Jessica Clark, a two-time USAC Ford Focus Champion race car driver from Ventura, Calif., dreams of racing in NASCAR one day. As a confident and driven female in a male-dominated career field, she is an empowering example of a woman defying the odds and resisting any challenge she encounters on and off the track.
Ellen Houlihan, a SHOOT New Directors Showcase alum (2013), decided to profile Clark on spec, yielding this short which recently won first place at the AudFest 2017 Documentary Short Film Festival.
Houlihan, who served as director/producer/writer, was moved by Clark’s spirit which goes beyond the visceral appeal of racing and winning. Clark shares in the video profile, “I don’t want to race to go around in circles. I want to make it about something, not just the glory of winning and getting a trophy–that’s really not what I’m in it for. I’m in it for reaching people’s hearts, connecting with others and hopefully inspiring other people to do awesome things and live in an awesome way.”