and Educator; Nora Williams, Photographer and Cultural Worker; and Malcolm Vanhannegeyn, CEO of Perspective Cinema and Cinematographer. Community members featured in the work include Crissandra Elliott, Deacon Richard Caughman, and Raymond Richardson.

"For us, public art is more than just what you see; it's about creating connections," said Xavier Blake, One Columbia Executive Director. "Through Cultural Layers and the incredible talents of Daniel, Nora, and Malcolm, we hope to create a lasting impact that honors the lives, spaces, and histories that shape our city."

The celebrations are made possible with the support of community partners and sponsors including Central Carolina Community Foundation, Knight Foundation, Richland County Library, the A'ja Wilson Foundation, the Center for Civil Rights History and Research at the University of South Carolina, Columbia SC 63, the Ward One Organization, and Friends of African American Art & Culture.

More information is available at onecolumbiasc.com/public-art/cultural-layers-project/.

BUY THE BOOK - Peter Lenzo: In Memory of his Memory (Pre-Orders are Open Now!)

By nurturing engagement between different arts disciplines we hope to not only grow the fan and patron base for all arts, but also to inspire artists from different walks to collaborate and/or adopt the methodology of another artistic endeavor.

At the Jasper Project, we try to engage as many arts disciplines as possible via our various projects. The theory behind this priority is that artists and their patrons too often find themselves in disciplinary silos, constructed and populated by the practitioners of those disciplines. In other words, music fans may not a miss a local concert but they do miss gallery openings, book launches, or dance performances that aren’t on their radar. Similarly, indie film aficionados may be hooked into the film scene but not necessarily aware of live music performances, theatre opportunities, or poetry readings that might scratch a different kind of artistic itch. By nurturing engagement between different arts disciplines we hope to not only grow the fan and patron base for all arts, but also to inspire artists from different walks to collaborate and/or adopt the methodology of another artistic endeavor.

For our upcoming project, PETER LENZO: A RETROSPECTIVE AND REMEMBRANCE, opening Friday April 3rd at 6 pm (5 pm for Jasper Guild members) at Stormwater Studios, we are including both a newly published art book and a newly created short film by Columbia, SC filmmaker, Wade Sellers, in the hopes of appealing to both book and film lovers.

The book, Peter Lenzo: In Memory of his Memory is now available for pre-order and may be picked up at the exhibition. The 120+ page full color book contains more than 50 images of Lenzo’s work as well as essays by the SC State Museum’s Paul Matheny and the late Wim Roefs. The book is $45 until April 1, 2026 after which the price will rise to $50.

The film, also titled Peter Lenzo: In Memory of his Memory, will screen at Stormwater Studios on Friday April 10th at 7 pm.

We look forward to seeing you at these events and throughout the weeks of this exhibition during Stormwater Studios regularly scheduled hours.

cb-

The Jasper Project Presents PETER LENZO: A RETROSPECTIVE AND REMEMBRANCE

STORMWATER STUDIOS

OPENING RECEPTION APRIL 3 — 6 - 9 PM

Jasper Guild Members are Invited to Join Us at 5 pm for Early Entrance

The Jasper Project is honored to present PETER LENZO: A RETROSPECTIVE AND REMEMBRANCE at Stormwater Studios, April 3 – 12, 2026. In addition to exhibiting more than 30 rarely shown facejugs and reliquaries created by the late Peter Lenzo, the project also features the launch of a new commemorative publication entitled PETER LENZO: IN MEMORY OF HIS MEMORY and the premiere screening of an accompanying film by Columbia, SC filmmaker, Wade Sellers. 

The Jasper Project worked closely with Lenzo’s daughter, Roxy Lenzo Douthit, to curate this exhibition, which includes ceramic pieces from the last few decades of her father’s life, as well as intimate family reliquaries in which the artist preserved and annotated treasured artifacts and keepsakes going back to the artist’s family of origin. For Lenzo, his facejugs were a homage both to traditional Southern pottery practices and to the friends and family who inspired the work he so lovingly created. Lenzo, who suffered a head injury early in life that resulted in seizures, epilepsy, and ultimately dementia, used his art as a way of channeling his despair as well as his elation.  

The photographs of Lenzo’s face jugs and reliquaries reproduced in the new publication, PETER LENZO: IN MEMORY OF HIS MEMORY, many of which on the reverse side also bear the artist’s notated perceptions of the work itself, have been intimately annotated by his daughter. Lenzo Douthit also wrote an enlightening introduction and acknowledgments for this book which contains a foreword by the SC State Museum’s Paul Matheny and an essay by the late Wim Roefs. Peter Lenzo: In Memory of his Memory was published in April 2026 by the Jasper Project, which has an imprint via Muddy Ford Press, and is available for pre-order here.

PETER LENZO: A RETROSPECTIVE AND REMEMBRANCE opens at Stormwater Studios (413 Pendleton Street, Columbia, SC) on Friday April 3rd with an opening reception from 6 – 8:30 (early admission for Jasper Project Guild members at 5 pm).  

The film, In Memory of his Memory, will be screened on Friday, April 10th at 7 pm.  

Both events are free and open to the public. For more information, feel free to contact the above individuals or consult The Jasper Project or Stormwater Studios. 

About the Jasper Project – The Jasper Project is a project-oriented, multidisciplinary arts facilitator serving the greater Columbia and South Carolina communities by providing collaborative arts engineering and community-wide arts communication. The Jasper Project is committed to four integrated priorities: Process – illuminating the unique processes endemic to all art forms in order to provide a greater level of understanding and respect for that discipline; Community/Collaboration – nurturing community both within and between arts disciplines; Narrative – creating a more positive and progressive understanding of SC culture; and Economy – being efficient stewards of arts funding committed to creating more with less. For more information or to support the Jasper Project please visit JasperProject.org.

cb-

Congratulations to our 2025 2nd Act Film Project Winners!

Last night, Thursday, October 23rd, the Jasper Project celebrated the 9th iteration of one of our favorite and most long-lasting projects, the 2nd Act Film Project. Having grown out of our previous venues, it was thrilling to see an almost-at-capacity 400-seat Harbison Theatre full of rowdy, mutually-supportive SC filmmakers who had traveled from throughout the state to be together and screen this year’s films. “We were excited to have filmmakers from all regions of the state this year,” says project director and Jasper Project board president Wade Sellers. “Spartanburg, Greenville, Aiken, Charleston, and Columbia independent filmmakers showed why the independent film community in our state as is as strong as ever.”

