About Me

Greetings! I’m Jason Rosette, a Filmmaker, Multimedia Developer, Media Producer, and Educator with a deep-rooted passion for storytelling through media.

My journey began in Ohio, where I spent my youth crafting Super-8 films in the backyard. That early fascination with filmmaking guided me to NYU Film, where I earned a BFA in Film & TV, supported by a caddy scholarship from an Ohio country club and a Trustee scholarship from NYU.

There, I directed my first independent drama, Charlie’s Box, and later produced the award-winning documentary BookWars, which the LA Times called “Terrific” and the NY Film Critics Circle hailed as “Superb.” For BookWars, I wore many hats—shooting, co-producing, editing, directing, and narrating—honing my skills through hands-on experience. While working as a sidewalk bookseller in Manhattan to make ends meet, I learned the value of persistence and resourcefulness, qualities that have stayed with me throughout my career.

Post-NYU, I wrote, directed, and acted in Lost in New Mexico, a microbudget drama that proved both demanding and fulfilling. To navigate the complexities of the project, I took an approved leave of absence from the Screen Actors Guild so I wouldn't have to pay my own workman’s comp insurance as a union actor. (*our budget wouldn't allow it!)

Following that project, I began integrating my media expertise with education, a path that eventually led me abroad.

A New Chapter in Asia: Teaching and Media Production

In 2005, shortly after shooting my 2nd feature film, 'Lost in New Mexico' (in New Mexico, USA),  I headed to Southeast Asia on a one-way ticket. I arrived first in Hanoi, Vietnam, and I soon travelled to Thailand in order to take a TEFL training in Bangkok. On my way to Bangkok by way of a very long bus ride from Saigon - necessitating a stopover in Phnom Penh - I became aquainted with Cambodia for the first time. I was attracted to Cambodia because it was rapidly developing in both the media and education sectors,  which was very exciting, and I saw an opportunity to participate in both areas. After completing the TEFL training in Bangkok, I returned to Phnom Penh.  I initially taught English there while immersing myself in the country’s media landscape, which was still still rebuilding after the Khmer Rouge era.

As I because more involved in the media sector, I played a key role in helping to build Cambodia’s first video production school at the Royal University of Phnom Penh’s Department of Media and Communications, where I also lectured.

Simultaneously, I freelanced—writing, directing, shooting, and editing for NGOs, and providing voiceover services. During this period, I earned a Masters degree in International Development Studies from Royal University of Phnom Penh  as one of only two foreign students in the program, supervised by Nagoya University of Japan.

A highlight of my time in Cambodia was launching CamboFest, the first internationally recognized film festival in the country since the Khmer Rouge years. I spearheaded the event, evaluated screeners, and trained my Cambodian colleagues in festival management.

Despite obstacles like movie piracy and competing events, CamboFest laid groundwork for future festivals in the region, including the France-EU funded Cambodia International Film Festival and the Luang Prabang Film Festival in Laos.

Expanding Horizons in Thailand

Later, I moved to Thailand to further my work. In Bangkok, I took on an intriguing role as a forensic editor, rescuing a half-million-dollar feature film by reworking it into a TV movie with inventive techniques like dream sequences and voiceovers.

I also established Bangkok IndieFest, the first cultural event held after the city’s “Red Shirt” protests. Despite curfews and unrest, we pressed forward, and the festival was featured as a CNN Go pick.

While there, I taught directing and documentary filmmaking at Srinakharinwirot University, and co-authored a feature-length animated screenplay, Swordsman, for the Thailand based Imagimax production company.

Continued Impact in Cambodia & Myanmar

Returning to Cambodia, I produced an educational video series for a USAID project promoting development in the Cambodian garment industry.

With earnings from that effort, I began developing Freedom Deal: Story of Lucky, a supernatural historical drama set during the 1970 US-ARVN Cambodia Incursion. I directed the film in Khmer with my Cambodian crew and crowdfunded it on IndieGogo, marking it as one of the first Cambodian projects to leverage the platform.

An opportunity then brought me to Rangoon, Burma (now Yangon, Myanmar), where I taught English at the US Embassy’s American Center for a year, from 2013-2014.. Living there offered a distinctive experience—internet was scarce, but I utilized the embassy’s connection to promote Freedom Deal to global festivals.

After Burma, I returned to Cambodia, settling in Siem Reap (home of Angkor Wat) where I taught academic writing and public speaking while growing my stock footage business and delving into panoramic photography.

Creative Expressions: Music and Recent Projects

Music has also been a vital part of my creative life. Under the stage name Gone Marshall, I’ve released three alternative EPs and several singles, mastering the nuances of mixing and production. Songwriting, much like short filmmaking, allows me to craft concise, vivid narratives. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I performed extensively at open mics and gigs in Cambodia, sharpening my stage presence.

Later, I evolved into a singer (crooner) of vintage jazz and pop numbers under the stage name Robert Marleigh, finding inspiration in Sinatra, Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald, Bobby Darin, and others. So far, I've released an EP and several singles, and I continue to croon regionally in Asia and remotely for international producers around the world.

Since 2021, I’ve returned to filmmaking with projects like the antiwar documentary GI Says, while also re-entering the voiceover industry, lending my voice to audiobooks, promos, commercials, and character roles for games and animations. Samples of my work are available on my voiceover page. My recent endeavors span diverse genres and sectors, and I remain open to new creative opportunities.

Looking Ahead: Instructional Design and Human Performance

Looking forward, I’m eager to begin a Masters in Instructional Design and Human Performance in Fall 2025. This next step will blend my media proficiency with my educational background, enabling me to design impactful learning experiences.

To explore my work further, please visit my portfolio or connect with me on LinkedIn. I’d welcome the chance to hear from you—feel free to email me!

All the Best,

Jason Rosette