Jon Alston
{{Short description|Film director, screenwriter, producer, and former American football player}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jon Alston
| image = Jon Alston Director Raiders NFL Stanford About.jpg
| birth_name = Jonhenri Alston II
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1983|6|04}}
| birth_place = Monroe, Louisiana, U.S.
| occupation = Film director, screenwriter, film producer, Professional Athlete 2006-2011
| years_active = 2011–present
| website = {{URL|jonalston.com}}
}}
Jon Alston (born June 4, 1983) is an American screenwriter, director, producer and former professional football player. He played as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He has written and produced on critically acclaimed shows such as S.W.A.T. and All American. His first feature-length film, Red Butterfly, debuted at the 23rd Annual St. Louis International Film Festival. His sophomore film, Augustus, has received 24 wins and five nominations since its debut in 2020,{{Citation |last=Alston |first=Jon |title=Augustus |date=2020-06-10 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10255776/?ref_=nm_knf_i4 |type=Short, Drama |publisher=Common Goods Film Co., iEG Film |access-date=2022-11-07}} notably winning the Directorial Discovery Grand Prize at the Rhode Island International Film Festival.{{Cite web |title=Rhode Island International Film Festival (2020) |url=http://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000551/2020/1/ |access-date=2022-11-07 |website=IMDb}}
Prior to filmmaking, Alston earned a football scholarship to Stanford University which led to a career in the NFL. He was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the third round of the 2006 NFL draft. Alston was also a member of the Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers; he retired in 2011.{{cite web |title=Jon Alston Official Website |url=http://jonalston.com/ |access-date=October 10, 2015 |archive-date=November 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122073111/http://www.jonalston.com/ |url-status=dead }}
Alston later graduated from Stanford with a degree in Film and Media Studies before matriculating at USC's School of Cinematic Arts.
Early life
Alston grew up in Bastrop, Louisiana, but moved to Shreveport, Louisiana shortly before high school. He first played organized football in his freshman year of high school at Loyola College Prep. He earned All-District honors in his sophomore, junior year, and All-State his senior year. As a linebacker, Alston registered 134 tackles and 21 stops for losses in his senior season. He played free safety, middle linebacker and tight end as a sophomore and started at running back as a freshman{{cite web|url=http://gostanford.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/alston_jon00.html |title=Stanford Cardinal Bio |access-date=April 15, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080304135159/http://gostanford.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/alston_jon00.html |archive-date=March 4, 2008 }}
Football career
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Jon Alston
| image =
| caption =
| number = 57, 94, 55
| position = Linebacker
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|6|4}}
| birth_place = Monroe, Louisiana, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lbs = 235
| high_school = Loyola (Shreveport)
| college = Stanford
| draftyear = 2006
| draftround = 3
| draftpick = 77
| pastteams =
- St. Louis Rams ({{NFL Year|2006}})
- Oakland Raiders ({{NFL Year|2007}}–{{NFL Year|2009}})
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|2010}})
|highlights =
- Second-team All-Pac-10 (2004)
| statleague = NFL
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 39
| statlabel2 = Total tackles
| statvalue2 = 66
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 = 2
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 = 1
| statlabel5 = Pass deflections
| statvalue5 = 1
| pfr = AlstJo20
}}
=College career=
Alston went on to play college football for the Stanford Cardinal. In 43 games with the Cardinal, Alston started 27 times. He finished his career with 164 tackles (94 solos), 21 sacks and 29.5 stops for losses.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}
=Professional career=
==Pre-draft==
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 0 3/4
| weight = 223
| dash = 4.40
| ten split = 1.54
| twenty split = 2.57
| shuttle = 4.13
| cone drill = 6.90
| vertical = 40
| broad ft = 11
| broad in = 0
| bench = 30
| arm span = 31 1/2
| hand span = 8 3/8
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://www.packers.com/news/gil-brandt-s-analysis-by-position-linebackers-2451449 |title=Gil Brandt's Analysis By Position: Linebackers |website=Packers.com |access-date=December 22, 2024}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/jon-alston/3200414c-5320-4770-64f5-f03112206508 |title=Jon Alston Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=December 22, 2024}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=67940&DraftYear=2006 |title=Jon Alston College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=December 22, 2024}}
}}
==St. Louis Rams==
Alston was selected in the third round (77th overall) of the 2006 NFL draft by the St. Louis Rams.{{Cite web |title=2006 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2006/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-09 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} In 2006, he made 2 special teams tackles for the Rams. On September 1, 2007, he was released by the Rams.
