Sam Henderson's Remarkable 'Ado' Returns to the Waco Indie Film Festival

      Sam Henderson's "Ado," a remarkable short film featuring Jenifer Lewis as a drama teacher confronting a school shooter, has been showcased globally, from Cannes to Sydney to London. It has won accolades at four Oscar-qualifying film festivals and secured a coveted spot on the Oscar shortlist.

      However, its most recent and final festival screening at the Waco Independent Film Festival is particularly significant: Henderson has maintained a close relationship with the festival since it began a decade ago and serves as an associate professor in the Film and Digital Media Department at Baylor University in Waco.

      “It’s not merely a 'hometown' screening,” Henderson emphasizes. “It’s more of a 'return-to-home' screening.”

      The film will be screened tonight as part of the festival’s Crowd Pleasers segment. It not only entertains audiences but also tells a gripping, cathartic, and hopeful tale about the impact one individual can have on another’s life, regardless of how fractured that life may be.

      Henderson, who is a distinguished actor in addition to being a screenwriter, director, and producer, offered some thoughts on addressing challenging topics, his family's educational legacy, and casting Lewis, known for her roles in The Preacher’s Wife, What’s Love Got to Do With It, black-ish, and the recent Goat.

      Sam Henderson on Making ‘Ado’

      “Ado” writer-director Sam Henderson

      MovieMaker: What inspired you to create a film about school shootings, and how did you develop this distinct perspective on the issue?

      Sam Henderson: At the end of the film, there’s a dedication to “Ms. Bee.” Ms. Bee is my mom, who was a middle school theatre teacher for nearly 40 years. The idea originated from a discussion I had with her following the Uvalde school shooting, where I asked how she would respond in that situation. She shared something that served as the creative catalyst for the entire film: “The only chance I’d have in that situation is if the shooter remembered me. I don’t think he would hurt me if he did.”

      MovieMaker: As both an actor and a filmmaker, you understand the vital role that drama classes can play in the lives of some children. How did you translate that into drama?

      Sam Henderson: I'm not entirely sure how to articulate this. In my efforts to remain true to my perceptions of my mom, I aimed to convey my feelings about her, her vocation, and teachers like her. I genuinely believe that the best teachers are America’s true heroes, regardless of the classrooms they inhabit.

      MovieMaker: What measures did you implement to address such sensitive material?

      Sam Henderson: Casting the shooter was, understandably, a challenging process. We had an excellent casting director, Ally Beans, who essentially found us a rare talent in Zachary Lane. (She even won an Artios award for her work on the film, justly so.) However, on set, we ensured that a mental health professional was available for anyone—cast or crew—who might wish to speak during production.

      I was also keen on keeping the kids who were cast separate from the actor playing the shooter. The children were aware of the film's context and the scenario they would be in. They were remarkable, but I wanted to prioritize their mental health during the shooting. Sadly, this is a reality that our kids face daily. So, the concept wasn’t entirely alien to them. However, I didn’t want to contribute to anyone's trauma or re-traumatize someone due to prior experiences. My daughter has a significant role in the film, so I aimed to protect the entire cast as I did her.

      MovieMaker: Can you discuss the process of casting the extraordinary Jenifer Lewis? How has your experience as an actor influenced your direction?

      Sam Henderson: Ms. Lewis fell in love with the script. As the director, this immediately gave me a great deal of confidence in collaborating with her. Admittedly, we had some reservations about her capability to handle the more dramatic sections of the script. However, those worries were quickly alleviated. She is a classically trained actress, and while she hasn't focused her career on classical performances, she demonstrated her capacity to excel in that area. Sharing a common language as classically trained actors made communication with her effortless.

      MovieMaker: Since you teach at Baylor, what are your thoughts on the local film scene in Waco and its surroundings?

      Waco is a hidden gem for filmmaking. While we may not possess all the resources available in larger cities like Dallas or Austin, we are only 90 minutes away from either. This proximity allows us to benefit from access to big city resources while maintaining a smaller city lifestyle. People are gradually beginning to recognize this potential.

      “Ado” will be shown tonight at the Waco Independent Film Festival. You can find more of our coverage on film festivals here.

      Main image: Jenifer Lewis in “Ado.”