In 2020, Jonathan Cook submitted his short film “Don’t You Dare” into multiple film festivals. It was accepted into several. Then the pandemic hit, shutting down the festivals and interfering with his plans for getting the movie in front of people.
A few of the festivals held virtual events, and one of them landed him a deal with a TV network called ShortsTV. Locally, the network is available to DirectTV and AT&T U-Verse, he said. In other parts of the country, it’s on Google Fiber, Frontier Communications and Hotwire.
MORE: Indie Filmmaker Inspired by 80s’ Flicks
“It’s exclusive to them for six months,” said Cook, a filmmaker, actor, playwright and podcaster among other creative pursuits.
The network has the rights to show the film for a total of three years.
It was through the Crimson Screen Horror Film Festival in Charleston, S.C., that his horror flick got noticed.
After he learned it would be going for a TV deal, Cook said he remastered the video to give it a more a polished look. The film was shot in Augusta and features local performers.
[adrotate banner=”19″]
Cook has been investing in his creative talents for many years. He was bitten by the theater bug as a teen and started writing plays while a student at what was then Augusta State University.
“When I was in college in 2003, we had a summer stock event,” he said. “I tried to write one for that. Looking back, I can tell how much I’ve improved.”
He wrote and directed plays for the Quickies! Short Play Festival at Le Chat Noir for several years. Some of those plays have gone on to be published and performed around the globe.
He’s part of a local group of filmmakers called the Wages of Cine.
One of his newest endeavors is a podcast called Gather By the Ghost Light, which he started during the pandemic.
The ghost light is a theater tradition involving leaving a single light on the stage when the rest of the theater is dark, he said.
[adrotate banner=”23″]
Gather By the Ghost Light brings in the voice acting talents of many people Cook has worked with over the years; it also gives him an avenue to bring his plays to those who may not have had the chance to see them. He’s also showcased other short works by playwrights he’s met through play festivals.
Similar to the radio shows of the 20th century, the podcast includes music and special effects.
Cook has a studio set up in his house to do the recordings.
MORE: ‘Well-Known Network’ to Begin Filming Project in Augusta
So far, 13 episodes have been released. The frequency of the episodes varies, but he tries to complete one or two a month. Often, he has specific actors already in mind when he’s chosen a play to produce.
To learn more about Cook and his projects, visit his website at jonathanrcook.com.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
[adrotate banner=”38″]
