Patterson native JoHannah James’ acting and writing talents are causing the drama lights of New York City to shine extra brightly as she has won awards for her acting and is currently writing, co-directing and starring in her own feature length movie “Dirt.’’
A resident of New York City, 24-year-old JoHannah said, her movie “ Dirt’’ is set to film in August 2026 and is a southern gothic adaptation of Sophocles’ “Antigone,’’ set in 1950s Georgia.’’ This represents her present career in New York as a freelance actress, writer, producer, director and sound designer. This proves her aspirations to be an actress and writer of films and theater are coming true.
A 2024 graduate of the New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts with a degree in drama, her career path is enhanced by a number of drama awards. She won the Best Leading Actress in a Short Award from the Brooklyn International Short Film Festival for her role as Kate Bender in ”Hell’s Half-Acre Sojourn,’’ directed by Nicholas Nicastro. This is based on a true story and is a horror short film set on the prairies of 1870s Kansas. The short film is currently fundraising to be turned into a feature.
