For immediate release: September 30, 2003
For more information, contact Creg Jantz at 216-368-6517 or creg.jantz@case.edu

CLEVELAND—Although Case Western Reserve University football player James Barrett-Mills plays on the offensive side of the ball, he gets his defensive kicks by tackling real world problems off the field and on film.

James Barrett-Mills

Barrett-Mills, a sophomore psychology major and receiver for the Spartans, doubles as a film maker during what little spare time he has being a student athlete at Case, one of the nation's most powerful learning environments.

In 2002, Jesse, one-hundred percent Irish, followed around taxi driver in the city of Belfast and he talked for two hours straight about the 700-year history of the Catholic Protestant conflict (in Belfast) and his goals for a resolution.

"I saw so much stuff going on over in Ireland," said Barret-Mills. "I just wanted to capture it. It's something that a lot of people in this country don't know about. It was amazing, the things I caught on tape."

When Barrett-Mills got back to the states he pieced the footage together for an hour-long documentary. He is thinking about festival distribution, but has put it on hold to work on another piece.

This film, his second, also has family ties. Barrett-Mills godmother is Soiux (American Indian) and her husband is Choctaw. He is high in the Choctaw government and asked Jess to come stay with them.

"I focused this film on the economic development of the reservation," said Barrett-Mills. "How they were able to maintain their culture during the implementation of Resorts and Casinos."

In order to make his recent project bigger and better, Jesse has become involved in the grant writing business. He has already sent out 50 to 60 requestsand is currently working on another batch.

"I am also putting together a promotional trailer to send out to people interested in funding, because not a lot of people are going to give a 19-year old kid a check unless he can prove what he is doing is legitimate."

So why Case? Why not go to film school on the east or west coast. Barrett-Mills is real interested in Child psychology. His younger brother was adopted and his family made it through some rough times with the help of a child psychologist.

"What I'm doing is majoring in Psychology and English to help fuel my films in the future," said Barrett-Mills. "If that doesn't work out maybe I can use my talents in the field of psychology, making instructional films or something like that."

Talented is something this young man definitely is and I think you will enjoy his work on the field, on the big screen, or from his future office.

FOOTBALL FOLLIES

As far as football goes, it's in Jesse's blood. His father Frank played at Marietta College. The Spartans had the number one passing offense in the nation a year ago and recorded their first winning season in over a decade.
" Football is something I've always loved," said Barrett-Mills. "It's hard balancing football, school, fraternity, and all the rest, but it's worth it because I love all of them."

MOONLIGHTING AND THE AFTERWORLD

Due to some contacts Jesse made this past summer at Rockport College in Maine (a film workshop) he has a slew of jobs in film already lined-up for this year across the country.

"Actually right before I reported for football in mid August, I worked on a shoot in Maine where I worked lighting and was a camera operator," said Barrett Mills.

Upon his scheduled graduation in the spring of 2006, Barrett-Mills is looking into the Master in Documentary program at Berkley and Columbia.

"That's what I want to do," said Barrett Mills. "But I'm not sure what my career will be like then. Will I still be doing film or will I be more into child psychology and looking to get as masters or doctorate in that."

–Case–

 

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