Professor Sam Henderson’s short film “ADO” is now Oscar eligible after being selected for multiple film festivals and taking home an HBO Short Film Award.
WACO, Texas — Baylor University could be represented at the Academy Awards next Spring, now that a theatre professor’s short film has qualified for the prestigious awards show.
Baylor Proud, a blog by the university, has announced that a short film written and directed by Sam Henderson, an assistant professor in Baylor’s film and digital media and theatre departments, is now officially eligible for the Oscars.
The short film, titled “ADO”, referencing “Much Ado About Nothing,” follows a middle school theatre teacher whose class’s rehearsal is interrupted by a school shooting, according to Baylor.
Henderson said the idea came from a conversation with his mother, who is also a theatre teacher, about what she would do in an active shooter situation. The film is reportedly meant to spotlight American teachers and the issues they face in classrooms across the country.
“ADO” reportedly stars actress Jenifer Lewis, known for roles in the TV show “Black-ish”, Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog”, the “Cars” series and over 300 film and television appearances, with other cast and crew members consisting of Baylor alumni, students and faculty.
According to Baylor, “ADO” has been selected for screening at six Oscar-qualifying film festivals, and also won the HBO Short Film Award at the American Black Film Festival earlier in the year, making it officially Oscar-eligible.