On June 17th, A Father’s Legacy is set to premiere in hundreds of theaters across the USA. BTSCelebs was recently given the golden opportunity to interview the creator behind the film about a unique father-son bond that is sure to bring tears to your eyes. Meet the writer, director and leading actor of A Father’s Legacy now.

BTSCelebs: Who is Jason Mac professionally?

Jason Mac: I’m a South Carolina-born storyteller based in Los Angeles. Growing up, I was really impacted by the films and television I watched. It opened up feelings and emotions that I didn’t express in everyday life. And I remember thinking that was so powerful. Fast forward to getting a degree in Finance and then working as the Sales Director for a microbrewery…and I found myself asking “what do I really want in this life?” I wanted to be a part of those stories that impacted me. I wanted to be the one impacting others. So I began my journey as an actor. It took me to Atlanta first and then to Los Angeles. After tooling around a couple years in LA, I felt the urge to control more of the story(and my story!). I started directing shorts and kept building up. And I love having that overall control of a project. Being able to combine all the pieces to tell a story.

Why should people from all religious backgrounds watch “A Father’s Legacy”?

At its heart “A Father’s Legacy” is about redemption and finding peace within ourselves. And that isn’t exclusive to any religion. We are all flawed and we carry our own burdens. And this story shows us we can have an impact on those around us that can last beyond our lifetime.

Which character do you identify with the most in this film?

Even though I wrote the film and created all of these characters…I have to say the character I played “Nick” is the one I relate to the most. Because of the age and the relationships in his life…I know Nick very intimately. His struggles were big questions that I was exploring myself in writing this script. His struggles were adjacent to some that I had. Just differing in degrees. At the end of the day he just wants to be loved and accepted and not feel like he isn’t worthy of that. He has to face these insecurities and fears head on or it will destroy him and the life he wants.

What past or present Hollywood project do you feel your film mirrors?

I love a good father/son movie. I’ve always enjoyed them. No matter the genre they always get me. A big influence in the tone of this was Gran Torino. Obviously Clint Eastwood is an acting icon and an incredible director. And that film has a lot of themes within it…but there is a father/son dynamic. It’s not biological, but it’s about family and adopted families. And what would you do for them? But also on a practical level I think Eastwood is one of the most fundamental directors in how he shoots and tells stories. And that was something I really stuck by. Partly because we had only a short time to shoot…but also I felt that’s what was right for this story.

Please list your top 3 role models in the film industry.

In no particular order:

Clint Eastwood: As I mentioned before…being one of the most recognizable actors/directors of our time. But also his fundamental filmmaking.

George Clooney: I feel like this guy shoots it straight in this business. He’s come a long way to be one of the elder statesmen. And he’s also an actor/director and I really appreciate his stories and how he tells them, and I feel like he really knows his audience.

Bradley Cooper: When “A Star is Born” came out it broke me in the theater. It hit a nerve I didn’t see coming. For his directorial debut I thought it was so beautiful and thoughtful. I can’t wait to see what’s next for him as a director.

A Special Thanks to Biscuit Media Group and Jason Mac for the exclusive interview and images.