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Sugar Land resident to make debut on big screen
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| Jalene Mack |
By DIANE TEZENO
Jalene Mack never imagined a film based in her native New Orleans would be the vehicle to her first big screen role.
A resident of Sugar Land, Mack recently landed a role in “Hurricane Season,” a film starring Oscar-winning actor Forrest Whitaker, shot in New Orleans and set for release in the spring.
The multi-faceted actress, works as an entertainment lawyer by day, and has worked as a professional actress for more than two decades, appearing in more than 30 small-budget, independent films, before landing her recent big screen role.
The film is based on the true story of Al Collins, a high-school basketball coach who leads a group of displaced players from rival teams, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, to win the state finals a year after the disaster.
Mack recently wrapped up filming on the multi-million dollar film project in which she portrays “Andrea Wall,” mother of one of the high school basketball players.
She expressed her excitement at making her film debut alongside Whitaker and other notable Hollywood names, including Isaiah Washington, Courtney B. Vance and rappers Bow Wow and Lil’ Wayne.
“I have been in the business 18 years and this is the biggest project that I have been a part of. How many people can say they worked with Oscar-winning actor, Forrest Whitaker?” Mack said.
Born and raised in New Orleans, Mack said the film carries special meaning for her as an actress and former resident.
“When evacuees came to Houston, I went to the Astrodome to help and to look for friends and family members, so it is a story that I can really relate to,” Mack said.
“Louisiana is becoming the “Hollywood of the South” and I have been getting a number of auditions there for movies,” the Sugar Land resident said.
Although she wears multiple hats as a Houston lawyer and local actress, Mack considers acting her first love and passion.
“I always wanted to act, but education was important and I needed to make a living, so when I came out of college, an undergraduate degree was not competitive enough, so I decided to go to Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University.”
A graduate of Xavier University, Mack considers her law career her “waitressing” job.
“I am in dual careers. I’m still a lawyer and still an actress,” Mack said.
Mack hopes to one day focus her professional energies on acting, writing, producing and other creative pursuits.
She started her own production company, “Off-Hollywood Productions” and is currently working on a small, independent film, entitled “Elbows and Vogues,” written, directed and produced by Houston filmmaker Greg Carter.
The film is being shot in San Antonio and parts of Houston, including Sugar Land.
“Elbows and Vogues,” a Nexxus Entertainment Screen Actors Guild Production, is an urban modern day story of Romeo and Juliet in which the sister and nephew of rival drug lords meet and fall in love, Mack said.
Mack, who recently turned 40, appreciates the body of small, independent film work that has prepared her to step into her big screen role.
She has appeared in a number of productions, including a CBS Movie of the Week, Canal Street Brothel and had lead roles in Waters Rising, Resurrection: The JR Richard Story, My Big Phat Hip Hop Family and several local theatrical productions and commercials.
Mack encourages others to follow their dreams in the face of opposition.
“A lot of people are going to rain on your parade, and a part of it is that they just don’t understand your passion and a lot of it is sometimes they don’t have even a basic thing as a hobby and can’t imagine doing something out of the norm,” Mack said.
“I encourage everyone to dream and dream big,” the Sugar Land actress said.
A resident of Sugar Land, Mack recently landed a role in “Hurricane Season,” a film starring Oscar-winning actor Forrest Whitaker, shot in New Orleans and set for release in the spring.
The multi-faceted actress, works as an entertainment lawyer by day, and has worked as a professional actress for more than two decades, appearing in more than 30 small-budget, independent films, before landing her recent big screen role.
The film is based on the true story of Al Collins, a high-school basketball coach who leads a group of displaced players from rival teams, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, to win the state finals a year after the disaster.
Mack recently wrapped up filming on the multi-million dollar film project in which she portrays “Andrea Wall,” mother of one of the high school basketball players.
She expressed her excitement at making her film debut alongside Whitaker and other notable Hollywood names, including Isaiah Washington, Courtney B. Vance and rappers Bow Wow and Lil’ Wayne.
“I have been in the business 18 years and this is the biggest project that I have been a part of. How many people can say they worked with Oscar-winning actor, Forrest Whitaker?” Mack said.
Born and raised in New Orleans, Mack said the film carries special meaning for her as an actress and former resident.
“When evacuees came to Houston, I went to the Astrodome to help and to look for friends and family members, so it is a story that I can really relate to,” Mack said.
“Louisiana is becoming the “Hollywood of the South” and I have been getting a number of auditions there for movies,” the Sugar Land resident said.
Although she wears multiple hats as a Houston lawyer and local actress, Mack considers acting her first love and passion.
“I always wanted to act, but education was important and I needed to make a living, so when I came out of college, an undergraduate degree was not competitive enough, so I decided to go to Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University.”
A graduate of Xavier University, Mack considers her law career her “waitressing” job.
“I am in dual careers. I’m still a lawyer and still an actress,” Mack said.
Mack hopes to one day focus her professional energies on acting, writing, producing and other creative pursuits.
She started her own production company, “Off-Hollywood Productions” and is currently working on a small, independent film, entitled “Elbows and Vogues,” written, directed and produced by Houston filmmaker Greg Carter.
The film is being shot in San Antonio and parts of Houston, including Sugar Land.
“Elbows and Vogues,” a Nexxus Entertainment Screen Actors Guild Production, is an urban modern day story of Romeo and Juliet in which the sister and nephew of rival drug lords meet and fall in love, Mack said.
Mack, who recently turned 40, appreciates the body of small, independent film work that has prepared her to step into her big screen role.
She has appeared in a number of productions, including a CBS Movie of the Week, Canal Street Brothel and had lead roles in Waters Rising, Resurrection: The JR Richard Story, My Big Phat Hip Hop Family and several local theatrical productions and commercials.
Mack encourages others to follow their dreams in the face of opposition.
“A lot of people are going to rain on your parade, and a part of it is that they just don’t understand your passion and a lot of it is sometimes they don’t have even a basic thing as a hobby and can’t imagine doing something out of the norm,” Mack said.
“I encourage everyone to dream and dream big,” the Sugar Land actress said.
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