Jason Davids Scott

Jason Davids Scott is an Associate Professor in the School of Theatre and Film at the Sidney Poitier New American Film School, Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, Arizona State University (ASU). They also hold affiliations with Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, where they serve as Director of Production for the Educational Media Innovation Studios. Dr. Scott earned a Ph.D. in Theatre from the University of California, Santa Barbara, an M.A. in Dramatic Art from the same institution, and a B.F.A. in Cinema Studies from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Before academia, they had a career as a film publicist and development executive in Los Angeles and New York, working on films such as 'Dazed and Confused' and 'The Crow.'

• Ph.D., Theatre Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara
• M.A., Dramatic Art, University of California, Santa Barbara
• B.F.A., Cinema Studies, New York University / Tisch School of the Arts

Dr. Scott’s research spans film and television studies, entertainment industry practices, gender and sexuality, feminist and queer theory, and media ethics. Their work critically examines independent film, stardom, marketing, and the representation of trauma and violence in media. They are particularly invested in inclusive pedagogy and ethical filmmaking practices, having led the development of the Standard Acknowledgment of Filmmaking Ethics (SAFE) protocol to combat harassment and abuse in film production environments.

Their publications include the book Everything but the Script: Professional Writing in the Entertainment Industry (2019), contributions to academic volumes on Wes Anderson, Hal Hartley, and Robert Downey Jr., and upcoming essays on trauma in the series Outlander. They have also authored entries in the Cambridge Encyclopedia of Stage Directors and Directing. Their scholarly and creative output reflects a deep engagement with both the practical and theoretical dimensions of media production.

Dr. Scott is actively involved in public-facing media projects, serving as Coordinating Producer for the PBS series Poetry in America and contributing to the Interplanetary Initiative’s Lessons From the Past. They have facilitated student involvement in major productions such as the IMAX documentary Jane Goodall's Reasons for Hope and Zombified Media on YouTube. Their work bridges academia, industry, and community engagement.

As an educator, Dr. Scott teaches courses in film production, writing, ethics, and independent film. They chair the Herberger Institute Faculty Personnel Committee and have played a key role in expanding ASU’s film programs, including the creation of a new B.F.A. degree in 2021. They also advise graduate students in Learning Design and Technologies and support student career development through real-world media projects.

Service and leadership include roles with the Mesa Arts Center Foundation, the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, and the Mid-Atlantic Popular & American Culture Association (MAPACA). Dr. Scott is gender non-binary and uses they/them pronouns. They reside with their pets: two dogs (Ernie and Bert) and three cats (Catfish John, Loose Lucy, and Jolson).