Jason Maza

Last updated

Jason Maza
Born
London, England
Occupations
  • Actor
  • film producer
  • director
  • screenwriter
Years active2001–present
Website jasonmaza.com

Jason Maza is an English actor, producer, director and screenwriter.

Contents

Early life

Maza grew up in Romford. He began acting at seven years of age. [1]

Career

Early work

Maza was accepted to the Central School of Speech and Drama, but at that time, he was already working as an actor so decided not to attend. [2]

Maza starred in the 2007 film Special People , which received attention for its portrayal of people with disabilities. [3] [4] [5] In 2010, Maza was part of the original cast of Sucker Punch , the award-winning play written by Roy Williams, at the Royal Court Theatre in London, starring alongside Daniel Kaluuya and Anthony Welsh in the production. [6] Maza’s other early roles include parts in the police procedural series The Bill , the medical drama Casualty , the detective series A Touch of Frost , [7] and the crime drama film Welcome to the Punch . [8]

Although primarily an actor, Maza began work as a film producer in 2011, setting up Think Big Productions. [9] His early productions included the slasher film Demons Never Die , starring Tulisa Contostavlos, [10] and the comedy film The Hooligan Factory in 2013, [11] both of which he also starred in.

Maza appeared as Johnny Beckett in the period drama Call the Midwife in 2016. [12]

Partnership with Noel Clarke and Unstoppable Film and Television

In 2015, Maza teamed up with Noel Clarke, launching Unstoppable Film and Television as co-CEO. [13]

Maza produced the 2018 film Songbird , also titled Alright Now, which starred Cobie Smulders. [14] [15]

In 2018, Unstoppable joined the All3Media Group, forming Unstoppable Film & Television, with Clarke and Maza stating: "With the full support of All3Media we’re aiming to build on our work so far, finding new talent and creating authentic drama for the widest possible audience." [16]

As part of Unstoppable, Maza co-produced a range of films and television shows with Clarke and starred in several, including Brotherhood , 10x10, [17] Songbird, and Twist , a loose adaptation of Oliver Twist starring Michael Caine and Rita Ora, [18] [19] and thriller drama series The Drowning , in which he played D.S. Harvey. [20] [21]

Other projects Maza appeared during this period included the television drama Dark Heart [22] and the sports drama Cagefighter. [23] He also appeared in the BBC comedy series Man Like Mobeen . [24]

In 2019, Maza was cast alongside Michael Jai White and Gina Gershon in the sports drama Cagefighter. [25] He also served as an executive producer for the 2020 thriller drama series The Drowning , while also appearing in the series as D.S. Harvey. [26] [27]

Controversy and exit from Unstoppable

Maza and his partner Noel Clarke were both suspended by All3Media Group in April 2021 after the misconduct allegations against Clarke, [28] [29] which also included allegations that Maza had joined Clarke in making calls to women they believed had spoken to reporters, leaving them "shaken, fearful and in tears" [30] . One of the witnesses in the subsequent libel trial also accused Maza of touching her inappropriately on work trip to LA [31] .

Filming of Sky One’s British police-drama Bulletproof, in which Maza was starring, was suspended when the allegations surfaced, and cancelled a few weeks later. [32] On 21 July 2021, Maza formally left the production company Unstoppable Film and Television. [33] [34] [35]

Recent work

In 2023, Maza co-wrote and executive produced Rise of the Footsoldier: Vengeance. [36] [37]

Personal life

Maza has a brother, Taylor, who is also an actor.[ citation needed ] In June 2023 Maza married Lowri Whitwell. [38] [39]

