Experiencing Interruptions?

House of Saints

Jazz great John Coltrane once said he longed to become a Saint. Reggie Scott has thought about that response for 50 years. Scott's tale is one of fortune and famine. As a child living in the Harriett M. Cornwell Tourist Home, a historically celebrated house in Columbia, South Carolina, Scott was surrounded by educators including his aunt, Harriett, "Mae Mae" Cornwell. It was there that Reggie dreamed of a life as a musician. But in a family of doctors and educators his path had been laid out for him. Scott would become a successful dentist. He had it all, but one night of excess and vice ended in him committing murder. Reggie Scott would go on to spend 32 years in some of the toughest prisons in California.
The story could end there, but Scott survived and served his sentence, making his way back to the home that he says was calling for him. His “House of Saints,” where today he honors those that raised him, protected him and continue to guide him. All with the help of “Saint” Coltrane and his jazz music. Reggie’s new life is one of doing what he’s always loved best. Play music. And to listen when the spirits guide him to do right as he continues to bring life back to the house he grew up in.

  • Gerry Melendez
    Director
  • John Kammerer
    Music
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes 46 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 15, 2016
  • Production Budget:
    18,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, 35mm, Canon 5D MkIII
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Southern States Indie FanFilmFest
    Biloxi, MS
    United States
    January 4, 2018
    Best Southern States Documentary, Best Cinematography
  • San Francisco Black Film Festival
    San Francisco, CA
    United States
    June 18, 2017
    Honorable Mention BestShort Documentary
Director Biography - Gerry Melendez

Gerry Melendez has been a professional photographer and visual artist for over 26 years. Melendez was born in El Salvador and made his way to the U.S. after a civil war broke out in his country. He has won numerous accolades for his work and continues to pursue a passion for telling stories while raising a family in Columbia, South Carolina.

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Director Statement

House of Saints has been a pleasure to make. At its core this is a love story of an imperfect yet fascinating man. Reggie Scott has left a lasting impression on me. Bobby Donaldson, an associate professor at the University of South Carolina said it best in a letter about Scott. He writes, "Reggie is a person who defies expectations and categories. Born into a prominent family in Arsenal Hill neighborhood of Columbia South Carolina, Scott decided early on to escape the rarefied confines of the African American bourgeoisie. On the contrary, he became a man of the people, a cool renegade, an educated renaissance man - who was at ease hobnobbing with the intelligentsia and hustling in the streets." This short film delves into one chapter of what is the fascinating book of Reggie Scott's life.