Author's Biography:
JASON ADAM MASELLE is a BAFTA nominated filmmaker from Johannesburg, South Africa currently based in New York City.
He received his MFA with distinction in filmmaking from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.
His work has screened on HBO Max, SportsNet New York and at numerous international and Oscar qualifying film festivals.
His latest short film PUNTER is executive produced by Spike Lee. It premiered at the Locarno Film Festival where it won a Special Jury Prize. The film is Academy Award Qualified through winning Best Narrative short at the Austin Film Festival. The film is a finalist for a student BAFTA and screened at CAA’s Moebius showcase & WME’s Futurefest.
Jason is currently in development for the feature film adaptation of PUNTER.
Jason is represented by Eryn Brown, Marc Mounier and Yang Fei at Entertainment 360.
He misses going to the movies with his dad.
Script Synopsis:
Brett and his father Harris are conning their way through Johannesburg’s gambling underworld — but on the eve of his 14th birthday, Brett is looking for a way out. However, not only are their grifts tied to Harris’s horse-racing gambling obsession, but they’re also a desperate attempt to fund a major health procedure for Brett’s mother so she can return home.
After a chaotic day at a gambling bar where a bet that Brett chose for Harris miraculously hits big, they arrive at the hospital too late to see Brett’s mother. They promise to return the next day with the money for her procedure and a chance to see her.
Early next morning, Brett sneaks out to share cigarettes with Maya, the deaf girl next door. The two conspire to meet during school so she can give Brett a “special” birthday gift.
At school, Brett waits for Maya, but Harris bursts in and pulls him out of class, claiming Brett’s mother has passed away. They drive to Johannesburg’s main horse racing track, where Harris admits he lied. He believes Brett’s big win yesterday was fate and needs his help for one final seemingly safe bet to settle all their problems.
However, the “sure” bet spirals out of control as secrets are revealed about the bet’s true nature. Brett and Harris’ plan soon devolves into a dangerous scheme they must pull off perfectly to escape with the money—and their lives.
Director's Statement:
As I try to reconcile the best and worst parts of my Father, I find myself re-evaluating my childhood perception of my home.
As a “born free” - a child born after Apartheid fell - I was raised on the hopes & dreams of what the ‘new’ South Africa could become. Now, as I start to reconcile the broken promises of those dreams, I can’t help but think of my Dad.
PUNTER is my cinematic attempt to confront and celebrate the complicated love I have for my Father and my country. It’s me facing an existential contradiction that lies at the heart of the human experience: sometimes the best parts of ourselves can lead to our downfall. It’s my love for my Father, it’s my Father's undying hope in his cosmic chances - it’s South Africa’s ambition for a truly equal society. All profoundly noble intentions - and also self-fulfilling prophecies in which we all become the architects of our own demise.
Gambling is the perfect personification of this truth. Gambling is about selling dreams - and South Africa is a country built on sold dreams.
PUNTER is my gamble - it’s me confronting the harsh truths and broken pieces of all my love and dreams, and hoping that by peering into all that darkness, I can find the light of the love that my father and country left for me.
Production Information:
PUNTER is a feature film adaptation of the short film of the same name. The short is executive produced by Spike Lee. It premiered at the Locarno Film Festival where it won a Special Jury Prize. The film is Academy Award Qualified through winning Best Narrative short at the Austin Film Festival. The film is a finalist for a student BAFTA and screened at CAA’s Moebius showcase & WME’s Futurefest.
The feature film is currently seeking financing, producing partners and co-producing partners.
Various preliminary prep and pre-production documents are available upon request. These include:
- Proof of Concept Short Film Link
- 4th Draft of the Script
- Lookbook
- Budget
- Preliminary schedule
- Financing Plan
- Business Plan
- Distribution Plan