With 16 filmmakers participating this year, in addition to the 84 films produced in previous years, we can officially announce that, since the beginning of the 2nd Act Film Project in 2013, the Jasper Project has produced a total of 100 films by independent South Carolina filmmakers!

“This year, we named our best film award, previously the Producer’s Award, after a close friend of the Jasper Project, Tom Hall,” Sellers announced to the audience last night. A documentary filmmaker, visual artist, and musician, Hall had worked closely with Sellers on a number of films, including Compromised, a 2015 film  that examined and rejected the argument for the Confederate flag flying above the SC Statehouse. Hall died unexpectedly on January 20, 2024, leaving behind a shocked community and devastated family and friends. According to Sellers, “Tom’s passion for filmmaking, music, and supporting artists in our  community was unmatched. The Tom Hall Indie Spirit Award is awarded to the Filmmaker whose film best exemplifies this passion.” 

The winning films are as follows:

“Our Audience Award this year went to William Clay for his film, The Beautiful Confusion,” Sellers continues. “It’s a beautiful and complex, short film, and the type of project that sets the bar very high for what filmmaker’s should strive for as part of the 2nd Act Film Project.” The Audience Award is selected by the attendees at the screening, all of whom are issued one ballot per person.

Group Shot of 2025’ 2nd Act Film Project Filmmakers at Harbison Theatre with Audience Members - photo by Perry McLeod

Other awards were pre-selected by a panel of judges who, this year, included Tamara Finkbeiner, Chad Henderson, Patrick Rutledge, and Chris White. The first and third act script lines were written this year by award-winning filmmaker Robbie Robertson along with award-winning writer, Julia Liz Elliott, both from Columbia, SC. 2nd Act Project filmmakers were charged with writing the 2nd act of the screenplay and then filming the script in its entirety. The 2nd Act Film Project is the only project of its kind of which we are aware. 

“One of the 2nd Act’s missions is to amplify the diverse creative voices that are in our state,” Sellers says. “This year‘s group of filmmakers was our most exciting group yet!”

Congratulations to all of our filmmakers and winners! And special thanks to the Harbison Theatre Crew for hosting us and to Chef Joe Turkaly for filling our stomachs with yumminess and our hearts with love!

16 Brand New Films by SC Indie Filmmakers -TONIGHT @ Jasper's 2nd Act Film Project

There is so much to be proud of about this project that it is hard to know where to start. So, in no particular order, let’s just jump in!

#1 - What about our fabulous poster from local artist extraordinaire Cait Maloney — How Cool is That? Check out Cait’s other work at the link above and hit her up if you ever want graphics that rock the socks off your audience! (You’re barefoot now, aren’t you?)

#2 - Having already produced 84 films from some of SC’s most talented and creative indie filmmakers, Jasper’s 2025 2nd Act Film Project raised the number of accepted entries this year to 16, bringing our total number of films produced across the years by our 2nd Act Film Project to 100!

#3 - In keeping with the Jasper Project’s policy of NEVER charging any artist a fee to submit or show their work, not only is it FREE for filmmakers to enter our 2nd Act Film Project, but Jasper gives all participating filmmakers a modest, but meaningful, $100 stipend to use freely at their own discretion. Need a new piece of equipment to make your film? Use this stipend to help you rent or buy it! Want to make your film punch higher with cool props or costuming? Here’s a hundred bucks to help out! Want to treat your cast & crew to dinner or celebrate with a wrap party? The pizza is on us!

#4 - Thanks to our generous sponsors, Jasper is able to award $2250 in cash prizes to our winning filmmakers in the following categories:

$500 PRODUCER’S AWARD

$250 BESTSCRIPT

$250 BEST DIRECTION

$250 BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

$250 BEST ACTOR

$250 BEST EDITING

Plus, we bring the folks who come out and support the project with their ticket purchases into the action by giving them a voice in who takes home the big bucks via the

$500 Audience AWARD

(Each audience member is issued one ballot to cast on the film of their choice!)

#5 – Speaking of our Generous Sponsors, we are incredibly proud of the trust they have placed in us to use their funds wisely and for the good of the Arts. Thank you so much for making tonight possible to

Precision Garage Door

Bill Schmidt

FIT Columbia

Rikard and Protopapas

Marketing Performance

And, of course

Coal Powered Filmworks

#6 - Finally, we are still dismayed to have received an unsolicited financial award of $5000 from our sisters & brothers in the Krewe de Columbi-Ya-Ya! We thank you. We love you. We honor you.

And to that end, we are immeasurably proud that, more than a year ago, we decided to rename our TOP film award for the 2nd Act Film Project to the

TOM HALL INDIE SPIRIT AWARD!

There are still a few seats left in the 400 seat Harbison Theatre, but if you don’t have your ticket yet, you should get one now by CLICKING HERE!

Jasper's 2nd Act Film Project 2025 Filmmakers & Ticket Info

Check out the Jasper Project’s 2025 2nd Act Film Project Filmmakers and get your tickets to the project screening before they sell out!

Tickets

Here

October 23rd 7 pm Harbison Theatre

Holiday Movie Recs from Columbia’s Arts Scene by Liz Stalker

Looking for your next holiday watch? Look no further than these fantastic recommendations from some of Columbia’s local artists and supporters!

Kwasi Brown, musician and founder of Black Nerd Mafia, says that his favorite holiday movie is Bob Clark’s A Christmas Story (1983). “I’ve watched A Christmas Story every year since I was a kid, it’s the best Christmas movie of all time and it’s not even close. I could quote it all day.” His favorite quotable moment is when the narrator, Jean Shepherd, describes Randy Parker hiding from some bullies, delivering the iconic lines, “Randy laid there like a slug. It was his only defense.”

"You'll shoot your eye out, kid."

"I triple-dog-dare ya!"

"Some men are Baptists, others Catholics; my father was an Oldsmobile man."

Tayler Simon, founder of Liberation is Lit, a popup bookstore that seeks to uplift indie authors and serve the Columbia community, says, “My favorite holiday movie is an absolute classic: The Preacher’s Wife [(Marshall, 1996)]. Whitney Houston’s soundtrack and Denzel Washington as an angel deserves more hype than it gets! For the last few years, I’ve loved sharing this movie with friends who haven’t seen it (and trying to keep my singing to a minimum, and then watching it again to sing to my heart’s desire). This used to be one of my mom’s favorite movies we would watch throughout the year! I love when we get to watch together.”

Actress Bella Coletti, currently playing the part of Pickles in Trustus Theater’s production of The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical, says The Santa Clause movie trilogy is her favorite holiday watch, though she admits they run in the background of her festivities. “I love The Santa Clause movies,” she says. “They bring back so many fun memories of decorating the Christmas tree with my family and making chocolate crinkle cookies with my mom.”

