Private Project

The Teacher and the Student

Logline:
A homeless thespian alters a teen's destiny in Flint, MI
Synopsis:
The story is told in flashbacks from 2013 during a polar vortex in Flint, MI, to 2003 when the main character Ella St. John is 13 years old. The film explores Ella's journey from bullied teenager to Broadway star with lessons from an unexpected mentor. Ella is mixed race - and without her mother around, is having a difficult time. She is unsure of how to navigate both cultures. She uses her music and poetry to work through her feelings. Jimmy, a homeless man, helps her to shape an authentic voice for her songwriting and poetry and a chance at winning a prestigious scholarship in performing arts.

  • Mary Ellen Jones
    Director
    Director, Co-Writer, Producer The Teacher and the Student Director, Producer Dinner With Friends Alpena Civic Theatre, Alpena, MI Director, Producer, Writer Quintetto Sonare Alpena Civic Theatre, Alpena, MI Director, Moesha Executive in Charge of Production, Supervising Producer, Producer, Co-Producer, Line Producer, Associate Producer, Post Production Supervisor for hundreds of episodes of television shows including The Army Show, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Wayans Bros., Moesha, Thea, & Soul Train and over twenty pilots. I’ve worked for Castle Rock Entertainment, DreamWorks, and Warner Bros., to name a few, and delivered hundreds of hours of projects to ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, NESN and other networks. Credit list available upon request FOX-TAPE, FOX TELEVISION STATIONS, INC. 1/83-1/87 Staff Unit Manager for the follow series: Small Wonder, Mama’s Family, 227, Gimme A Break, Soul Train, Hour Magazine, and People’s Court
  • Mary Ellen Jones
    Writer
  • Nicole Wallace
    Writer
  • Mary Ellen Jones
    Producer
    Director, Co-Writer, Producer The Teacher and the Student Director, Producer Dinner With Friends Alpena Civic Theatre, Alpena, MI Director, Producer, Writer Quintetto Sonare Alpena Civic Theatre, Alpena, MI Director, Moesha Executive in Charge of Production, Supervising Producer, Producer, Co-Producer, Line Producer, Associate Producer, Post Production Supervisor for hundreds of episodes of television shows including The Army Show, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Wayans Bros., Moesha, Thea, & Soul Train and over twenty pilots. I’ve worked for Castle Rock Entertainment, DreamWorks, and Warner Bros., to name a few, and delivered hundreds of hours of projects to ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, NESN and other networks. Credit list available upon request FOX-TAPE, FOX TELEVISION STATIONS, INC. 1/83-1/87 Staff Unit Manager for the follow series: Small Wonder, Mama’s Family, 227, Gimme A Break, Soul Train, Hour Magazine, and People’s CourtSee Bio
  • Nicole Wallace
    Producer
  • Lulu Dahl
    Key Cast
    Lulu was born and raised in Detroit, MI. She an accomplished actor, singer and portrays Older Ella in the film. Older Ella is touring the country in a fictional show, "La Baker" a tribute to Josephine Baker. Lulu just recently was cast in a couple of feature films in Detroit that made her SAG/AFTRA eligible. Her last stage work was in "How I Got Over" where she was 'Lady' at the Henry Ford Theater. She has done shows for The Jewish Ensemble Theatre and the Detroit Repertory Theatre.
  • Chip DuFord
    Key Cast
    Chip DuFord was last seen at Meadow Brook Theatre as one of the Charity Men in Christmas Carol, as John Middleton in The Constant Wife and Dr. Watson in Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure, played The Tin Man in Flint Youth Theatre's 2013 production of Wizard Of Oz, has done nearly 300 performances as Vinnie Black, "The Cadillac Of Caterers" in the Detroit company of Tony and Tina's Wedding and acted in 21 seasons as a company member of Hope Summer Repertory Theatre in Holland, MI.
  • Olivia Rose Wallace
    Key Cast
    Born and raised in Flushing, MI Olivia Rose performed the lead role in Hollywood Arms, playing Young Helen (A Carol Burnett memoir). Olivia caught the acting bug at a young age and augments these talents with singing, dancing and spoken word poetry. She enjoys writing her poetry and reads voraciously. She met director Mary Ellen Jones while filming a promo for a reality TV series, showcasing young talented performers from Michigan. Currently, she is a finalist for the Virginia B. Ball Scholarship at Interlochen Arts Academy where she hopes to hone her many skills and interests.
  • Don Snipes
    Key Cast
    Don Snipes, born and raised in Detroit, Michigan is an Actor and Director on the rise! Starring as "Lance" in his second consecutive season on "Because we're Men" (TV20 Sundays at 5pm) Don portrays an office heartthrob who finds himself in and out of trouble with woman. Although "Lance" is a more, comedic character, Don is best known for his serious and dramatic roles. Recently he co-starred opposite Vivica Fox in the dramatic stage play "Danger at My Door" (Detroit Opera House) playing the handsome undercover "Detective Deason".
  • Sarah Grace Cattell
    Key Cast
    Wizard of Oz (Dorothy), Annie Jr. (Annie), White Christmas (Susan Waverly), Les Miserable (Young Cosette), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Children's ensemble).
  • Alfred Bruce Bradley
    Key Cast
    Off-Broadway musical “One Mo Time” in the lead role as Papa Du, which resulted in an extended run at The Village Gate in Toronto. Later Mr. Bradley joined the Cast of “ Staggerlee” New Orleans and New York Off Broadway Productions. Other notable performance experiences include the Off-Broadway“A Raisin in the Sun” in Detroit; “Rollin With Stevens and Stewart” in the Chicago and Detroit productions. He joined the world tour of the Broadway hit musical “Black and Blue” where he teamed with his mentor and teacher, the late great Lloyd Storey, from Detroit, Michigan. He has also performed “David Danced for the Lord” from Ellington’s “Sacred Works” with the Duke Ellington Orchestra at the Cleveland Tri City Jazz Festival. He can be seen each Christmas as Heir Drosselmeyer for the FIM production of “Nutcracker”.
  • Rose Adams
    Key Cast
    Frau Blucher in 'Young Frankenstein" with the Flint Community Players. Prior to that, Rose was Nanny in "Hollywood Arms" and Fraulein Schneider in "Cabaret", also with the Flint Community Players.
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, African American, Coming of Age, Social Issue, Music, Youth/Teen
  • Runtime:
    24 minutes 57 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 30, 2015
  • Production Budget:
    18,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Black Magic Cinema 4K; Canon 5D
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema
    Idyllwild, CA
    January 7, 2016
    Indie Spirit Award, Mary Austin Excellence in Screenwriting, Best Supporting Actor - Bjorn Jensen
  • Sedona International Film Festival
    Sedona, AZ
    February 22, 2016
  • San Francisco International Black Film Festival
    San Francisco
    United States
    May 8, 2016
  • Orlando Urban Film Festival
    Orlando
    United States
    November 10, 2016
  • Sunrise 45 Film Festival
    Alpena, Michigan
    United States
    August 20, 2017
    Best Narrative Short Film
Director Biography - Mary Ellen Jones