==Oakland Raiders==
On September 3, 2007, Alston was signed to the Oakland Raiders' practice squad. He was then promoted to the active roster after Travis Taylor was released. He played in 13 games in the 2007 season for the Raiders, recording 8 tackles and 1 forced fumble.{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/7826|title=Yahoo! Sports|access-date=April 15, 2008}}
On March 27, 2008, Alston was re-signed as an exclusive rights free agent by the Raiders for the 2008 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.contracostatimes.com/49ers/ci_8727060|title=Quarterbacks Meyer, Otis sign with Raiders|publisher=Contra Costa Times|date=March 27, 2008|access-date=April 15, 2008}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=Nfl&id=3716|title=RotoWorld|access-date=April 15, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090328031335/http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=NFL&id=3716|archive-date=March 28, 2009}} After linebacker Robert Thomas was waived/injured on September 2, Alston switched from No. 94 to Thomas' No. 55. Thomas was then re-signed by the Raiders weeks later. On October 19, 2008, in a game against the New York Jets, the Raiders were forced to punt on a 3 and out. However, longsnapper Jon Condo directly snapped the ball to Alston, who ran it for 22 yards on a fake punt play. In 2008, Alston led the Raiders in special teams tackles with 20 despite missing two games and starting 4 games at OLB. He ended the season with 34 total tackles and 1 pass defensed. Against the Chargers, Alston garnered a career-high of 11 total tackles including 9 on defense and 2 on special teams.
Alston suffered a concussion and was placed on Injured Reserve on November 25, 2009.
==Tampa Bay Buccaneers==
On March 12, 2010, Alston signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Alston retired from the sport in 2011.
Film career
Alston's first film, Red Butterfly was independently produced. Alston cites the works of Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell as influences on the film. Red Butterfly is a postmodern romantic tragedy in the style of Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet and Darren Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream.
Alston's sophomore film, Augustus, won the Directorial Discovery Grand Prize at the Rhode Island International Film Festival in addition to being awarded the distinction of Best Director at multiple festivals in 2020.{{Citation |last=Alston |first=Jon |title=Augustus |date=2020-06-10 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10255776/?ref_=nm_knf_i4 |type=Short, Drama |publisher=Common Goods Film Co., iEG Film |access-date=2022-11-14}}
Awards and nominations
= Film =
| class="wikitable"
|+Augustus !Year !Festival !Award !Result ! |
| 2020
|A Show For A Change Film Festival |Storytelling Award |Winner |
| 2020
|NYC Web Fest |Outstanding Achievement in Writing |Winner |
| 2020
|Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival |Best Short |Nominee |
| 2020
|Rhode Island International Film Festival |Directorial Discovery Award |Winner |
| rowspan="7" |2020
| rowspan="7" |St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase |Best Experimental Film (Jury Award) |Winner |
| Best Experimental Film (Audience Award)
|Winner |
| Best Director (Experimental)
|Winner |
| Best Editing
|Winner |
| Best Cinematography
|Winner |
| The Essy Award for Best Showcase Film
|Winner |
| St. Louis International Film Fest Selection
|Winner |
| rowspan="2" |2021
| rowspan="2" |Anthem Awards |Human & Civil Rights Awareness Categories - Special Projects Award |Winner | rowspan="2" |{{Cite web |title=Anthem Awards (2021) |url=http://www.imdb.com/event/ev0040328/2021/1/ |access-date=2022-11-20 |website=IMDb}} |
| Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Awareness Categories - Special Projects Award
|Winner |
| 2021
|Blackbird Film Festival |Cinema Director Award (Short) |Winner |
| rowspan="2" |2021
| rowspan="2" |Denton Black Film Festival |Best Narrative Short |Winner |
| Best of Festival
|Winner |
| 2021