Painter and photographer Quincy Pugh says, “I’m likely one of the few people who does not have a favorite holiday movie. I enjoy watching, This Christmas, primarily because of the strong matriarch played by Loretta Devine. She reminds me of the strong mother figures in my life. The music is pretty good as well.” Though he loves This Christmas (Whitmore, 2007), Pugh also notes, “Since I live with someone who most definitely has a favorite holiday film, I have to say that my seasonal rewatch, It’s a Wonderful Life [(Capra, 1946], is heavily influenced by their viewing tradition and love for this film. I enjoy it as well.”

Lori Starnes, a visual artist whose “HomeGrown” collection is currently being shown at 701 Whaley, has an unconventional holiday rewatch tradition–Victor Fleming’s The Wizard of Oz (1939). “My favorite holiday movie, hands down, is The Wizard of Oz,” she says. “I realize that it isn't about Christmas or any other holiday, however, it has been the one that I've watched each and every Christmas season for as long as I can remember.”

Last but certainly not least, Jasper’s own editor in chief, Cindi Boiter, says her favorite holiday movie is Frank Capra’s It’s A Wonderful Life (1946), adding, “My favorite quote is spoken by George Bailey, played by Jimmy Stewart, to his mother during Harry Bailey’s welcome home party. His mother nudges him to visit Mary Hatch, his future wife played by Donna Reed. George responds, ‘Here’s your hat, what’s your hurry?’ The film has so many special moments: Bert and Ernie serenading the newlyweds in the rain, George embracing the broken finial on the newel post he was cursing the evening before, George forgiving and consoling Mr. Gower, the pharmacist. I find something new to love about the movie every year.”

"Youth is wasted on the wrong people."

"Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings."

As we approach the holidays, we hope you’ll join Jasper as we continue to celebrate the people who make up Columbia’s incredibly vibrant local arts scene.

STILL HERE -- Jump Scares, Gore Ratings, and What to Watch if You're Staying in on Halloween

STILL HERE is a new column by Jasper Magazine editor Cindi Boiter

I remember being invited to  a Halloween costume party in my early 20s when we lived in DC and being flummoxed by the invitation to “dress up” in a costume for the event. Dress up? Like a child? I thought. This was in the early 80s and all I could think was that Halloween was for children and  I had no idea how to approach “dressing up” as an adult. Thankfully, the years have passed and taught me that Halloween may be for children, but it is also a sacred night for so many of my LGBTQ+ friends who love the holiday for the personal and aesthetic freedom it has traditionally allowed, as well as artists and creatives, like my friends Bohumila Augustinova and B.A. Hohman, who treat Halloween the way they treat their daily lives, with creativity and panache.  

In any case, I’ve learned my lessons about Halloween, and now I recognize that I don’t dress up primarily because I’m too lazy. That said, I appreciate the spookiness of Halloween, as seen through the eyes of my grandchildren, and I love a free night that allows me to stay in and watch scary and, sometimes, esoteric films.  

To that end, I took advantage of having filmmaking friends who know much more about scary flicks than I do and I asked a few of them to recommend some films to watch on Halloween night. But because I’m a wimp I also asked them to indicate whether there are scare-jumps in their recommended movies (I hate them!) and to rate the films for gore with 1 being OK for wussies (me!) and 5 being grossest. 

Thanks to Thaddeus Jones, Chris Bickel, and David Axe for helping me out. Here’s what we came up with.

David Axe, independent filmmaker 

SKINAMARINK (2022)

“A divisive and unique cinematic nightmare. No jump scares, just dread.”  (Axe)

Gore Rating - 1

Jump Scares - 0

~

CUCKOO (2024)

“A trippy and atmospheric horror set in the German alps. Several jump scares.” (Axe)

 Gore Rating -2

Jump Scares - many

Chris Bickel, independent filmmaker

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968)

“No real jump scares, but an unexpected ending. The movie that started everything and ushered in the modern horror era. I watch it every Halloween. “ 

Gore Rating – 2

Jump Scares - 0

PIECES (1982)

~

“Amazing Eurotrash slasher movie”  

Gore Rating – 4

Jump Scares -1  

~

THE MIDNIGHT HOUR (1985)  

“0 on the gore scale, just dumb fun. No jump scares. Made-for-TV comedy horror with Levar Burton and Sheri Belafonte. Kind of hard to find, but worth seeking it out for stupid fun. It's like if Michael Jackson's Thriller was a feature-length TV comedy.” 

Gore Rating – 0

Jump Scares – 0

Thaddeus Jones – independent filmmaker

LET THE RIGHT ONE IN (2008)  

Oskar, an overlooked and bullied boy, finds love and revenge through Eli, a beautiful but peculiar girl. (IMDb) 

Gore Rating – 3

Jump Scares – 2

~ 

SLITHER (2006) 

A small town is taken over by an alien plague, turning residents into zombies and all forms of mutant monsters. (IMDb) 

Gore Rating – 5

Jump Scares – 2

  ~

TRAIN TO BUSSAN (2016) 

While a zombie virus breaks out in South Korea, passengers struggle to survive on the train from Seoul to Busan (IMDb) 

Gore Rating -2

Jump Scares – 3 

~

 THE SHINING

Stanley Kubrick classic based on the Stephen King novel starring Jack Nicholson

Gore Rating – 2

Jump Scares --3

Jones also mentioned one of my favorite horror films, The Fly (1986) starring a very cute Jeff Goldblum and a porcelain-skinned Geena Davis. I favor the zeros when it comes to jump scares and gore, and Thad gave The Fly a 4.5 on gore with 1 jump scare, which made me feel brave af. But I wonder if, like me, Jones also prefers the 1958 version starring Vincent Price with David Hedison as his brother who, spoiler alert, ends up with the arm and head of a man, but the rest of his body, a fly, feebly and frighteningly muttering those infamous words that are still tattooed on my brain, “Help me. Help me!” 

If you’re staying in and watching something horrific on Thursday night, let us know  what you have queued up.

 HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Congratulations to the Jasper Project’s 2024 2nd Act Film Project Winners & Photos by Perry McLeod from the Event!

Art by Cait Maloney

Wednesday night was a brilliant night for local independent filmmakers at the Jasper Project’s 2024 2nd Act Film Project at 701 Whaley! With a sold-out house and fabulous arts energy, we celebrated all 14 SC filmmakers who were juried into the project, screened all 14 films, and awarded a total of $2500 in cash prizes to our participants.