Executive Producer - The Tarnished Eye (in development)

Director/Writer/Producer - Mindjimendamowin (Blood Memory) in post production

Director/Writer/Producer - Life in Mikado (in post production)

Director/ Co-Writer/Producer - The Teacher and the Student

Director, Producer Dinner With Friends
Alpena Civic Theatre, Alpena, MI

Director, Producer, Writer Quintetto Sonare
Alpena Civic Theatre, Alpena, MI

Director, Moesha

Freelance Executive in Charge of Production, Supervising Producer, Producer, Co-Producer, Line Producer, Associate Producer, Post Production Supervisor for hundreds of episodes of television shows including The Army Show, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Wayans Bros., Moesha, Thea, & Soul Train and over twenty pilots. I’ve worked for Castle Rock Entertainment, DreamWorks, and Warner Bros., to name a few, and delivered hundreds of hours of projects to ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, NESN and other networks.

FOX-TAPE, FOX TELEVISION STATIONS, INC.
Staff Unit Manager for the follow series: Small Wonder, Mama’s Family, 227, Gimme A Break, Soul Train, Hour Magazine, and People’s Court

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Inspiration starts in the strangest of places. Nicole Wallace, a fellow Michigander and I started writing this story and a few others on a road trip from California to Michigan last summer. Cross-country trips allow for many hours of conversations and storytelling. The Teacher and The Student, is inspired by a real relationship, one we wanted to share on film.

Since our road trip, we partnered and formed a 501(c)3 corporation called Mitten Women Productions, Inc. Our mission is to create Community-Based Film projects that highlight and educate people on socio-economic and cultural differences.

In addition to telling the story of a teen’s journey from bullying to Broadway star, the goal for this particular project is to show a different side of Flint. To tell uplifting stories, use local talent and crew, and show iconic and redeveloped Flint locations. Michigan is home to a large number of talented, hardworking people. The Detroit and Flint areas are rich with artists - musical, visual, and performing.

I hope you enjoy the film.

Thank you.

Mary Ellen Jones
Director, The Teacher and the Student Short Film