Donald G. Jackson
Encyclopedia
Donald G. Jackson was an American filmmaker who is often referred to in the media as the Ed Wood of the video age. This delination was given due to the bizarre nature, content, and lack of defined storyline prevalent in his film and because virtually all of his films were harshly criticized by film critics.
Born in Tremont
, Mississippi
, Jackson grew up in Adrian
, Michigan
. As an adult he struggled to become a filmmaker for many years while working at an auto factory. Finally, in the mid 1970s he made his first feature film, a horror film
parody, The Demon Lover. This film was soon followed by the wrestling
film, I Like to Hurt People. These films financed his move to Hollywood, California
, where he remained until his death. Jackson is perhaps most well known for creating and directing the cult film
, Hell Comes to Frogtown
.
Throughout his career Jackson worked with several filmmakers, including Roger Corman
and James Cameron
, but it was not until he began a long collaboration with American filmmaker Scott Shaw
that the team created Zen Filmmaking. Zen Filmmaking is a distinct style of filmmaking where no scripts are used in the creation of a film.
Jackson died of leukemia
in 2003 and was interred in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery
in Los Angeles
.
Born in Tremont
Tremont, Mississippi
Tremont is town in Itawamba County, Mississippi, United States. It was founded in 1852. The population was 390 at the 2000 census. It was the birthplace of country music singer Tammy Wynette.-Geography:Tremont is located at ....
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, Jackson grew up in Adrian
Adrian, Michigan
As of the 2010 census Adrian had a population of 21,133. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 84.1% white, 4.4% black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 5.9% from some other race and 4.0% from two or more races...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. As an adult he struggled to become a filmmaker for many years while working at an auto factory. Finally, in the mid 1970s he made his first feature film, a horror film
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
parody, The Demon Lover. This film was soon followed by the wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
film, I Like to Hurt People. These films financed his move to Hollywood, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where he remained until his death. Jackson is perhaps most well known for creating and directing the cult film
Cult film
A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a highly devoted but specific group of fans. Often, cult movies have failed to achieve fame outside the small fanbases; however, there have been exceptions that have managed to gain fame among mainstream audiences...
, Hell Comes to Frogtown
Hell Comes to Frogtown
Hell Comes to Frogtown is a 1988 cult film that was created by Donald G. Jackson. The screenplay for this film was written by Jackson and Randall Frakes. The film was directed by Jackson and R. J...
.
Throughout his career Jackson worked with several filmmakers, including Roger Corman
Roger Corman
Roger William Corman is an American film producer, director and actor. He has mostly worked on low-budget B movies. Some of Corman's work has an established critical reputation, such as his cycle of films adapted from the tales of Edgar Allan Poe, and in 2009 he won an Honorary Academy Award for...
and James Cameron
James Cameron
James Francis Cameron is a Canadian-American film director, film producer, screenwriter, editor, environmentalist and inventor...
, but it was not until he began a long collaboration with American filmmaker Scott Shaw
Scott Shaw
Scott Shaw is an American actor, author, journalist, film director, film producer, musician, professor and martial artist.-Early life:...
that the team created Zen Filmmaking. Zen Filmmaking is a distinct style of filmmaking where no scripts are used in the creation of a film.
Jackson died of leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
in 2003 and was interred in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery
Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery
The Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery is a cemetery in the Westwood Village area of Los Angeles, California. It is located at 1218 Glendon Avenue in Westwood....
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Filmography
- Max Hell Frog WarriorMax Hell Frog WarriorMax Hell Frog Warrior is a 2002 martial arts based cult film that was written, produced, and directed by Donald G. Jackson and Scott Shaw....
(2002) - Legend of the Dead Boyz (2001)
- Guns of El Chupacabra 2: The Unseen (1999)
- Blade Sisters (1999)
- Ride with the Devil (1999)
- Armageddon Boulevard (1998)
- Lingerie Kickboxer (1998)
- Pocket Ninjas (1997)
- Guns of El ChupacabraGuns of El ChupacabraGuns of El Chupacabra is a 1997 martial arts based monster film that was directed by Donald G. Jackson and was produced by and stars Scott Shaw. The co-stars of this film include: Julie Strain, Kevin Eastman, Conrad Brooks, Joe Estevez, and Robert Z'Dar....
(1997) - Toad WarriorToad WarriorToad Warrior is the third film in the Hell Comes to Frogtown series...
(1996) - Baby Ghost (1995)
- Little Lost Sea Serpent (1995)
- Big Sister 2000 (1995)
- Raw Energy (1995)
- Rollergator (1995)
- Queen of Lost Island (1994)
- The Devil's Pet (1994)
- Twisted Fate (1994)
- Kill, Kill Overkill (1994)
- Carjack (1993)
- Return to FrogtownReturn to FrogtownReturn to Frogtown is the 1993 sequel to the cult movie Hell Comes to Frogtown, which starred professional wrestler, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. This sequel is also set in a postapocalyptic future where mutant frog-people are at war with mankind.Robert Z'Dar plays the main character, Sam Hell, in place...
(1993) - It's Showtime (1993)
- Return of the Roller Blade SevenReturn of the Roller Blade SevenThe Return of the Roller Blade Seven is a martial arts based film, released in 1993. The film is the second of two sequels to the film The Roller Blade Seven...
(1993) - The Legend of the Rollerblade Seven (1992)
- The Roller Blade SevenThe Roller Blade SevenThe Roller Blade Seven is a 1991 cult martial arts film directed by Donald G. Jackson and starring Scott Shaw .-Plot:The Roller Blade Seven follows Hawk Goodman , who is sent on a mission by Reverend Donald , to rescue Sister Sparrow from the clutches of the evil overlord Pharaoh , in the...
(1991) - Roller Blade Warriors: Taken by Force (1989)
- Hell Comes to FrogtownHell Comes to FrogtownHell Comes to Frogtown is a 1988 cult film that was created by Donald G. Jackson. The screenplay for this film was written by Jackson and Randall Frakes. The film was directed by Jackson and R. J...
(1987) - Roller Blade (1986)
- UFO: Secret Video (1986)
- I Like to Hurt People (1985)
- Roller Blade (1985)
- The Demon Lover (1976)
Documentary films about Donald G. Jackson
- Demon Lover Diary (1980)
- Interview: The DocumentaryInterview: The DocumentaryInterview: The Documentary is a documentary film, directed by Scott Shaw, that details the creation of the first two films that were created in the distinct style of filmmaking known as Zen Filmmaking....
(2005)