Jason Maza
Born
London, England
Occupations
  • Actor
  • film producer
  • director
  • screenwriter
Years active2001–present
SpouseLowri Whitwell (m. 2023)
Websitejasonmaza.com

Jason Maza is an English actor, producer, director and screenwriter.

Early life

Maza grew up in Romford. He began acting at seven years of age.[1]

Career

Early work

Maza was accepted to the Central School of Speech and Drama, but at that time, he was already working as an actor so decided not to attend.[2]

Maza starred in the 2007 film Special People, which received attention for its portrayal of people with disabilities.[3][4][5] In 2010, Maza was part of the original cast of Sucker Punch, the award-winning play written by Roy Williams, at the Royal Court Theatre in London, starring alongside Daniel Kaluuya and Anthony Welsh in the production.[1] Maza’s other early roles include parts in the police procedural series The Bill, the medical drama Casualty, the detective series A Touch of Frost,[6] and the crime drama film Welcome to the Punch.[7]

Although primarily an actor, Maza began work as a film producer in 2011, setting up Think Big Productions.[8] His early productions included the slasher film Demons Never Die, starring Tulisa Contostavlos,[9] and the comedy film The Hooligan Factory in 2013,[10] both of which he also starred in.

Partnership with Noel Clarke and Unstoppable Film and Television

In 2015, Maza teamed up with Noel Clarke, launching Unstoppable Film and Television as co-CEO.[11] In 2018, Unstoppable joined the All3Media Group, forming Unstoppable Film & Television, with Clarke and Maza stating: "With the full support of All3Media we’re aiming to build on our work so far, finding new talent and creating authentic drama for the widest possible audience."[12]

As part of Unstoppable, Maza co-produced a range of films and television shows with Clarke and starred in several, including Brotherhood, 10x10,[13] Songbird, and Twist, a loose adaptation of Oliver Twist starring Michael Caine and Rita Ora,[14][15] and thriller drama series The Drowning, in which he played D.S. Harvey.[16][17]

Other projects Maza appeared during this period included the television drama Dark Heart[18] and the sports drama Cagefighter.[19] He also appeared in the BBC comedy series Man Like Mobeen.[20]

Maza and his partner Noel Clarke were both suspended by All3Media Group in April 2021 after the misconduct allegations against Clarke.[21][22] Filming of Sky One’s British police-drama Bulletproof, in which Maza was starring, was suspended when the allegations surfaced, and cancelled a few weeks later.[23] On 21 July 2021, Maza formally left the production company Unstoppable Film and Television.[24][25][26]

Recent work

In 2023, Maza co-wrote and executive produced Rise of the Footsoldier: Vengeance.[27][28]

Personal life

Maza has a brother, Taylor, who is also an actor.[29] In June 2023 Maza married Lowri Whitwell.[30][31]

Maza cites Ray Winstone as one of his favorite actors and biggest inspirations, "If you look what he has achieved, he started off as a working class British film actor to a big star in Hollywood. We’re from similar backgrounds as well as the same area so I suppose I can relate to him. If I have half the career he has I’ll be very happy".[2]

Credits

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2001PitPopeyShort film
2007SugarhouseCrack Punter
Life and LyricsAnt
Hush Your MouthLeo
Rise of the FootsoldierRob
Special PeopleDave
My Boy JackJournalistTelevision film
SouljahTonyShort film
OctaneKelvin
2008Hunger HousePeterShort film
Ten Dead MenFranklin Boulder
ShiftyMalik
2009Dog EndzNathanielTelevision film
Fish TankLiam
2010FitTyler
KickOffAdam
2011TerryN/AProducer
The TapesDannyAlso producer
Wheels of FortuneRichardShort film; also co-writer
Hard to SayDanShort film
AnuvahoodDarren
Demons Never DieKennyAlso producer
2012VictimMannie
The Man InsideDanny Lee
Outside BetMickey
The Man InsideDanny Lee
Truth or DareJonesy
Payback Season—Executive producer
The KnotRalphus
2013Still WatersGeorge
Welcome to the PunchLuke
Get LuckyEli
TravellerFelix
The Hooligan FactoryDannyAlso producer
2015LegacyRoland
Scottish Mussel—Producer
Billy the Kid—Short film; executive producer
AngelGeorge
2016BrotherhoodDaleyAlso producer
2018The Sound—Short film; executive producer
Wild Honey Pie!—Producer
Alright Now—
The Fight—
The Little Princess—Short film; producer
10x10Officer WaylandAlso producer
2019Keep Breathing—Short film; producer
Doggerland—
Birthday Girl—
Tracks—
2020TwistBedwinAlso producer
2020 The Intergalactic Adventures of Max Cloud[32] Space Witch
2021 Music, Trial and Trauma The Manager Short film; Also writer, producer
2023 Rise of the Footsoldier: Vengeance — Co-writer and executive producer
TBA Far Out Far In Sherbert Currently in production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2005Life BeginsStudent
Holby CityKris BurrowsEpisode: 'Test Your Metal/A Great Leap Forward'
Casualty@Holby CityKris Burrows4 episodes
2008New TricksHoodieEpisode: 'Couldn't Organise One'
2009Trial & RetributionDarren LewisEpisode: 'Tracks: Part 1'
A Touch of FrostJohn Heal
The Unsinkable TitanicHarold BrideTV movie documentary
Casualty"H"
2010The BillDean Pollit
WhitechapelDan StreetSeries 2, episode 1
2011Come Fly with MePlumber
SilkChris Lakeman
2014The Crimson FieldPte Benny GormanSeries 1, episode 5
2015Silent WitnessJohnny CraddockEpisode: "Protection" (2 parts)
NurseJack3 episodes
2016Call the MidwifeJohnny Beckett
2017Man Like MobeenRobbieEpisode: 'H-ALTRight'
2018Dark HeartRob Mullan4 episodes
2018–2021BulletproofChris MunroeAlso producer
2020HitmenThe DealerEpisode: 'Birthday '
The DrowningD.S HarveyAlso executive producer

