Recapping ‘a Short Break’ With Storyteller Jammie Patton

This week on ‘a Short Break’ we watched the short film Finder Her Light by Actress, Director, and so much more Jammie Patton. Patton, who is a Graduate of Howard University’s Fine Arts program, started her storytelling journey at the age of 7 and never stopped. She would rather be called a storyteller as her creativity spans far from just acting and directing! The short film she had the pleasure to direct, Finding Her Light, is about a young girl who is abruptly abandoned by her father who must learn to navigate her ever changing world without him. It is a coming of age story told through music and dance. If you couldn’t catch the live interview, read below for gems straight from the interview!

Introducing a new virtual show a Short Break where host Damien D. Smith and co-host Emma J. show the best short films in its entirety and then replay with a live director’s cut where you, the audience are able to interact and ask questions to your favorite filmmakers! Tune in every Sunday at 4PM PT / 7PM ET to join in on the LIVE conversation via Facebook Live and YouTube Live.

When did you realize that you were a director? 

Jammie Patton: I think I’m still in the process of realizing that I am a director. I’ve been a performer for so many years, I did my first show when I was 10 years old. I got my first real chance to direct in highschool, it was a production of Steel Magnolias, at North Atlanta School of the Arts. We had to direct scenes and my theater teacher saw that I had a knack for it and let me direct the main stage production. I was obsessed, I would be thinking about it all the time, the blocking, the subtext and that’s when I knew this was my lane. 

How were you able to capture such a beautiful film not hearing the music as there was also no dialogue? 

Jammie Patton: I worked with a young composer out of Kentucky and it was basically us over the internet going back and forth. When I first cut this (I was a co-editor) I cut to temp music. I knew the feel of the score so I decided to edit to similar songs but I knew that we had to get our own music. That was probably the hardest part, making sure the music was right and fitting the tone of the particular scenes.

There was an underwater shot with choreographed dance, lights, and wardrobe! Tell us about shooting this?

Jammie Patton: I had never shot underwater before. We shot this at a pool and we had about 4 hours to get this shot in. The men who were there were mostly lifeguards and we had two body doubles for the main character (one was actually a guy)! The one thing we didn't have that day was a monitor and the 2nd camera operator had to keep swimming to me to show me the footage!

Watch the full clip on Facebook and Youtube now, plus listen on Spotify! Don’t forget to watch previous episodes with directors Angela Tucker and Jerry LaMothe!

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See you every Sunday at 4PM PT / 7PM ET!