Baylor theatre prof’s short film earns Oscar-qualifying honor

The Baylor Department of Theatre Arts doesn’t just nurture young talent; its members are also producing projects that are making waves — including an Oscar-qualifying short film!

ADO (as in “Much Ado About Nothing”) is the brainchild of Sam Henderson (BFA ’05), an assistant professor in both Baylor’s film & digital media and theatre departments. The film (which Henderson co-wrote and directed) follows a middle school theatre teacher caught in an unimaginable situation when her class’s rehearsal is interrupted by a school shooting.

The idea came from a conversation Henderson had with his mom (also a theatre teacher) about what she would do in a school shooter situation. The talk led to a broader idea — to spotlight American teachers and the issues they face in classrooms nationwide.

The film stars Jenifer Lewis (Cars, Black-ish, The Princess and the Frog) as Ms. Hopkins, the theatre teacher, while the rest of the cast and crew includes multiple Baylor alumni, students and faculty. ADO has already been selected for screening at six different Oscar-qualifying film festivals, and won the HBO Short Film Award at the American Black Film Festival earlier this year — which makes ADO officially Oscar-eligible!

Sic ’em, Prof. Henderson (and all the Baylor Family members who made this film possible)!