Jason Weaver Teams Up With South Carolina State to Host Exclusive Masterclass
Jason Weaver is set to join South Carolina State University for an on-campus entertainment industry masterclass from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1.
"From Dream to Screen: SCSU Industry Insider Masterclass with Jason Weaver" is a three-day workshop aimed at teaching attendees how to establish and nurture a lasting career in film and television, per HBCU Game Day.
The class filled up rapidly when SC State students were invited to register earlier this semester.
Known for his roles as Young Simba in "The Lion King" and as Marcus Henderson in "Smart Guy," Weaver began his career in the late '80s. His talent extends to music, contributing vocals to hits like Chaka Khan's "Love You All My Lifetime." He’s currently a series regular on the Showtime original “The Chi.”
“Our goal is to empower students to establish and nurture a lifelong career in the dynamic world of film and television by offering valuable insights into how the film industry actually works and creating an experience for aspiring actors and allowing them to dissect and perform scenes and get feedback and constructive critique,” Weaver said in a statement from SC State.
“This masterclass is a golden opportunity for South Carolina State University students to hear about what it takes to be a success in the extremely competitive world of entertainment,” said University President Alexander Conyers. “We are deeply appreciative of Mr. Weaver and his team’s willingness to share their valuable insights and experiences with our students.”
The masterclass will teach attendees how to level up in areas like cinematography, wardrobe, makeup, CGI, editing, and screenwriting. It will teach scene work and technique development while helping the students understand the evolving entertainment business model, as well as the recent and current actors and writers strikes.
Dr. Macie Smith, Vice Chair of the SC State Board of Trustees, was instrumental in coordinating the enhancement of the curriculum. Smith described having Weaver teach the class as a "transformative experience" for SC State students.
“Here at SC State University, we are creating opportunities for real-world career-building skills for our students,” Smith said. “Not only will they receive one-on-one training from an amazingly talented actor and businessman, but they’ll have an opportunity to display their skills through role play and receive constructive communication about areas for improvement.”