Participants included Adam Weber, Idris Pearson, Nick Clay, Marley Gregory, Chad Henderson, Thaddeus Jones, Bakari Lebby, Silas Rowland, Taiyen Stevenson, Alex Steele, Andrew Smith, Ebony Wilson, Dustin Weible, and USC SGTV 1080c, a student film group from USC.

2024 welcomed the largest roster of filmmaker applicants thus far and, in keeping with the mission of the Jasper Project, there was no entry fee for participating in the project. Filmmakers also received a $100 stipend from the Jasper Project to help offset production costs.

2nd Act Film Project director, and Jasper Project Board of Directors president Wade Sellers had this to say about this year’s event: “The 2024 2nd Act Film Project confirms that the indie film community in the midlands is stronger than ever. Filmmakers and indie film fans gathered to watch 14 films created solely for the screening and a packed house of almost 230 people laughed and celebrated the strongest group of movies made for the second act project thus far. This group of films marks 84 movies that have been made by South Carolina filmmakers and produced by the Jasper Project. The Jasper Project is proud to take a leading role in supporting the growth of the new wave of indie filmmakers in the state.”

Sellers continues, “Our 2nd Act judging panel of creative professionals, faced difficult challenges choosing individual awards from this year‘s group of 2nd Act Film Project films. Each film exhibited highly professional approaches to the craft and awards came down to serious discussions between panelists. Quite simply, the talent in every category was just too good to pick an obvious winner. To witness the serious approach each filmmaker took toward the creation of a six-minute short film is humbling and the high quality of the end product is overwhelming. Our indie film community is as strong as ever.”

In addition to cash prizes, winning filmmakers were also presented with artisanal awards created by Columbia, SC - based visual artist Michael Krajewski.

Adjudicators included Kwasi Brown, founder of Black Nerd Mafia, indie filmmaker Robbie Robertson, and visual artist Michaela Pilar Brown, all of whom viewed the films in advance of the screening . The Audience Award was decided via secret ballot (one ballot per person) by attendees at the Wednesday night event. The awards were as follows:

Audience Award – Toreador, Chad Henderson

Producers Award (Best Film) – Toreador, Chad Henderson

Best Script – For He’s a Jolly Dead Fellow, Silas James Rowland

Best Director – the Easter Sunday Massacre, William Nicholas Clay

Best Cinematography – Toreador, Jonathan Palance

Best Editing – The Other Within, Collins White

Best Actor – Toreador, Cesar Davalos

Best Score – Ryde, Ebony Wilson

All 2nd Act Film Project screenplays are bound, given an ISBN, and filed with the US Library of Congress as a way of preserving for posterity some of the art created by the Jasper Project and art coming out of Columbia, SC.

This event, including our cash awards, was made possible by our generous sponsors. Please thank them for their support of local film art and patronize their places of business. Sponsors were Bill Schmidt, The Dragon Room, Fit Columbia, Sound and Images, Precision Garage Door of Columbia, Marketing Performance, Rikard & Protopappas, Columbia Arts Academy, Final Draft, and Coverfly.

Thanks again to everyone who came out to support LOCAL INDEPENDENT FILM in Columbia, SC! To keep up with future film arts projects and all of Jasper’s many arts projects, including the call for the 2025 2nd Act Film Project, subscribe to Sundays with Jasper. To put your name on the 2nd Act Film Project, the Play Right Series, Jasper Magazine, and all of our multidisciplinary arts projects, join the Jasper Guild of Supporters for as little as $25 at the Artist Peer Level.

Enjoy a few of the images captured Wednesday night by local photographer Perry McLeod.

Taiyen Stevenson - 15 Minutes

Chad Henderson - Toreador

Local indie filmmaker Chris Bickel

Ebony Wilson - Ryde

Delicious food by Chef Joe Turkaly is a tradition at 2nd Act Film Project

Jasper board member & visual artist Keith Tolen (r) with filmmaker Thaddeus Jones

Nick Clay accepting his award for The Easter Sunday Massacre

Alex Steel and Collins White — the Other Within

Silas Rowland with crew - For He’s a Jolly Dead Fellow

Filmmaker Ebony Wilson with Mom

Jonathan Palance and Chad Henderson — Toreador

Jasper Project Operating Director Bekah Rice

2nd Act Film Project director Wade Sellers with 701 Whaley’s Leeann Kornegay and Jasper Project founder & Executive Director Cindi Boiter

Working the door — Jasper Board members Christina Xan and Liz Stalker with Coal Powered Filmworks employee Jami Wiseman

Award artist Michael Krajewski with Jasper Magazine co-founder Bob Jolley, aka Bier Doc.

Sponsor Bill Schmidt with guests.

Jasper board member Kwasi Brown enjoying snacks by Joe Turkaly.

Cesar Davalos accepting his Best Actor award for Toreador

Wade Sellers with filmmaker Kari Lebby.

Jasper Announces The Roster of 2nd Act Film Project Filmmakers -- Tickets Going Fast!

RESERVE YOUR TICKET HERE

The Jasper Project is delighted to announce the return of the 2nd Act Film Project on Wednesday October 23, 2024, at 701 Whaley Market Space. A VIP reception with filmmakers starts at 6 pm, followed by the main event at 7:30 – a screening of 14 new independent films all created by SC filmmakers. 

The brainchild of Jasper Project SC board president and Emmy-nominated indie filmmaker Wade Sellers, owner of Columbia, SC’s Coal Powered Filmworks, 2nd Act Film Project is a unique take on the independent film project. Filmmakers are given the 1st and 3rd acts of a short film script. Their task is to write the 2nd act and make the movie.  

To date, the 2nd Act Film Project has produced a total of 70 indie SC films. 2024 welcomed the largest roster of filmmaker applicants thus far, with 14 filmmakers selected to participate in the project. In keeping with the mission of the Jasper Project there is no entry fee for participating in the project. Filmmakers receive a $100 stipend from the Jasper Project to help offset production costs. In order to help nurture the growth of the SC indie film community, filmmakers are also encouraged to reach out to the Jasper Project, Coal Powered Filmworks, and each other for advice and assistance with the technical and artistic challenges of creating an independent film. 