Credits

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2001PitPopeyShort film
2007 Sugarhouse Crack Punter
Life and Lyrics Ant
Hush Your MouthLeo
Rise of the Footsoldier Rob
Special People Dave
My Boy Jack JournalistTelevision film
SouljahTonyShort film
OctaneKelvin
2008Hunger HousePeterShort film
Ten Dead MenFranklin Boulder
Shifty Malik
2009Dog EndzNathanielTelevision film
Fish Tank Liam
2010 Fit Tyler
KickOffAdam
2011TerryN/AProducer
The Tapes DannyAlso producer
Wheels of FortuneRichardShort film; also co-writer
Hard to SayDanShort film
Anuvahood Darren
Demons Never Die KennyAlso producer
2012VictimMannie
The Man Inside Danny Lee
Outside Bet Mickey
The Man InsideDanny Lee
Truth or Dare Jonesy
Payback Season Executive producer
The Knot Ralphus
2013Still WatersGeorge
Welcome to the Punch Luke
Get Lucky Eli
TravellerFelix
The Hooligan Factory DannyAlso producer
2015LegacyRoland
Scottish Mussel Producer
Billy the KidShort film; executive producer
AngelGeorge
2016 Brotherhood DaleyAlso producer
2018The SoundShort film; executive producer
Wild Honey Pie!Producer
Alright Now
The Fight
The Little PrincessShort film; producer
10x10 Officer WaylandAlso producer
2019Keep BreathingShort film; producer
Doggerland
Birthday Girl
Tracks
2020 Twist BedwinAlso producer
2020The Intergalactic Adventures of Max Cloud [40] Space Witch
2021Music, Trial and TraumaThe ManagerShort film; Also writer, producer
2023 Rise of the Footsoldier: VengeanceCo-writer and executive producer
TBAFar Out Far InSherbertCurrently in production

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2005 Life Begins Student
Holby City Kris BurrowsEpisode: 'Test Your Metal/A Great Leap Forward'
Casualty@Holby City Kris Burrows4 episodes
2008 New Tricks HoodieEpisode: 'Couldn't Organise One'
2009 Trial & Retribution Darren LewisEpisode: 'Tracks: Part 1'
A Touch of Frost John Heal
The Unsinkable TitanicHarold BrideTV movie documentary
Casualty "H"
2010 The Bill Dean Pollit
Whitechapel Dan StreetSeries 2, episode 1
2011 Come Fly with Me Plumber
Silk Chris Lakeman
2014 The Crimson Field Pte Benny GormanSeries 1, episode 5
2015 Silent Witness Johnny CraddockEpisode: "Protection" (2 parts)
Nurse Jack3 episodes
2016 Call the Midwife Johnny Beckett
2017 Man Like Mobeen RobbieEpisode: 'H-ALTRight'
2018 Dark Heart Rob Mullan4 episodes
2018–2021 Bulletproof Chris MunroeAlso producer
2020HitmenThe DealerEpisode: 'Birthday '
The DrowningD.S HarveyAlso executive producer

Theatre

YearTitleTheatre
2008Flight Path by David Watson Bush Theatre
2009Mad Blud by Philip Osment [41] Theatre Royal Stratford East
2010 Sucker Punch by Roy Williams [42] Royal Court Theatre
2012Fear by Dominic Savage Bush Theatre

