The Mississippi Delta is a master at shaping the imagination of its inhabitants.  Many successful entrepreneurs and artisans have hailed from the Magnolia State.  The Delta has contributed its share of writers, artists, and musicians to the world scene. 

But, as a teenager growing up in the Mississippi Delta, Jamie Mathews could find no outlet for his developing passion for movies. “I acted in theatre whenever I got the opportunity,” explains Mathews. 

“But, I always knew that I wanted to work with film.  Movies have always held a fascination for me.  I can remember asking my parents to buy a video camera so that I could shoot war movies with my friends.  That was in the mid-eighties and video cameras cost a small fortune.  Besides, I was only eleven years old and would probably have destroyed the camera.  So, I never got the opportunity to dabble in filmmaking.”

Mathews continued to act in theatre and work with drama groups until the age of twenty-one, when he left Delta State University and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting.  Once there, he began working as an extra on television shows and movies.

“I would stay after my work was done, when all the other actors went home.  I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to watch notable directors perform their jobs.  Finally, I managed to land a part on a movie directed by Clint Eastwood.  I was on set for three weeks and watched Mr. Eastwood direct everyday.  It was his style and cool headiness that inspired me to undertake the challenge of writing and directing my own film.”

So, Mathews wrote and directed a feature length film entitled The Obsessed, which is based around a local legend that occurred in Arcola, Mississippi. The Obsessed is the story of four young men who embark on a camping trip into the Sierra Nevadas in search of an ancestral grave.  Within the grave rests a diamond necklace of great value.  The boys retrieve the diamonds and start on their journey home when one of the hikers begins to see visions of a young lady who convinces him to steal the diamonds and flee.  As the hikers attempt to escape the wilderness, greed consumes the group and an innocent hiking trip becomes a battle for survival.

The film is absent of foul language and sexual content, but does contain frightening images.
“I finished principle photography on the film in 2001, but because of a lack of funds, I had to wait five years before the film could be completed the right way.  I am extremely pleased with the results and am confident enough to predict that you’ll never see a higher quality, feature-length film made for fifteen thousand dollars.” The Obsessed finished post-production right here, in Greenville Mississippi, including audio and second unit photography.

The Obsessed will premiere at The Nelco Theatre on Saturday, April 14th at 10:00AM.  Everyone is invited to attend the showing. Mathews has also completed a novel entitled Preacher and his company, Distant Lands Entertainment, is currently seeking investors for their second film The Sleep-time Clause. “I’m so excited about The Sleep-time Clause.  This is going to be the Delta’s very own film.  The movie was conceived in the Delta, will be shot and edited in the Delta, and is all about the Delta.  We plan on going into production in the spring of 2008 and will hold casting calls in the Delta later this fall.  This is an incredible opportunity for people who want to get involved with filmmaking.”

 “Filmmaking is such an incredible art form.  It doesn’t discriminate talents.  If you can write, photograph, create music, draw, paint, build, or even crunch numbers, filmmaking has a place for you.  That’s why I love it so much.  And, now, people like me won’t have to run off to California. They can have the experience right here at home.” Mathews also produces wedding videos and high quality commercials.

For more information about filmmaking in the Delta contact  Jamie Mathews/Distant Lands Entertainment at 820-7487 or email us at director@distantlandsentertainment.com.