Writer/Director Dallas Jackson’s High-Octane Action Thriller
“The System” Starring Tyrese Gibson, Terrence Howard,
Jeremy Piven & Lil Yachty Set for Nationwide Release in Select Theaters on Oct. 28; Digital and On-Demand on Nov. 4
With an enviable slate of film and television projects in various stages of release, production or development, rising Hollywood filmmaker Dallas Jackson has a name currently ringing out in the best way among entertainment industry power circles. Jackson’s new action thriller “The System” starring Tyrese Gibson, Terrence Howard, Jeremy Piven, and Lil Yachty is set for a nationwide theatrical release on October 28; He’s in development on “Creature House,” Jackson’s new horror feature film in collaboration with Kevin Grevioux, 50 Cent and G Unit productions which was recently announced by Deadline; and his 2020 action feature “Welcome to Sudden Death” starring Michael Jai White is still in heavy rotation on Netflix, where it ranked among the top 10 movies on the platform for weeks following its release.
Jackson, a proud Howard University alumni (one of the nation’s leading HBCUs), is being honored with a Bison Honors Award at his alma mater’s Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 22. A special screening of his newest film, “The System” will be shown during Homecoming week in Washington DC on Thursday, Oct. 20.
As President of production company DJ Classicz, Jackson creates content focusing on edgy, young adult driven film and television projects for international audiences. The multi-hyphenate writer/director/producer considers it his mission to entertain the world by creating content for multicultural audiences that embeds a redemptive message at its core or shines a light on societal issues. In The System, he takes on the corruption inside the privatized prison system, which many social justice advocates describe as ‘modern day slavery’ and disproportionately affects people of color.
“I try to start off my movies with a bang so you’re ‘in’ from the beginning and can stay with it,” said Jackson. “What gets me up in the morning is the chance to impact the culture by increasing content, movies and tv projects that serve as enjoyable entertainment wrapped in a message. We can shine a light on topics that are important to us, but in a digestible format for audiences.”
Jackson served as Executive Producer, alongside iconic director John Singleton for 10 episodes of the limited series crime-drama “REBEL” on BET/Viacom Networks. His other credits include serving as writer and director on Blumhouse feature film “Thriller” starring Mykelti Williamson (Fences), and rapper-actor RZA, which made its world premiere at the 2018 Los Angeles Film Festival. He co-wrote “Straight Out of Heaven” with iconic director Singleton for WBTV, and served as screenwriter on the urban-family series “Uncle P” starring Lil’ Romeo Miller and Cheech Marin for Nickelodeon.
The Denver native, who was a latchkey kid riding the bus at age 10 to rent movies from his favorite genres, recalls the rich relationships that have informed, supported and fueled his career forward. They include Singleton, his esteemed mentor, and RZA, who he has collaborated with on several projects since he began in the business.
“I got a master class by shadowing John Singleton and watching him work,” said Jackson. “He taught me how to pay attention to other directors on the show. I got a notebook and took copious notes – how to block a scene; how to tweak a script on-the-spot during a table read; how to identify a problem and quickly solve it during the production. John said, ‘know your story and know it better than anyone else. That way no one can tell you what to make and how to make it.’ He was a complete professor to me in giving me instructions. He believed in me enough to endorse me, which had a major impact on my career trajectory.”
When asked about the power of aligning with executives and talent who hail from historically black colleges & universities, Jackson said, “What we can accomplish individually and collectively is insurmountable. We’re not all the same. At HBCUs, learning about the African diaspora, different parts of the world and the country gives you a confidence about ‘self’ that is powerful, as well as peers that you can call on for employment, to look out for our children and network connections. It’s allowed me to transport myself into Hollywood with these skill sets in my back pocket. We are a magnet for culture, which gives us a unique advantage and a ‘super power’.”
Up next is “Twenty Four Seven,” another collaboration with 50 Cent and his G Unit Productions for CBS Television on which Jackson serves as both screenwriter and an Executive Producer.
Based on the book by Derrick Parker and Matt Diehl, the story centers on Parker, who worked on some of the biggest criminal cases in rap history, from the shooting at Club New York to the first shooting of Tupac Shakur.
Regarding his brand, vision, journey and voice, Jackson said, “The grand vision is to entertain. I grew up on movies, knowing TV guides back and forth. I was a “nerdy” kid who rented 3 movies at a time. You’ll see there’s always a message in everything I do. Subtle or not, I wrap a lasting message inside the project. I’d like to leave the world a better place by my work, and encourage Black youth to never give up; show them that they can actualize their dreams.”
ABOUT “THE SYSTEM”
Retired marine Terry Savage (Tyrese Gibson) would do anything to save his daughter, including robbing drug houses to pay for her medical treatment. When Savage gets caught, he’s offered a chance at redemption by the local police commissioner to get his daughter the care she needs in exchange for infiltrating a private prison and exposing the corruption that’s headed by a sadistic warden Lucas Fisher (Jeremy Piven).
On his first night there, Savage is attacked by one of the prison gangs but saved by another inmate, Bones (Terrence Howard). An OG of the prison, he decides to teach Savage some unique, martial arts skills. When the warden recruits Savage for The Dungeon, his vicious, underground fight ring hosted by a deranged inmate, Joker (Lil Yachty), Savage must fight for his life against ruthless and bloodthirsty inmates. With help from Bones, Savage must capture incriminating evidence while trying to stay alive and get back to his daughter. Filmmaker Dallas Jackson writes and directs this explosive, action-packed thriller, which takes on corruption in America’s prison-for-profit privatized correctional system. The System will be released by The Avenue in select theaters nationwide on October 28, and available via digital and on-demand on November 4.
ABOUT WRITER/DIRECTOR DALLAS JACKSON
One to watch, filmmaker Dallas Jackson is holding court for entertainment buffs who enjoy action, horror and thriller films. The multi-hyphenate writer, director and producer is also a Howard University (HBCU) grad, proud father, family man and self-professed “geek” who considers it his mission to entertain the world by creating content that resonates with multicultural audiences. Also central to his ethos is embedding redemptive messages at the core of his projects and highlighting societal issues through entertainment. Jackson is president of DJ Classicz Productions, an independent production company he founded which generates edgy, young adult driven film and television projects for international audiences.
Dallas served as executive producer for 10 episodes of the limited series crime-drama “REBEL” on BET/Viacom Networks, where he worked alongside one of his industry heroes – the late, iconic director John Singleton. Dallas directed, produced and co-wrote the teen slasher film “THRILLER” for Blumhouse Pictures/Universal Pictures, which debuted on Netflix in April, 2019 and stars Mykelti Williamson, RZA, and Vanessa Bell Calloway. His 2020 action feature “WELCOME TO SUDDEN DEATH” starring Michael Jai White is also still in heavy rotation on Netflix, where it ranked among the “top 10” movies on the platform for weeks following its release.
Jackson’s new high-octane action thriller “THE SYSTEM” starring Tyrese Gibson, Terrence Howard, Jeremy Piven, and Lil Yachty, explores corruption in America’s prison-for-profit privatized correctional system.
