Stories That Move. Literally.

Jason V. Henderson

Filmmaker | Stunt Performer | Screenwriter

Award-winning filmmaker, stunt performer, and screenwriter blending cinematic storytelling with visceral action and cutting-edge previsualization.

I’m a filmmaker, stunt performer, and screenwriter focused on cinematic movement: of the body, the camera, and the soul.

After years as a Division I fencing coach and martial artist, I launched Thoughtsmith Films to tell stories that fuse emotional depth with physical energy.

My work blends classic filmmaking craftsmanship with modern tools like Unreal Engine previsualization and live stunt performance, creating narratives that hit with both heart and impact.

Films

Words Unspoken

An intimate drama exploring the small silences that undo a relationship and the unspoken regrets we carry.

Winner: Best Narrative Short – Sussex County Community College Film Festival

Official Selection: Big Apple Film Festival

Top 3: Southern Shorts Awards (plus 5 Merit Awards in Directing, Screenwriting, Editing, and Producing)

Fling – Director

Fling captures the bittersweet collision between fantasy and reality as two lovers, entangled in hidden lives, grapple with the future they might never share. Against the backdrop of a meticulously set romantic evening, secrets unravel, choices are made, and the cost of forbidden love comes into sharp focus. Intimate, aching, and cinematic, Fling is a portrait of love at a crossroads.

Action Cinematography – DP

High-intensity fight scene shot on gimbal at 120fps, emphasizing dynamic movement, impact, and fluid slow-motion storytelling.

Charlene and Tony – DP

A raw, emotional drama about a teenage boy’s courageous coming out to his deeply religious mother, Charlene and Tony explores themes of generational trauma, shame, and the complicated bonds of family. Set over the course of a single night, the film builds from small, everyday frustrations into a powerful confrontation about identity, betrayal, and survival inside the very walls that were meant to protect.

Upcoming Films

Untitled Family Thriller

Filming Summer 2025

When an Olympic hopeful returns home after a fall from grace, she discovers her siblings are plotting murder.

A psychological thriller set in a beach mansion on the Outer Banks. Family secrets, power plays, and addiction collide in a sunlit noir.

The Connoisseur

In Development

A vampire manipulates victims’ emotions to flavor their blood. Sensory horror meets psychological tension.

Teleportation Pod

In Development

A high-stakes moment from my sci-fi feature Party at the Pen, exploring identity, cowardice, and second chances.

Mockumentary

Filming Summer 2025

Currently assisting on a behind-the-scenes satire about the chaos of making a movie. Think Spinal Tap meets indie film hustle.

Stunts & Movement

Action That Tells a Story

Physical storytelling is part of my directing DNA.

I’ve performed choreographed fights, full-back fire burns, and motion-captured performances in collaboration with VFX teams at UNCSOA.

This summer, I’m bringing that energy to live audiences, performing six days a week in a comedic pirate stunt show with Mirage Entertainment, combining fencing, stage combat, and physical comedy.

Whether on camera or on stage, every movement is crafted to serve the story.

Motion Capture with UNCSOA

Performance capture scene filmed with Vicon Shogun, blending physical storytelling and virtual production

Fire Burn with Sweet Spot of the Flame

3/4 fire stunt showcasing controlled stunt performance, safety precision, and cinematic fire effects.

Stunt Reel with International Stunt School

Dynamic stunt choreography training, featuring fight scenes, falls, and action cinematography fundamentals.

Virtual Production & Pre-Vis

Future-Ready Filmmaking: Unreal Engine Previs

Great stories start before the first shot.

For Words Unspoken, I scanned the location with LiDAR technology, rebuilt it virtually in Unreal Engine, animated key moments, and matched them to the final footage, saving time, clarifying vision, and elevating production value.

I use virtual production workflows to bring ambitious ideas to life without losing the emotional heartbeat of the story.

Recognition & Festival Highlights

Best Narrative Short – Sussex County Community College Film Festival
Official Selection – Big Apple Film Festival
Southern Shorts Awards – Top 3 Placement
Awards of Merit (Directing, Screenwriting, Editing, Producing) – Southern Shorts Awards
Live Stunt Performer – Mirage Entertainment Pirate Show (July–August 2025)

Contact Us

Let`s Talk

Let’s Create Something Bold

Whether you’re looking for a director who understands action, a second unit specialist, or a storyteller who fuses movement with meaning, let’s talk.

Thoughtsmith Films is ready for collaboration from independent shorts to larger productions pushing creative boundaries.

info@thoughtsmithfilms.com