The man. The myth. The legend. Described by most as an outgoing leader— someone always ready to make an impact. As a stellar model student, he also appears in almost every school activity you could think of: Drama Club, Movie Club, Photo Club, Z Club, LCPC, you name it. His dream job? A Film Director. His name? Jason Dement.
Avid Boston Celtics fan Jason Dement has a myriad of things to say about his path to pursue film as a career. “I feel like film has been a lifelong journey for me; some of my earliest memories are my reactions to watching certain films,” explains Dement, elaborating on how he first discovered his passion for film. Dement says that the turning point in his life was during the pandemic, as well as the UNCSA summer film program. He recalls, “During the pandemic, I checked out a stack of DVDs as tall as myself and would watch three to four movies per day…in a time where life was difficult for everyone, film was my comfort.” Soon after, Dement was able to attend the UNCSA summer film intensive, where he took simulated college film classes and created his first short film. When asked what the biggest takeaway he had from the summer program, he replied, “I realized my passion for film could be a realistic and attainable career, something I could enjoy for the rest of my life.”
One of Dement’s favorite films is Synecdoche, New York (2008) because of how much it has shaped him. “A new perspective came over me when I watched the movie Synecdoche, New York. This movie gave me the motivation to continue through the hardships and to make the most of my time,” said Dement. A movie about a theater director moving to New York to create a new play, this movie inspired Dement to pursue film as a career. During the dark ages of 2020, the Coronavirus and quarantine took a big toll on Dement’s mental health. He explained that this movie was what allowed him to move forward and inspired him to create a picture that could “make an impression on someone as much as this film shaped [him].”
Dement hopes to work in some role in the film industry in the future, the role of the director being the favored choice. He explains that “right now, directing sounds like the best role for me, but I may find a passion for writing, cinematography, editing or producing when I go to college.” This is why Dement plans on attending Emory University after high school–a private school in Georgia with an 11% acceptance rate and ranked 13th in the nation in Film and Photography. Dement described his reasoning for choosing Emory as “the perfect place for a future filmmaker like me.” He said that he wanted to be in a more “urban setting” for college, and with the filmmaking scene in the city of Atlanta comparable to LA and NYC, it felt like a no-brainer.
Jason Dement has had quite an impact at Hudson High School with his clubs and small projects. Whether it be practicing for his role in Into the Woods, shooting his next short film in the parking lot of Regal Cinemas or anchoring for the morning announcements, Dement has always been a prolific figure in the class of 2024. “That’s why I’m so excited for the next chapter of my life,” explains Dement, “because I’ll get to learn and figure out what I want to do for the rest of my life.” Whether he pursues his dreams of becoming a filmmaker or decides to continue suffering as a Boston Celtics fan, Dement proves time and time again to have a work ethic comparable to none and a winning mentality.