References

  1. "Romford actor, Jason Maza's film career is set to take off with movie for Halloween". Romford Recorder. 25 August 2011. Archived from the original on 29 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  2. Moore, Camille (24 June 2020). "10 Things You Didn't Know about Jason Maza". tvovermind.com. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  3. Elley, Derek (2 September 2007). "Special People". Variety. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  4. "Director's anger over comedy film's 'disability' warning". The Independent. 16 November 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  5. "Exposing prejudice in Special People". Evening Standard. 10 April 2012. Archived from the original on 29 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  6. "Sucker Punch". Royal Court Theatre. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  7. Reporter, River (1 November 2011). "Jason Maza to star in teen slasher Demons Never Die". River Online. Archived from the original on 29 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  8. "Movie star Strong on guns message". Independent.ie. 5 March 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  9. "Think Big Productions Limited". Companies House . Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  10. "Romford actor, Jason Maza's film career is set to take off with movie for Halloween". Romford Recorder. 25 August 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  11. "The Hooligan Factory, film review: Little to distinguish spoof from". The Independent. 12 June 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  12. "'Call the Midwife' Recap: Series 5 Episode 2 | Telly Visions". tellyvisions.org. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  13. "UNSTOPPABLE FILM AND TELEVISION LIMITED". GOV.UK. Companies House. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  14. Barraclough, Leo (12 January 2017). "Cobie Smulders Joins Comedy 'Songbird' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  15. "Cobie Smulders and Jessica Hynes to star in new film Songbird". British Comedy Guide. 15 January 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  16. Clarke, Stewart (26 February 2018). "All3Media Backs Noel Clarke's Unstoppable Film and TV". Variety. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  17. "10x10 Trailer Unravels the Secret Behind a Mysterious Abduction". MovieWeb. 14 February 2018. Archived from the original on 23 February 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  18. "Twist". YouTube . Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  19. "Buzzing to share with you the trailer to TWIST. We wanted to deliver something feel good and fun, enjoy". Twitter . Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  20. "Where is The Drowning filmed? Channel 5 series' filming locations in Ireland and Dublin revealed". yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk. 21 February 2021. Archived from the original on 29 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  21. Duke, Simon (1 February 2021). "The Drowning cast as Jill Halfpenny leads new Channel 5 thriller". ChronicleLive. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  22. "ITV's Dark Heart viewers think something's a bit off". Digital Spy. 7 November 2018. Archived from the original on 29 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  23. Wiseman, Andreas (28 January 2019). "Michael Jai White, Gina Gershon & MMA Fighters Limber Up For Sports Pic 'Cagefighter'". Deadline. Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  24. Little, Harriet Fitch (15 December 2017). "Man Like Mobeen — exceptionally funny character comedy". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 14 April 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  25. Wiseman, Andreas (28 January 2019). "Michael Jai White, Gina Gershon & MMA Fighters Limber Up For Sports Pic 'Cagefighter'". Deadline. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  26. "Where is The Drowning filmed? Channel 5 series' filming locations in Ireland and Dublin revealed". yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk. 21 February 2021.
  27. Duke, Simon (1 February 2021). "The Drowning cast as Jill Halfpenny leads new Channel 5 thriller". ChronicleLive. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  28. "Noel Clarke Suspended From All3Media-Backed Production Outfit Unstoppable Film & Television". Deadline. 30 April 2021. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  29. Grater, Tom (28 March 2022). "Noel Clarke: UK Police No Longer Investigating Sexual Harassment Claims". Deadline. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  30. Siddique, Haroon; Weaver, Matthew (31 March 2025). "Noel Clarke left women he thought spoke to Guardian 'fearful and in tears'". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  31. "Para 567 of high court judgement" (PDF).
  32. Ravindran, Manori (21 May 2021). "Sky Cancels 'Bulletproof' Following Noel Clarke Sexual Misconduct Allegations (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  33. "Unstoppable Film and Television Limited - People". Gov.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  34. "Noel Clarke Officially Out From His All3Media-Backed Production Company". BBC News. 2 August 2021. Archived from the original on 16 December 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  35. "Noel Clarke leaves production company Unstoppable after misconduct allegations". Sky News. 3 August 2021. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  36. "Rise of the Footsoldier" Vengeance". IMDb. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  37. Felperin, Leslie (15 September 2023). "Rise of the Footsoldier: Vengeance review – super-stabby sequel a cut above its predecessors". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  38. "One month till I get married. Any advice?". Twitter. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  39. "My wedding speech. There are very few times in life you get to stand up in front of a room full of people and tell them how you feel about your wife. Writing this speech was tough because it was always going to be impossible to do Lowri justice but I gave it a bloody good go. Can't believe this was 1 month today". Twitter. 9 July 2023. Archived from the original on 3 October 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  40. "Nerdly » 'The Intergalactic Adventures of Max Cloud' Review" . Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  41. "Mad Blud – 18th February 2009 – 28th February 2009". Theatre Royal Stratford East . Archived from the original on 23 February 2009. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  42. "Sucker Punch". Royal Court Theatre . Retrieved 26 November 2019.