Jason Connell, an award-winning documentary producer/director, has had a remarkable career in the film industry. Born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he developed his passion for cinema after witnessing Frances Ford Coppola film The Outsiders and Rumble Fish in his hometown.
Connell's journey in filmmaking began in 2004 when he moved to Los Angeles, California. He soon started working on his first documentary, Strictly Background, which highlights the lives of 10 movie extras trying to make it in Hollywood. The film received numerous awards and paved the way for him to produce nine more successful documentaries, including Holy Rollers: The True Story of Card Counting Christians, which follows the rise of the largest and most well-funded blackjack team in America composed entirely of churchgoing Christians. The documentary was featured on This American Life and The Colbert Report.
Another notable documentary produced by Connell is GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, which chronicles the rise and fall of the first all-female wrestling show through the stories of those who lived it. The documentary premiered on MTV/LOGO and served as the basis for the original Netflix series, GLOW.
Aside from his work in documentaries, Connell has a rich history with film festivals. He founded and directed The United Film Festival for 12 years, which had locations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Tulsa, New York, and London. Each event was uniquely programmed with independent films, presented Lifetime Achievement Awards to industry veterans, and was voted as "One of the Coolest 25 Film Festivals" by MovieMaker Magazine.
In 2019, Connell pursued another passion by launching Just Curious Media, which creates engaging and immersive podcasts. His podcast, Let's Talk - Cobra Kai, is a humorously nostalgic show covering all things in The Karate Kid and Cobra Kai universe. Due to good timing and good luck, the show has become the #1 podcast covering Cobra Kai, the hit series on Netflix. Another popular podcast is That's A Crime, a true crime podcast dissecting various crimes from a misdemeanor to a murder. Connell has also launched a new show, Dog Gone, a dog lovers podcast dedicated to honoring the lives and memories of man's best friend. This show is a personal tribute to his beloved White German Shepherd, Niko, who passed away recently.
In 2021, Connell relocated to New England and continued to grow his podcast company. He has also become involved with the arts and entertainment scene in the nearby seaside communities.