|Julien Dubuque International Film Festival |Best Short |Winner |
| rowspan="3" |2021
| rowspan="3" |NewFilmmakers Los Angeles |Best Short Film, Drama |Nominee |
| Best Cinematography
|Nominee |
| Best Actor, Drama
|Nominee |
| 2021
|Santa Fe Film Festival |Best Short Film |Winner |
| rowspan="5" |2021
|Telly Awards (Gold) |Branded Content Craft-Videography / Cinematography |Winner | rowspan="5" |{{Cite web |title=Telly Awards (2021) |url=http://www.imdb.com/event/ev0002207/2021/1/ |access-date=2022-11-20 |website=IMDb}} |
| rowspan="4" |Telly Awards (Silver)
|Social Video General-Social Impact |Winner |
| Social Video General-Public Service & Activism
|Winner |
| Branded Content General-Documentary: Individual
|Winner |
| Branded Content Craft-Directing
|Winner |
| 2022
|Blackbird Film Festival |Black Stories, Black Voices (Audience Award) |Winner |
| 2022
|Portland Film Festival |Best Short Film |Winner |
= Screenwriting =
Alston's first feature-length screenplay, based on an eponymous Oscar nominated short-doc, was one of three selections to win the Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition in 2022.{{Cite web |last=Pryce |first=Kevon |title=2022 Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition Winners |url=https://www.atlantafilmfestival.com/atlff-news/2022/4/14/2022-atlanta-film-festival-screenplay-competition-winners |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=Atlanta Film Festival |date=April 14, 2022 |language=en-US}} Prior to this, he and his co-writer won the Missouri Stories Scriptwriting fellowship in 2020.{{Cite web |title=Scriptwriting Fellowship Competition |url=https://mofilm.org/film-community/scriptwriting-fellowship-competition/ |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=Missouri Film Office |language=en-US}}
His first hour-long pilot was a finalist in 11 screenwriting competitions between 2021 and 2022. Festivals include ScreenCraft TV Pilot Script Competition,{{Cite web |date=2022-01-12 |title=2022 ScreenCraft TV Pilot Script Competition Finalists |url=https://screencraft.org/blog/2022-screencraft-tv-pilot-script-competition-finalists/ |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=ScreenCraft |language=en-US}} PAGE International Screenwriting Awards Competition,{{Cite web |title=2022 Quarter-Finalists {{!}} PAGE International Screenwriting Awards: Screenplay Contests |url=https://pageawards.com/past-winners/2022-winners/2022-quarter-finalists/ |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=pageawards.com}} Launch Pad Pilot Competition{{Cite web |last=tblaunchpad |date=2022-04-11 |title=2022 Launch Pad Pilot Competition Second Rounders |url=https://tblaunchpad.com/2022-launch-pad-pilot-competition-second-rounders/ |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=Launch Pad |language=en-US}} and HollyShorts Screenwriting Competition{{Cite web |date=2022-07-06 |title=HollyShorts Screenplay Contest Announces Quarterfinalists! |url=https://bitpixtv.news/2022/07/05/hollyshorts-screenplay-contest-announces-quarterfinalists/ |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=BITPIX TV News |language=en}} among others. The project is also listed in the top 1% of Discoverable Projects on Coverfly.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.jonalston.com}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080628091527/http://www.raiders.com/Team/PlayerBio.aspx?id=30876 Oakland Raiders bio]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080304135159/http://gostanford.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/alston_jon00.html Stanford Cardinal bio]
- [https://www.thewrap.com/how-jon-alston-went-from-nfl-player-to-social-justice-filmmaker-augustus/ The Wrap]
- [https://variety.com/2021/artisans/awards/jon-alston-augustus-1234902294/ Variety]
{{Rams2006DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alston, Jon}}
Category:Players of American football from Shreveport, Louisiana
Category:American football defensive ends
Category:American football linebackers
Category:Stanford Cardinal football players
Category:St. Louis Rams players