Meet Jasmine McCaskill | Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jasmine McCaskill and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jasmine, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Jasmine Rene’ Studios exists to be the bridge where the Kingdom of God and Black culture collide. The most important factor behind the success of Jasmine Rene’ Studios is collaboration. I aspire to own the type of film production company that’s filled with audacious, creative people who have great heart and even greater convictions. I want to create space for those artists to exist loudly on my platform and be the bridge that can inspire real change and healing. Jasmine Rene’ Studios would’ve never happened at this time in my life if it weren’t for me being a student at Spelman College in the Atlanta University Center and being surrounded by so many like-minded people who believed in its vision. All three of my undergraduate films — Behind The Call, The Well: Love Ran Red and my newest, upcoming film A Homecoming I’ll Remember, exist and impact people the way that they do because of collaboration with musicians, actors, dancers, writers, cinematographers, and many others.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I believe my calling is to re-present God in television and film. I am very proud of my undergraduate films.

Behind The Call was my first film created during my sophomore year. The film focused on mental health and the Church.

My next film was The Well: Love Ran Red created during my junior year. It was a film that highlighted two couples in the Atlanta University Center whose love stories are rooted in their Christian faith. At this moment, The Well is my most successful project. I was able to sign a contract with The On Point Network where they have been streaming the film on their platforms for the past year. And Claflin University held a screening of the film on their campus hosted by their Student Government Association So many people from around the nation have reached out to me to tell me how the film has made great impact on their life and walk with God.

My last undergraduate film is titled A Homecoming I’ll Remember, and I’m actually finishing it up now. A Homecoming I’ll Remember is my thesis film, and it has truly been a journey that has pushed me out of my comfort zone! It’s an experimental documentary that intersects past and present to Black girlhood and womanhood. The film focuses on Zoe Hinds who was the first Black Homecoming Queen at a Mississippi high school and Pamela McKelvy who was the first Black woman to hold the title of Miss Kansas, USA. This is the longest I have ever worked on a film. I started preparing for the film around April 2020, wrote the proposal and was approved by the Spelman College Department of Art & Visual Culture faculty in September 2020, fundraised over $5,000 dollars for the film by the end of October 2020 and began shooting that same month. And now I’m here — almost ready to share it with the world by hosting private screenings and submitting it into film festivals!

I believe that I am where I am today because of the excellence I continue to show in my work. I’d like to believe that the reason I reached my fundraising goal for my thesis film is because people have seen my work ethic, dedication, and passion to fulfill my calling. I stepped out on faith in college and began operating like I owned a huge studio, when in reality, it was just myself. I was Jasmine Rene’ Studios. But now, I have a legion of artists and creators who want to be a part of what I am trying to build. I have an audience that supports our content. And because of these things, Jasmine Rene’ Studios will be a name to remember and a place that makes intergenerational impact.

When people watch my content, I want them to be challenged. I want Black people to feel celebrated, seen, and loved. And most importantly, I want my content to inspire everyone to have a more deeper, intimate relationship with God.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Again, Atlanta has been the perfect backdrop for this season in my life! If a friend was to visit me here, I would bring them to Ponce City Market and the Beltline. If it’s winter time, I would take them to Atlantic Station to the skate at the ice skating rink and see the beautiful Christmas tree. We’d probably do brunch at Rosie’s and get dessert at Jeni’s or Sublime Doughnuts. And if they’re into adventure, we’d go hiking at Kennesaw Mountain. And most importantly, if it’s the fall around mid to late October, they would definitely go to Spelhouse Homecoming tailgate with me!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
If it wasn’t for Anjanette Levert, a professor in the Spelman College Department of Art & Visual Culture, stopping me on campus one evening during my freshman year in the Manley College Center and chatting with me about what taking up a major in Documentary Filmmaking would look like, I most likely would’ve never created any undergraduate films or started Jasmine Rene’ Studios so soon. Her mentorship and support throughout my matriculation at Spelman has been so pivotal to my success and growth as a filmmaker and storyteller.

I owe my parents, Vincent and Rhonda McCaskill, a debt of gratitude. Four years ago, they stepped out on faith and made way for me to attend Spelman College, a school nearly six hours away from home in Southaven, Mississippi. I can’t imagine what life would be like if I studied anywhere else. Atlanta has been the perfect backdrop for this season of my life. And for the past four years, I have been blessed with a life-long network of relationships that will indubitably impact my work and career for the rest of my life.

Website: https://jasminerenestudios.com

Instagram: Personal: https://www.instagram.com/jasminerenem/ | Jasmine Rene’ Studios: https://www.instagram.com/JasmineReneStudios/

Linkedin: Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasmine-mccaskill-783322153/

Twitter: Personal: https://twitter.com/JasmineReneM | Jasmine Rene’ Studios: https://twitter.com/jasminerenestu

Facebook: Personal: https://www.facebook.com/jasminerenemccaskill | Jasmine Rene’ Studios: https://www.facebook.com/jasminerenestudios

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/JasmineReneTV