Jesse Harris | Executive Director/Co-Founder
jesse@nffty.org | 206.905.8420
Jesse Harris is part of the next generation of young and talented filmmakers. At the age of 17, Jesse wrote and directed the feature length drama, Living Life. The film tells the story of a teenage boy battling cancer and how he changes other people’s lives in the process of reconciling himself to his illness.
Jesse financed Living Life with profits from prior projects and donations from individuals and organizations, but primarily with money he had saved up for college.
In 2004, Living Life was one of 20 features invited to be part of the annual IFP New York Film Market. It was also an Audience Award winner at the 2004 Orinda Film Festival. That same year Jesse was a semi-finalist for the IFP Spirit Award “Someone to Watch”.
In 2004, at the age of 18, Jesse partnered with FilmMates Entertainment for completion and distribution of Living Life, becoming the youngest known American director to obtain multi-city theatrical release and distribution of a feature film.
Jesse also teamed up with FilmMates in setting up the Living Life Foundation, a non-profit foundation established from the film’s profits to raise money for cancer research.
Living Life was theatrically released in April 2005 and bought by HBO Central Europe and TV in Israel. Vivendi Visual Entertainment purchased Living Life for DVD distribution.
In 2006 Jesse directed and produced Journey to the Gulf, a documentary on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The movie was produced by Los-Angeles based production company, New Ocean Pictures, which Jesse co-owned.
Most Recently Jesse completed a new feature screenplay, Flower in the Dark, with writing partner Kevin M Huber. Jesse is attached to direct. Learn more at: www.jesseharrisfilms.com
Bud Harrington | Festival Programming Coordinator
bud@nffty.org | 206.905.8400 ext.3
Bud Harrington has a Bachelor of Science degree in Radio Technology and worked in Radio Broadcasting for more than 30 years at various radio stations across the country. In his hometown of Seattle, he worked as chief engineer, chief announcer, music director and in public relations.
In 1985 Bud became interested in video production and started his own company, Harrington Video Productions, specializing in event videography.
Bud also teaches acting for the camera classes at the Seattle Children’s Theatre. It was there, he met the young Jesse Harris in 1998. Since then, Bud has co-produced and worked with Jesse on a number of film projects including Sara Jane (2002) and the theatrical feature film, Living Life (2005).
Bud also spent two years in the United States Marine Corps. He is currently a member of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Puget Sound Garden Railroad Club.
Jocelyn R.C. | Co-Founder
Jocelyn R.C. was born and raised in Bellevue, WA (born Dec.3, 1988). She grew up writing short stories, determined to become a novelist as an adult.
At age twelve, she became very interested in filmmaking and wrote her first feature-length screenplay. Two years later she began to direct and edit little home-made movies with friends as the actors. It was during her junior and senior years in high school that she began to take her filmmaking "to the next level", doing PA work on big productions as well as writing/directing her own short films.
Jocelyn has taken eleven years of piano lessons, and plays the guitar as well. Jocelyn attends Chapman University. Learn more at: www.jocelynrc.com
Kyle Seago | Co-Founder
Kyle Seago grew up with acting in his blood. Kyle's father, Howie Seago, is a well-known deaf actor and introduced Kyle to the visual arts at a young age. The interesting twist came when Kyle decided to pursue filmmaking as opposed to theater work, which was his father's main focus.
Since his sophomore year in high school, Kyle has won over 10 regional and national awards for his short films, including a Merit Award from the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts this past fall.
Kyle Is excited about being involved with NFFTY because he feels that it can experience much success in developing a strong, youth-oriented film base in the Seattle area that can grow to be a national hub for youth interested in film. Kyle attends Loyola Marymount University’s School of Film and Television. Kyle’s ultimate goal os to be a director of photography for films.
Scott Cummins | Founding Board Member
Scott Cummins is a Seattle native and graduate of Ballard High School.
He graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma ˆ and spent his entire junior year in the lovely city of Bath, England while enrolled at the University of Bath. He is a graduate of Seattle University Law School.
Scott’s career life was spent working in the court system and insurance industry - today he is a consultant specializing in organizational development and risk management.
While seeking more challenge and less pay, he was promoted to, stay at home Dad in 1998, a role he refers to as, the most loving education I could ever imagine. And apparently his wife Kathleen’s role as a Senior Vice President and Financial Consultant at Smith Barney has something to do with making that happen.
Today Scott does a lot of work with non-profits in Africa, particularly those that empower and inspire young people in both Africa and here as well - among those are Invisible Children.
Scott and Kathleen live in Seattle, where they have two amazing girls, Mallory and Savannah and a house with college students perpetually visiting or even completely moved in for reasons often relating to Africa.