Theatre

Year Title Theatre
2008Flight Path by David WatsonBush Theatre
2009Mad Blud by Philip Osment[33]Theatre Royal Stratford East
2010Sucker Punch by Roy Williams[34]Royal Court Theatre
2012 Fear by Dominic Savage Bush Theatre

References

  1. 1 2 "Romford actor, Jason Maza's film career is set to take off with movie for Halloween". Romford Recorder. 25 August 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  2. 1 2 Moore, Camille (24 June 2020). "10 Things You Didn't Know about Jason Maza". tvovermind.com. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  3. ↑ Elley, Derek (2 September 2007). "Special People". Variety. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  4. ↑ "Director's anger over comedy film's 'disability' warning". The Independent. 16 November 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  5. ↑ "Exposing prejudice in Special People". Evening Standard. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  6. ↑ Reporter, River (1 November 2011). "Jason Maza to star in teen slasher Demons Never Die". River Online. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  7. ↑ "Movie star Strong on guns message". Independent.ie. 5 March 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  8. ↑ "Think Big Productions Limited". Companies House. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  9. ↑ "Romford actor, Jason Maza's film career is set to take off with movie for Halloween". Romford Recorder. 25 August 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  10. ↑ "The Hooligan Factory, film review: Little to distinguish spoof from". The Independent. 12 June 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  11. ↑ "UNSTOPPABLE FILM AND TELEVISION LIMITED". GOV.UK. Companies House. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  12. ↑ Clarke, Stewart (26 February 2018). "All3Media Backs Noel Clarke's Unstoppable Film and TV". Variety. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  13. ↑ "10x10 Trailer Unravels the Secret Behind a Mysterious Abduction". MovieWeb. 14 February 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  14. ↑ "Twist". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  15. ↑ "Buzzing to share with you the trailer to TWIST. We wanted to deliver something feel good and fun, enjoy". Twitter. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  16. ↑ "Where is The Drowning filmed? Channel 5 series' filming locations in Ireland and Dublin revealed". yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk. 21 February 2021.
  17. ↑ Duke, Simon (1 February 2021). "The Drowning cast as Jill Halfpenny leads new Channel 5 thriller". ChronicleLive. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  18. ↑ "ITV's Dark Heart viewers think something's a bit off". Digital Spy. 7 November 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  19. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (28 January 2019). "Michael Jai White, Gina Gershon & MMA Fighters Limber Up For Sports Pic 'Cagefighter'". Deadline. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  20. ↑ Little, Harriet Fitch (15 December 2017). "Man Like Mobeen — exceptionally funny character comedy". Financial Times. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  21. ↑ "Noel Clarke Suspended From All3Media-Backed Production Outfit Unstoppable Film & Television". Deadline. 30 April 2021.
  22. ↑ Grater, Tom (28 March 2022). "Noel Clarke: UK Police No Longer Investigating Sexual Harassment Claims". Deadline. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  23. ↑ Ravindran, Manori (21 May 2021). "Sky Cancels 'Bulletproof' Following Noel Clarke Sexual Misconduct Allegations (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  24. ↑ "Unstoppable Film and Television Limited - People". Gov.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  25. ↑ "Noel Clarke Officially Out From His All3Media-Backed Production Company". BBC News. 2 August 2021.
  26. ↑ "Noel Clarke leaves production company Unstoppable after misconduct allegations". Sky News. 3 August 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  27. ↑ "Rise of the Footsoldier" Vengeance". IMDb. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  28. ↑ Felperin, Leslie (15 September 2023). "Rise of the Footsoldier: Vengeance review – super-stabby sequel a cut above its predecessors". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  29. ↑ "Taylor Maza, actor". IMDb. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  30. ↑ "One month till I get married. Any advice?". Twitter. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  31. ↑ "My wedding speech. There are very few times in life you get to stand up in front of a room full of people and tell them how you feel about your wife. Writing this speech was tough because it was always going to be impossible to do Lowri justice but I gave it a bloody good go. Can't believe this was 1 month today". Twitter. 9 July 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  32. ↑ "Nerdly » 'The Intergalactic Adventures of Max Cloud' Review". Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  33. ↑ "Mad Blud – 18th February 2009 – 28th February 2009". Theatre Royal Stratford East. Archived from the original on 23 February 2009. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  34. ↑ "Sucker Punch". Royal Court Theatre. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
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