Pagan's Passionate People E1: Beyond the Screen: A Film Festival Director's Passion with Mattie
Get ready for the debut of Pagans Passionate People Episode 1! Join host Robert Jerome Pagan as he sits down with special guest Mattie L. Mattock Scariot for an engaging conversation. Together, they delve into the themes of passion, purpose, perspective, and perseverance, offering insights into creativity and community. Produced with care by Robert Jerome Pagan Creations, this episode offers a fresh perspective on art and advocacy. With thoughtful sound and video editing by Robert Jerome Pagan, this episode promises to spark your imagination. Filmed on Zoom on March 14, 2024, this episode invites viewers to explore the power of storytelling and shared experiences. Don't miss out—subscribe now and join us for this enlightening journey
Since 2018, Mattie has assumed the role of Festival Director for the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival, and under her leadership, the festival has experienced remarkable growth over the past five years. Currently the festival spans eight days and takes place in five cities: Morgan Hill, San Martin, Gilroy, Hollister, and San Juan Bautista, with one day in Los Gatos with the Poppy Jasper Asian Film Festival and one day in San Jose partnering with the Silicon Valley Queer Film Festival. This year PJIFF
has programed 270 films from 40 countries along with 6 panels discussions and 15 special events. Over 400 filmmakers and 30 Industry professionals having already rsvp’d, for this year’s festival making it their biggest ever.
In addition to changing the mission of the festival to an inclusive, diverse, women empowered program she has included 8 educational programs targeting youth, high school students, and young adults. Moreover, she has introduced specialized programs dedicated to older generations including a 40 & UP, 70 & UP, Veterans and Music Video programs. It’s because of Mattie’s tireless efforts, Poppy Jasper was named Nonprofit of
the Year in 2021 by the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce, “Best of the Fest” from FestForum in 2019 and was awarded two MovieMaker Magazine Awards in 2021 “Top 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee” and in 2022 “20 Great Film Festivals for First Time Filmmakers”. Recently Mattie was awarded the” Visionary” award from the Bethany Community Church’s Martin Luther King Jr Awards Luncheon.
In the early 90's, Mattie lived in Los Angeles for over 12 years specializing in wardrobe on feature films, magazine covers and television productions. She also gained valuable experience as a writer’s assistant at Warner Bros and collaborating with the original writer of the feature film “Rudy”. Since 2006, Mattie has been a co-owner of 152 West Productions, a production company that has an impressive portfolio spanning feature
films, corporate videos, documentaries, and entertainment content.
Mattie’s dedication to the world of film and the arts has been an enduring passion throughout her career. Her unwavering community spirit has left a lasting impact on the art scene of both South and San Benito Counties. As one of the founding board members of the Gilroy Arts Alliance, she played a pivotal role in its establishment, and served as an Arts and Culture Commissioner for the City of Gilroy for 10 years.
Currently, Mattie holds the position of Vice President at CMAP TV, Visit Gilroy Board of Directors, a member of the Arts, Culture and Heritage Focus Group for the Central Coast Regional Plan for Visit California and is a member of the Sundance Institute and the National Endowment for the Arts’ “Independent Media and Arts Group”.