The 2nd Act Film Project roster of filmmakers includes Adam Weber, Idris Pearson, Nick Clay, Marley Gregory, Chad Henderson, Thaddeus Jones, Bakari Lebby, Silas Rowland, Taiyen Stevenson, Alex Steele, Andrew Smith, Ebony Wilson, Dustin Weible, and USC SGTV 1080c. With $2500 in cash prizes, awards include the top prizes of the Audience Award—every ticket holder may cast one vote—and the 2nd Act Producers’ Award, each at $500, as well as $250 prizes for Best Script, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Actor, Best Editor, and Best Original Score. Judges are award-winning SC filmmaker Robbie Robertson, visual artist and gallerist Michaela Pilar Brown, and multi-disciplinary artist Kwasi Brown, founder of Black Nerd Mafia.  

~~ Thanks to the following Sponsors ~~

Title Sponsor

Precision Garage Door Repair

Partner Sponsor

Final Draft

Program Sponsors

Bill Schmidt

Coal Powered Filmworks

Filmmaker Sponsors

Rikard and Protopappas

FIT Columbia

Columbia Arts Academy

Marketing Performance

The Dragon Room

Tickets are $20 for general admission and $75 for VIPs and are available at EventBrite

Insider Tip: This event is historically a sell-out with SRO — Don’t sleep on securing your seat!

REVIEW—Pater Noster and the Mission of Light By Wade Sellers

The entire cast carries you through the film, but Bickel’s tongue-in-cheek record store comedy turned blood-soaked escape film pays off in a great way that I haven’t seen in any level of filmmaking in quite some time. 

Mike Amason stars as Pater Noster in Pater Noster and the Mission of Light

Simply put, Chris Bickel knows how to hit you in the face with his movies. His third micro-budget indie feature, Pater Noster and the Mission of Light, is a wonder of what pure will, a solid vision, dedication from indie-film lovers, new technology, and a load of talent can create in the current indie-film world. An end card after the credits states that Pater Noster and the Mission of Light was made in West Columbia for what you can buy a used car for. Bickel gives that number as $20,000. Every dollar of that budget ends up on the screen along with pints of blood and sweat from a crew that found a labor of love, and a cast that is both seasoned and practically pulled off the street. 

On the surface Pater Noster and the Mission of Light is a cult film. Pater Noster and the Mission of Light is a 70s religious group that has been off-the-grid for decades. What they do have is a slightly sought after catalogue of self-produced music that is worth a lot of cash to collectors. That’s how we meet Max, played by newcomer Adara Starr. Max works at the local indie record shop when a local vinyl trader tries to cash in one of his Pater Noster records and not so subtly mentions that he has a secret spot where more of the Pater Noster catalog sit. Max sweet talks and slips the collector a few bucks and hits the store herself, hoping to cash in. Max does find the stash and heads back to the record shop with her PNATMOL find. 

After bragging to store owner Sam, played perfectly sly and bitter by Bickel regular Morgan Shaley Renew and her co-worker and friend Abby, played smartly by another familiar face to Bickel films Sanethia Dresch, Max and Abby head to Max’s house to get high and soak in the Pater Noster find. Later, the co-workers hit a blood-soaked show featuring a local thrash metal band “Lunacide,” filled in by Columbia area band and Metal Blade recording artist Demiser. Filling out the group of friends is Gretchen and Lunacide drummer Jay Sin, played by Shelby Lois Guinn and Josh Outzen, respectively. Bickel’s curation of this group is a great homage to past horror film friend group dynamics. The friends head back to Max’s for a post-show afterparty. Max finds a mutual Pater Noster lover in Jay Sin and the Mission of Light mystery grows from there. With a brilliant cameo by the saxophone swinging 80s film icon Tim Cappello as Dennis Waverly, a conspiracy filled radio host leaning heavily on Art Bell, the friends get a stern warning of swimming in the Pater Noster pool. Moments later, another mysterious call is received from supposed Pater Noster surrogates, and the next morning the friends are in a car being chauffeured to the Pater Noster compound.

He mixes his blood with the blood spilled later in the film.

Bickel wastes no time getting his group of friends, and the audience, into the meat of the white robed, smile just a bit too wide, Pater Noster welcoming committee and their compound. Soon getting us in front of reclusive Pater Noster himself. Mike Amason plays Pater Noster, and brilliantly chews every line of dialogue Bickel gives him through to the end of the film. Once the friends enters the interior of the Pater Noster compound, that’s when Bickel starts cocking his fist further back, readying it for the audience’s face. 

Pater Noster and the Mission of Light’s greatest strength is Bickel’s growth as a filmmaker and growing chops as an editor. His willingness to inject a fair amount of tongue-in-cheek humor in the first half of the film also loosens up the audience for the bloodbath to come. He mixes his personal experiences working in a local indie record store with locally known Columbia fixtures, name play, and street addresses that will only resonate with locals. This makes the movie better because it adds Bickel’s personal roots with his loosely fictional settings and characters in the films. He mixes his blood with the blood spilled later in the film. 

Adara Starr stars as Max in Pater Noster and the Mission of Light

As the film gets into its 20th minute, the pacing seems to slow a bit- not boring, but methodical. Make no mistake Pater Noster is a micro budget B-Movie, but Bickel doesn’t rush the story. With B films there is pressure to get the blood before the eyes of the audience as soon as possible. And that audience is quick to give up and walk away. Bickel does a fantastic job of allowing us to know what we need to know with each of the characters as we get to the first level of the last act. 

Technology is the other advantage Bickel has with his third film. The visual look of the first half of the film is what it needs to be, nothing fancy, straightforward. There is no pretention here. When we move into the insanity of the third act, Bickel starts to flex the experience he has gained from his previous two features. Losing his Director of Photography two weeks prior to the first shoot day, Bickel took control of the camera himself. For a movie with a decent budget this can be incredibly stressful, for an indie horror feature with a 20k budget and 100 or so volunteers, off and on, crew members, you lose years off your life.  

Visually the last act is a bit of a marvel. Lit just enough to set the tone but not distract, the direction and camera work create an atmosphere of insanity. Bickel’s slow(ish) pacing at the top of the film is balanced with a frenetic pacing at the end. Somehow, he makes this digestible. Add a soundtrack of aural horror and everything blends into a beautifully psychotic escape sequence by those left alive. He successfully takes the audience into the maddening world that Capello’s radio host warns us about. Yes, there is blood. Gallons more than in previous Bickel films. But as the deaths mount when the Pater Noster cult reveals their true intentions, and their naked bodies, the audience can only grip their seats tighter and move closer to the screen. I viewed the film at a private screening with a small audience of 25 or so. We all gleefully soaked it in with the slyest grins on our face. 

A last-minute addition for the lead role, Adara Starr brilliantly turns Max from a cherub faced 20 something into a Carrie-esque crazed young woman over the film’s 90 or so minutes. All other supporting friends make the most of their life-or-death moments with no fear. Intentional or not, Bickel’s casting of the round-faced Starr contrasts her beautifully against her sharply featured friends.

