Make the mainstream aware.
A documentary work-in-progress that follows researchers on a quest to develop therapeutics for Ataxia, capturing the day-to-day experiences – setbacks, realities, and triumphs – of individuals coping with the disease.
Profile: Dr. Sokol Todi
In 2015, we were fortunate to interview Dr. Sokol Todi, who investigates why and how certain genes cause age-related disease. This short film showcases Dr. Todi at work in his Wayne State University lab. We hope to include this footage, and other footage like it, in our feature project.
Profile: Angela Bryant-LeCompte
We talked to Angela Bryant-LeCompte in 2019 about her experience living with Ataxia. She felt hopeless after being diagnosed, but she didn’t give up. When the disease limited the motion of her right hand, Angela taught herself to perform work procedures with her left. “I have Ataxia, but I am not Ataxia.” We thank Angela for her time and her insight, and we encourage more people living with Ataxia to share their stories, to talk with us about their daily routines, their setbacks, and their triumphs. Voices welcome.
The Team
Justin J. Jackson is a professional filmmaker based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He earned a BFA from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in 2006. His most recent film, Rosetta: Audio/Visual, is currently available to stream on Tubi. Justin embraces the documentary format, which enables him to capture the dreams, challenges, and human connections of individuals. Justin’s ultimate goal is to tell stories that inspire and connect us to each other.
Jeremy Brunson is an editor based in Los Angeles, California. He earned a BFA from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in 2006 with a concentration in editing and sound. A longtime collaborator of Justin J. Jackson, Jeremy shares his passion for the documentary medium. Some of Jeremy’s recent credits include The Nature of Romance, Stranger Fruit, and Rosetta: Audio/Visual.
James Jackson earned his MA in Writing from Johns Hopkins University and his MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Kansas. His knowledge of craft, structure, and the principles of screenwriting empowers individuals to tell their stories and to share their voices. He wrote the short documentary film Neuroscience: Fruit Flies Save the World, and he co-wrote the full-length documentary feature Rosetta: Audio/Visual. Currently, he serves as Producer and Writer on the film Ataxia: A Documentary.
Justin M. Davey is a professional sound designer based in Los Angeles, California. He has worked on various television shows and critically acclaimed films. Some of his credits include Spider-Man: No Way Home, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, and A Quiet Place. Justin’s proudest moments are working with Academy Award winning documentary director Errol Morris and Academy Award nominated director Terrence Malick.