My name is Jack Lawrence Mayer. I’m a writer, director, and editor. I founded 1614 Productions to tell stories about people.
jacklawrencemayer@gmail.com | contact
Narrative Editing
My approach to editing is emphasizes curiosity over control — activating audiences to see for themselves, to sit up, to pay attention. Too often, editing can be callous, superficial, and cruel. Editing picks heroes and villains. It tells the audience what to look at, and when, and for how long. But it’s easy to look away when you know what’s coming next. By approaching editing as an act of understanding — asking why people do what they do, why the world moves as it does — I believe that better, more thrilling, and more humanistic storytelling is possible.
I’m based in Los Angeles, was born and raised in Atlanta, and learned to make movies in Chicago.
Known for the HBO mini-series, Single Long, and the digital comedy series, Distance, which premiered at SXSW and was named by Indiewire as one of the Top Digital Series of 2018. Most recently, I wrote and directed the feature film, Big House, which won Best Film at Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival, and was released by Gravitas Ventures in August of 2021. I was also the recipient of the prestigious Edes Prize for Emerging Artists for my work as founder and Artistic Director of Screen Door, a theater company that created live, multi-media movies in theater spaces in Chicago.
As a director and editor, my films and series have premiered at SXSW, New York Television Film Festival, Cinequest, Atlanta Film Festival, Portland Film Festival, Florida Film Festival, San Diego International Film Festival, San Francisco International Film Festival, Edmonton International Film Festival, and more. They have won awards at Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival, North Hollywood Cinefest, Blackbird Film Festival, Dances With Films, Dam Short Film Festival, and &c.
I have worked with recording artists, musicians, non-profits, and corporate partners. A partial list includes: Bonzie, RCA Records, College Humor, HBO, Show&Tell Films, Addicaid, Color Me Mine, The House Theatre, The University of Chicago, Northwestern Mutual, Mishkan Chicago, and &c.
Production Services
With over ten years of experience producing, writing, and directing, I bring a breadth of experience conceiving and executing creative projects, building and collaborating with crews large and small, and approaching projects of all budget sizes with a spirit orcreativity and problem solving.
Editing and Post
Editing since college, it was through this form that I first learned how to make movies. Editing was my entry point into thinking about and understanding filmmaking and visual storytelling. As an editor, I strive to be of service to a director’s vision, but to be proactive in seeking out honest, unexpected ways to build story.
Livestream
Color Grading
Livestreaming has become a more common part of our lives. But it doesn’t have to just be a camcorder sitting in the back of the room. I bring a cinematic approach to live streaming — working with clients to create powerful, emotional, and high production value videos. I believe a livestream production should be of the same quality as a crafted concert film.
With 5+ years experience in DaVinci Resolve, I have been the colorist for 2 features, 2 digital series, and multiple shorts. Color grading can add a great expense to the end of post-production. I work with clients to strategize budget friendly approaches to a great color grade.