This is the type of indie movie that is possible now. The camera that Bickel used is affordable to everyone. It allows capturing beautiful images in low light. It allows a filmmaker with Bickel’s experience and talent to create the horrific moments he makes in this film. Would a larger budget have served him well, of course. But how much larger? These movies aren’t made for a wide audience. They certainly are made with a pure love and Bickel’s love for the medium is caked all over Pater Noster. You can see Tobe Hooper and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre here. You can see some Rosemary’s Baby mixed in with Friday the 13th, even a taste of Clerks (if unintentional). And you can imagine the many gruesome horror titles that Bickel knows, and we don’t, that he is wearing on his sleeve at every part of the production process. 

Morgan Shaley Renew, Adara Starr, and Shelby Lois Guinn in Pater Noster and the Mission of Light

Pater Noster and the Mission of Light is a wild punch in the face of a horror film, and I suggest seeing it no matter your taste in movies. It’s a testament to the new way filmmakers can make the film they love in the city or town they live in. The entire cast carries you through the film, but Bickel’s tongue-in-cheek record store comedy turned blood-soaked escape film pays off in a great way that I haven’t seen in any level of filmmaking in quite some time. 

The Nickelodeon’s indie film roots no longer exist in this city and it is time to seek other outlets.

Pater Noster and the Mission of Light has its world theatrical premiere at the Independent Picture House in Charlotte on October 5th. The film is mixed in 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound. It will stream on Night Flight during the month of October. 

The film features a soundtrack created by musicians local to Columbia, South Carolina. Prior to the film’s release, Bickel premiered music videos for each song of the soundtrack. These videos will be available on the Blue Ray release in 5.1 Dolby. An 18-minute short film prequel will also be included on the Blue Ray. 

Pater Noster and the Mission of Light is premiering in Charlotte, North Carolina and not Columbia. The Charlotte premiere is due to the Nickelodeon Theatre, located on Main Street in downtown Columbia and Bickel’s preferred theatre for the premiere, not being able to find time in their schedule to screen the film. There has been a lot of back and forth through social media about this situation, and reasonable arguments can be made from both sides. 

As an independent filmmaker who has made his living as a filmmaker in Columbia for 25 years, my take is simple. You can’t be taken seriously as a supporter of independent filmmakers and independent films in the city you operate if you don’t have a plan in place to screen local filmmakers and their work at a reasonably short moment’s notice. 

No film on the Nickelodeon’s current schedule starts past 9:30pm. Pater Noster is a perfect midnight film. The first showing in Charlotte, 100 miles away, sold out in a few hours. The Nickelodeon has deep roots in the independent film community in this city. It is where most local filmmakers, including myself, first saw their work on a theater screen. The Nickelodeon staff should be seeking out and celebrating local filmmakers. The answer should not be “we won’t have room for a few months” but should be “we will make this work.” I would gladly like to pop my head in to a 9:30 screening of Beetlejuice 2 on an upcoming Monday screening to count heads. The Nickelodeon’s indie film roots no longer exist in this city and it is time to seek other outlets.

Pater Noster and the Mission of Light 

Written and directed by Chris Bickel

 

Starring

Adara Starr as Max

Sanethia Dresch as Abby

Morgan Shaley Renew as Sam

Shelby Lois Guinn as Gretchen

Josh Outzen as Jay Sin

Mike Amason as Pater Noster

2nd Act Film Project is Accepting Applications!

Jasper’s 2nd Act Film Project  has opened the

CALL for SC Film Artists!

An innovative project unlike any other we’re aware of, 2nd Act is conceived and executed by Jasper Project Board of Directors President Wade Sellers, founder and owner of Coal Powered Filmworks, and is in its 8th year of production, having already nurtured the birth of 70 new indie films from SC filmmakers.

For more information read here.

Columbia's Black Wall Street Documentary Premiere as part of JUNETEENTH

Jasper loves new art, especially when it is aimed at correcting a misinterpreted or overlooked component of our cultural backstory.

In the press release below from the City of Columbia, read about the world premiere of the documentary Columbia’s Black Wall Street and the celebrations surrounding this project in honor of Juneteenth.

“The City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities (OBO) is proud to announce the highly anticipated release of Did You Know? Columbia’s Black Wall Street, a powerful documentary that chronicles the rich history of a Historic Black Business District in Columbia, SC.

Amidst a city renowned for its vibrant culture and thriving business community, Columbia recognized an opportunity to celebrate and elevate the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of Columbia, particularly during the challenges posed by the pandemic.

‘This project marks a significant moment for Columbia. The documentary not only captures the rich history and profound legacy of Columbia’s Historic Black Business District but also celebrates the resilience, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit that define our community,’ said Mayor Daniel Rickenmann. ‘It is a testament to the strength and determination of those who paved the way, and I encourage everyone to join us in commemorating this vital part of our city’s heritage.’

In 2021, 7Sunday’s Deon Generette approached OBO with an ambitious idea – to create a film documenting the Historic Black Business District, often referred to as “Columbia’s Black Wall Street.” Mr. Generette, a native of Johnsonville, SC, is a University of South Carolina Bachelor of Theatre graduate, Iraqi War Veteran, and visionary in the art and entertainment space in Columbia, SC.

The documentary is narrated by Dr. Bobby Donaldson who leads the University of South Carolina’s Center of Civil Rights History and Research in Columbia, SC.  Dr. Donaldson lends a powerful and authoritative voice to the project. The film also features the late Elise Martin, who was 108 years old at the time of filming. Despite her passing before the film’s premiere, Elise Martin’s legacy, along with other black businesses thriving between the 1920s and 1930s, such as Leevy’s Funeral Home, Dr. Cooper Sr. Noble, DSS, Palmetto Seafood, DESA Inc, and others, are honored in this documentary.

The film’s premiere will take place at the 2024 Juneteenth Entrepreneur, Film, & TV Extravaganza. The Extravaganza will kick off with an Entrepreneurial Summit with celebrity guests on Tuesday, June 18th, at 10:00 A.M. at 1208 Washington Place in downtown Columbia.  The second day of the extravaganza will start with a special children’s matinee premiere of the SCETV Emmy-nominated “The Cool and The Strong” series, which features Coach Dawn Staley and Coach Shane Beamer, at the Historic (sic) Nickelodeon Theatre beginning at 12:00 P.M.  Later in the day, enjoy an Oscar Themed Premiere of the documentary at the Nickelodeon Theatre beginning at 5pm. The premiere will be followed by the Extravaganza celebration with catering from Jeffrey Lampkin’s Country Boy and Kitchen, R&B Recording Artist Raheem DeVaughn, Grammy Winning Artist Susan Carol, and nationally known 7Sunday Live Band at the Columbia Museum of Art!

