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!

REVIEW: Bunnicula at Columbia Children's Theatre by Melissa Ellington

Hop on over to Columbia Children’s Theatre and enjoy Bunnicula, a musical based on the book by Deborah and James Howe. Adapted for the stage by Jon Klein with lyrics by Klein and music by Chris Jeffries, Bunnicula explores the intriguing tale of a mysterious rabbit adopted by an unsuspecting family of four. Their canny feline, however, is suspicious of Bunnicula and uses literary knowledge to convince the family dog that this cute little bunny with the glowing red eyes is actually….a vampire! Why else would the vegetables in the fridge suddenly be drained of their juice? The animals prove to be entertaining sleuths as family life unfolds around their humorous investigation of Bunnicula. My first grade daughter gleefully describes Bunnicula as “very scary…and very funny!”

The performers present an appealing world with gullible yet likeable people and more sophisticated (while still charmingly flawed) animals. In the central roles of Harold (the dog) and Chester (the cat), Jerry Stevenson and Paul Lindley II deliver standout performances as a crowd-pleasing duo with resonant voices. Stevenson’s winning charisma as Harold draws the audience right into the heart of the show. Anyone who has spent time with a disdainful cat will recognize the feline temperament in Lindley’s superb depiction of the persnickety Chester.

Matthew Wright handles the puppeteer responsibilities for Bunnicula with seamless fluidity and impressive agility. Julian Deleon and Toni V. Moore generate strong stage presence as Mr. and Mrs. Monroe, grounding the wilder plot twists with a comforting sense of parental security. Riley Smith (Pete Monroe) and Kate Chalfant (Toby Monroe) convey youth and innocence without becoming overly cloying. Understudies include Kaitlyn Fuller (Harold), Anthony Harvey (Chester), and Taylor Diveley (Mr. Monroe).

For this show to work well, audiences need to root for both the animals and the humans, and the CCT team does an admirable job of making this happen. Crystal Aldamuy’s choreography works effectively to create visual interest and enhance characterization, while Lindley provides adept music direction for the show’s engaging musical numbers. Rest assured that the play’s humor reaches across generations, with slapstick hilarity alongside clever wordplay. You won’t want to miss seeing that “celery stalk,” among numerous other priceless moments.

CCT first produced Bunnicula in 2009, and director Stevenson explains that this production recreates and further develops the previous show’s style, which establishes “everything in a grayscale ‘film noir’ setting except for the cat and dog.” Through their approach to conveying the animals’ perspective, the production team crafts a memorable world where scenic and costume design choices enrich the audience experience of character and plot. The accomplished production staff includes costumers Donna Harvey and Stevenson, scenic designers Jim Litzinger and Stevenson, stage manager Brandi Smith, original puppet builder John Riddle, and the (delightfully named) “puppet medic” Anthony Harvey. Sound and lighting punctuate key moments with clarity as executed by Smith and Litzinger. The beautifully realized design elements communicate dramatic information while connecting with the audience, and viewers of all ages will enjoy reaping the benefits of this noteworthy achievement.

Bunnicula is at once both magical and recognizable. Children are swept up with the fantastic intrigue of the plot while also relating to real life experiences: caring for a pet, navigating family life, being afraid, getting in trouble, looking for answers. High quality children’s theatre in our own community? Seems magical to me…and I sure am glad it’s a reality.