ABOUT
Jasmine McGlade is a writer, director, and producer who graduated from Harvard University. Jasmine's latest film, which she wrote and will direct, is a feature called Fencer starring KiKi Layne (If Beale Street Could Talk) and Nicholas Hoult (The Great, The Menu) about a hard-charging female athlete who faces personal demons and childhood rivals as she vies for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Fencing Team. The film is produced by basketball legend LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Spencer Beighley, et al. at The SpringHill Company, along with Nicholas Hoult and Whitaker Lader of Dead Duck Films. Tennis champion Naomi Osaka of Hana Kuma is executive producing. The script is inspired by Jasmine’s personal experiences as a champion fencer. Fencer aims, among other things, to depict the intensity of fencing and the pressures of competition, and to shine a light on mental health in the world of elite athletics. Jasmine was selected to workshop the project as part of Film Independent's Director's Lab.
Jasmine was an executive producer on La La Land starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, which was nominated for a record holding 14 Oscars. La La Land won six Academy Awards and seven Golden Globes, also breaking records for the most number of wins. She was also a key figure in the development and production of Damien Chazelle's Oscar-winning film Whiplash. Jasmine and Damien worked together creatively for ten years on everything from writer-for-hire jobs to original screenplays they co-wrote. At just twenty years old, Jasmine produced Chazelle's critically acclaimed, and award-winning feature-length jazz musical Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench. It was named one of the best films of the year by The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The Village Voice, Film Comment, Time Out New York, and The Boston Phoenix.
Jasmine's passion for music led her to direct music videos. She has directed music videos for Atlantic Records, Dualtone, and Yep Roc Records, including recent videos for GRAMMY-nominated artist Gregory Alan Isakov, Max, Nolan Taylor, Jobi Riccio, and The Bones of J.R. Jones.
Her feature-length directorial debut was an independent feature film called Maria My Love, which she wrote, directed, and produced, starring Independent Spirit Award nominee Judy Marte (Raising Victor Vargas) and Golden Globe winner and Oscar nominee Karen Black (Five Easy Pieces). The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and won Best U.S. Feature at HBO’s New York International Latino Film Festival among other awards. It was named one of Indiewire’s Indies to Watch, and Film Comment’s Amy Taubin called it “real and surprising…an auspicious narrative debut.” Awards Daily wrote, “Judy Marte is remarkable,” and Film Journal International called Karen Black’s performance “incredible…a genuine, even astonishing star turn.” The Denver Post declared that “Maria My Love promises a filmmaker with a steady and deep appreciation of character,” while MTV’s Michael Lopez wrote: “Jasmine McGlade has a very bright Hollywood future ahead of her.”
“What makes you happy is love coming out of you. … Your generosity will open all the doors, not your selfishness.”
- DON MIGUEL RUIZ
PHOTO BY JAKE HOLSCHUH
Other past roles include Senior Vice President of Content & Performance at content and fitness company Hydrow, where Jasmine also directed content. She has previously been a juror at Denver Film Festival among other festivals, and has guest lectured at universities.
As an athlete, Jasmine is known as a national champion fencer and four-time U.S. Cadet/Junior World Team member. She has a variety of national and international gold medals under her belt, such as the Junior Olympics, Heidenheim, Germany World Cup (cadet), and U.S. National Championships (various categories). She has also earned numerous other senior, junior, cadet, and youth medals from U.S. National Championships, North American Cups, and Summer Nationals. Jasmine was named one of Teen Magazine’s “Athletes of the Year,” has trained at the US Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs as a fencer, and was invited as an official training partner to the US Modern Pentathlon team. Jasmine is an NCAA All-American athlete. While at Harvard she helped her team win the NCAA Championship title, the first in Harvard fencing history.
Passionate about social justice, spirituality, and mental health, Jasmine's volunteer work has focused especially on DEI initiatives, LGBTQIA & women's rights, and the arts. She serves on the board of directors of nonprofit Circuit Arts. She is also on the board of Harvard Fencing. Jasmine is an avid skier (and now masters GS and Slalom racer). She's also a mother, and her greatest joy is her child.