We invite everyone to be a part of these events to continue the story and witness this compelling story of resilience, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit that continues to shape our city.”

It's Oscars Weekend -- Columbia Creatives & Film Lovers Pick Their Faves from This Year and Others by Wade Sellers

As the cinematic award season concludes Sunday evening with the Academy Awards, Jasper asked creators and film lovers around Columbia about their most memorable movie viewing experience of 2023. Some loved new film offerings from the year. Others re-visited older classics or childhood favorites and saw them with a new point of view. Some anticipated a film only to be disappointed. Our list of Columbia creators and film lovers offered a diverse list of favorites, and we invite you, if you haven’t already, to view some of their favorites when you can.

Kwasi Brown - Founder, Black Nerd Mafia  

My favorite movie this year was Thanksgiving. Horror is my fav genre, which typically has a lot of disposable content. This movie, while set in modern times felt like a throwback slasher. It also explores themes of American consumerism and how out of hand it has gotten. Great kills, light humor, and an interesting compelling story. Eli Roth can be hit or miss but I’ve been waiting for this movie since the fake trailer appear in Tarantino's grindhouse forever ago and he didn't disappoint.

Marty Fort - Musician & Owner, Columbia Arts Academy, Irmo School of Music, Lexington Arts Academy

I watched The Goonies with my daughter. As far as what was new about The Goonies was how intense parts of it were. Sloth in hand cuffs. The mobsters. And the visuals, Oregon, the music, etc.

Laura Kissel - Director, School of Visual Art and Design, University of South Carolina

I loved Barbie! It captures the powerful, fun, and imaginative play a lot of young girls have when they are full of agency and fearless. Great, nostalgic set design for Barbieland, catchy song and dance sequences, and a terrific critique of the patriarchy. And I had no idea there was once a video of Barbie with a camera in her body. I want one! 

Merritt McNeely - CEO, Flock and Rally 

Nimona was #1. And magically, was also created by a local. But we didn't watch it the first time through that lens. For me, I cried b/c I realized the struggle that Nimona was sharing with the world - about having to be someone else until you finally just have to be you, and how hard that can be. I felt like it was the exact message my child needed to hear - whether he understood that or not. I don't know why my son cried during Nimona, he can't quite explain his feelings yet, but something moved him to tears as well. 

Tracie Broom - Co-Founding Partner, Flock and Rally 

I absolutely loved Poor Things. I found it incredibly funny and creative, and it shows a version of what women *might* want to question and explore if we weren't conditioned from a very young age to see ourselves, and our usefulness, in a limited way. Plus, what a treat for a Yorgos Lanthimos movie to wrap up on a high note!

Ed Madden - Poet

The Quiet Girl. Gorgeous. Irish film, part in Irish language. Based on novella Foster by Claire Keegan. Heartbreakingly beautiful. Things unsaid. Gestures. What is family. Who is a parent. A slow revelation, the ambiguity of the ending. The cast—Carrie Crowley was so amazing, and Catherine Clinch.

Cedric Umoja - Artist

Surrounded. I found the storytelling, cinematography, and acting to be excellent. It was a great way to expand upon the western genre by making its hero a Black woman who had served as a Buffalo soldier before becoming a traveler. She was everything we, as the audience, hoped she would be. 

Sumner Bender - Executive Director, Nickelodeon Theater 

I really enjoyed AIR, Barbie, Past Lives, and Oppenheimer. I think Oppenheimer is my favorite though. It's almost cliche because it is so critically acclaimed. I didn't see it when it first came out, but I watched it later and 10 minutes in I realized why it was so hyped up, because it is incredible! I have no qualms about loving popular movies!

Jay Matheson - Musician, Owner The Jam Room 

Biggest disappointment was Leave the World Behind. Looking through the 2023 film list the only one that stands out is Jules. It was quite offbeat and dealt with quite a few subjects in a unique way. Aging being a theme. Brian and Charles had to be the standout film that I ran across. Very funny and quite absurd. Not for everyone but I thought it was great. I don't keep notes so I'm sure I've forgotten a few. It was a busy year for me, so I did not watch as many films as usual.

Keith Tolen - Artist 

I found myself watching a film I know I have seen almost a hundred times. It’s Cool Runnings. I can’t get enough of it. I don’t know why. It has the beating the odds moments and yet how to handle defeat. I also love the flavor of the film. After all you are in Jamaica. What could be better. Solid acting and my go to film when I need to recharge.

Amy Brower - Actor, Artist, & Owner, Brower Casting 

2024 gave us....Barbie. The first act of the film can only be described as a cotton candy fever dream. (Which my inner 5-year-old unapologetically enjoyed) As someone familiar with (and deeply appreciative of) Greta [Gerwig]'s work, I was bracing myself for the gut punch of unflinching reality in there somewhere. And sure enough there it was, sandwiched palpably between hysterical one liners and over-the-top costume changes. Overall, it was a mixed bittersweet bag (as is womanhood) that succeeds in offering a fresh take on gender equality and self-love amidst toxic culture patterns in society and yes, in ourselves. As much as I look forward to sharing Barbie with my daughters in a few years, I feel no need to wake them from their cotton candy dreams of childhood just yet.  

Chad Henderson - Theatre Director & Marketing Director, South Carolina Philharmonic 

My favorite film that I watched last year was Good Vibrations, a 2013 music flick based on the life of Terri Hooley - a record-store owner instrumental in developing Belfast’s punk rock scene. I heard about Hooley while watching a PBS documentary about Northern Ireland and The Troubles, then I saw there was a movie about him. Saw the movie (loved it) and read Hooley’s autobiography. Then, by chance, when I was in NYC last summer the musical adaptation of the film was playing at the Irish Arts Center in Manhattan. So I’m a bit of a Hooligan at this point. 

Debi Schadel - Co-Founding Partner, Flock and Rally

Two of my favorites were Women Talking and Nimona. Women Talking was a bold movie with little action which was so refreshing. Nimona made me so proud to see a Columbia native make it and it goes to show you that the big budgets aren't always the best and it's always about the story.

Cindi Boiter – Founder & Executive Director, The Jasper Project

A unique film that  may not be on everyone’s radar was 2020’s Kajillionaire. I was drawn to it because it was written and directed by Miranda July (You and Me and Everyone We Know, 2005) and starred some of my favorites - Richard Jenkins, Evan Rachel Wood, Debra Winger, and Gina Rodriguez, with a smaller part played by Da’Vine Joy Randolph (nominated for Holdovers this year.) I loved it because it was quirky, and Wood’s character was a huge departure for her. But more so, I loved its treatment of parenting, and the holes parents can leave in the emotional makeup of their children. In a powerful scene, Jenkins and Winger demonstrate how parenting can be a performance more than a mission. Heartbreaking but, in the end, satisfying.

— Wade Sellers

Indie Artist TiffanyJ Presents a Premiere Night of Music and Film during Suicide Prevention Month

TiffanyJ is thrilled to announce her highly anticipated Album Release & Film Premiere event for "Solbird Sessions Live." This extraordinary evening promises a fusion of live music, cinematic artistry, and a unique ALL DENIM AFFAIR experience, all set to take place at Spotlight Cinemas Capital 8. 

The event will be a celebration of music, creativity, and community, showcasing the culmination of TiffanyJ's musical journey through her third album which was recorded live in concert at South Carolina ETV in May. TiffanyJ, a Columbia native, musical artist, and inspirational personality, has hopes to encourage those, like herself, dealing with mental health challenges through the power of her melodic artist expressions. This project has been successfully crowdfunded. 

Event Highlights:

• Date: Wednesday, September 13, 2023

• Time: 7pm

• Venue: Spotlight Cinemas Capital 8, 201 Columbia Mall Blvd Ste 211, Columbia, SC 29223

• Dress Code: ALL DENIM AFFAIR

• Tickets: Starting at $10

• Featuring:

• Pink Carpet: Capture the essence of guests arriving in their denim best.

• Live Music by Rod Foster & Company: Immerse yourself in live soulful, jazzy tunes that will set the perfect tone for the night.

• Feature Film Presentation: Experience the captivating transformation of a live concert on the big screen, featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes and documentary footage. Witness the concert's power unfold before your eyes.

• Album Merchandise: Exclusive album merchandise will be available for fans to take home a piece of the experience.

The event acknowledges support from the South Carolina Arts Commission and Every Black Girl, Inc. Solbird Entertainment invites music enthusiasts, cinema lovers, and all those seeking an extraordinary night of entertainment to join this exceptional celebration. 

Tickets are available at sslpremiere.eventbrite.com, and with limited seating, early reservation is recommended to ensure participation in this immersive musical and cinematic experience. The “Solbird Sessions Live” album will be released worldwide on all digital media outlets on Friday, September 15, 2023. 

Want to know more about TiffanyJ? Watch for Kevin Oliver’s feature story on her in the fall 2023 issue of Jasper Magazine!

About TiffanyJ: Indie Soul Artist TiffanyJ has one of the most unique and incomparable musical styles and sounds. Her powerful voice alone engages listeners both young and old. TiffanyJ is a singer and songwriter creating a soulful approach to melodic art that is guaranteed to uplift those who witness her gift.

CALL to Filmmakers for Indie Grants Open NOW through July 31st!

Funding, Gear, and Full Production Support for Short Films

• Up to $35K Per Project

• Submissions Due July 31

• Get Everything You Need at INDIEGRANTS.ORG

The South Carolina Film Commission and Trident Technical College invite South Carolina filmmakers to apply for INDIE GRANTS, production grants for narrative short film projects.

INDIE GRANTS produces high-quality short films with a reputation for professionalism, practicality, and inventive storytelling. Past projects have been official selections of top film festivals like Sundance, Tribeca, American Black Film Festival, Palm Springs, FantasticFest, and hundreds more. 

Collaborators include Oscar-winning Cinematographer Russell Carpenter (Titanic, Avatar 2), Anna Camp (Pitch Perfect, Perfect Harmony), Madeleine McGraw (Black Phone, Outcast), Jackie Hoffman (Glass Onion, Only Murders In The Building), and Brad Land (Goat).  

Need help with your submission? INDIE GRANTS has teamed up with the Faber Entrepreneurship Center at UofSC’s Darla Moore School of Business to offer assistance from their students with development of Project Decks and Budgets. This resource is limited and supplied at the discretion of the individual students on a first-come, first-serve basis. Get more info on the Indie Grants submissions page.

Get all submission information and the 2023 INDIE GRANTS application here.

University of South Carolina and Local Cinema Studios is Seeking Feature & Pilot Scripts for Production

Do you have a feature or pilot script that you can’t wait to see come to life? Are you passionate about collaboration and mentorship? We have a million dollar (okay, realistically ~$100k opportunity) for you!

Local Cinema Studios, with support from the South Carolina Film Commission and the University of South Carolina, is producing their second project in South Carolina during Summer 2023.

They are searching for feature length and pilot scripts that can be shot in roughly six weeks, bringing on professional crews, student interns, mentors, and community members to come together on a professional production.

Entries are due Nov. 1, 2022. View the requirements and submit your script here.

This is an annual initiative that kicked off in 2021 when UofSC and their production team made a feature film called HERO. According to Local Cinema Studios, they see the low budget as an opportunity to problem solve and use passion and grit to get things done on set. They'll also have goals to raise more depending on the script.

Please reach out to Dustin at dwhitehead@localcinemastudios.com with any questions.

Call for Scripts!

From our friends at Local Cinema —

Local Cinema Studios, a local film production company committed to bridging the gap from academia to industry, is launching their second annual Get On Set initiative with the support of the South Carolina Film Commission and the University of South Carolina. Part of the launch includes a script call for the upcoming Summer 2023 project.

“We are excited to bring a screenwriter’s vision to life,” says Dustin Whitehead, Artistic Director of Local Cinema Studios and UofSC Assistant Professor, Theatre and Dance. “Get on Set is about pairing industry professionals with local students to tell a story we believe in. We demonstrated last summer with the feature film Hero that this initiative can work in South Carolina and we are excited to do it again. Local Cinema is all about finding the homegrown stories of the South and bringing them to the big screen.”

Local Cinema Studios is currently accepting feature film or pilot script submissions for a project to be filmed Summer 2023. They are also seeking professional directors and other crew to be part of the “Get On Set” Team. Those interested should apply online by November 1st. The application can be found here:

For more information about Local Cinema Studios or the Get on Set Initiative, contact Dustin Whitehead via email at dwhitehead@localcinemastudios.com.

And watch out in November for our feature print story on Whitehead and the cast and crew of Hero, Local Cinema’s 2022 summer project!