Restaurateur and writer Robert St. John and visual artist and filmmaker Anthony Thaxton ’94 knew that a good story has the power not only to entertain, but also to transform. St. John and Thaxton not only wanted to tell those positive stories, they wanted to nur- ture the next generation of storytellers.

The creative partners are doing both as the founders of the Institute for Southern Storytelling at Mississippi College.

Launched in March 2023 as a flagship program housed in the new Gore Arts Complex at MC, the Institute fosters collaboration between professional filmmakers and other expert storytellers and the MC students who will tell the stories of tomorrow. The Institute brings a mul- tifaceted approach to storytelling, using film, visual art, music, and writing to tell the unique story of the South, its distinctive heritage, and its remarkable people. “It’s storytelling without an agenda,” St. John says. “We’re going to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth, but there’s no agenda behind it other than cele- brating the life and the successes – and the failures along the way – of notable people, mostly Mississippians.” “Mississippi’s struggles have produced excellent story- tellers, and our institute will build on that heritage,” Thaxton says. “We can share these life-changing, valu- able stories to point a needy world to the encouraging answers only a place like Mississippi can provide.”

A DIFFERENT KIND OF STORY

St. John and Thaxton collaborated on the popular Mis- sissippi Public Broadcasting series Palate to Palette, which highlighted the adventures of St. John and artist Wyatt Waters ’77, ’82, as they traveled Mississippi and overseas. St. John and Thaxton’s most recent project, a historical documentary on the life of Mississippi artist Walter Anderson, won two 2022 Southeast Emmy Awards, including Best Historical Documentary. These award- winning storytellers’ vision, however, isn’t limited to profiles of the well-known. They plan to showcase art- ists, musicians, actors, and writers whose stories of hope and inspiration have not yet been shared. “There are so many stories that have the potential to change lives,” St. John says. “For example, there’s an inner-city youth from Jackson, Mississippi, who studied music, overcame a lot of challenges, and is now in his early twenties conducting a symphony in Eastern Europe. That’s a story that needs to be told. That’s a story that lets other kids know that whatever your situation is, you can rise above it. Here’s someone who’s done that, and here’s another someone who has, and here’s another. People need good, positive examples and there’s not a lot of that out there right now. Telling those stories is how we can make a difference.”

St. John and Thaxton’s choice of MC as the ideal home for the Institute for Southern Storytelling was based on the university’s mission and culture, which dovetail with the encouraging stories they want to tell, and on the multifaceted approach to storytelling Thax- ton experienced as an MC student.

“Mississippi College recognizes that there are so many stories to be told in a positive light. I think that speaks highly of the uni- versity as a whole,” St. John says. “And we are so excited to be a part of the new Gore Arts Complex. We have access to an audito- rium to film performances and interviews with authors, musicians, and other story- tellers. There’s room to grow there.”

“When I was a student going through MC with Dr. Sam Gore as a professor and mentor, he didn’t make me choose between art and video production,” Thaxton recalls. “Dr. Gore taught me that whether I’m writing, painting, shooting a film, or producing a television series, it’s all storytelling. That shaped the course of my life.”

HELPING STORYTELLERS FIND THEIR VOICES

The Institute will take that same multifaceted approach in nurturing the next generation of authors, filmmakers, artists, digital content creators, and other creative story- tellers. MC students will have opportunities to collaborate with professionals on real-world projects – including doc- umentaries, films, TV shows, and books – and use those experiences to learn how to craft their own stories.

Amy Bryant Thaxton ’97, ’23, Anthony Thaxton’s wife and an experienced film producer and production crew member, serves as the executive director of the Institute and will coordinate student participation.

“You learn to make films by making films,” Amy Thax- ton says. “We’re excited to offer students real-world experience on professional television and film produc- tions. And with donor support, we hope to create more individualized storytelling opportunities based on each student’s interests.”

Initially, MC students will apply to work on Institute projects and may earn college credit for their participa- tion. Future plans include the development of a more structured curriculum, including internships on projects produced by St. John and Thaxton. The founders’ connec- tion with Mississippi Public Broadcasting opens the pos- sibility of student work finding a showcase statewide.

“It’s not just about teaching somebody how to run a camera. We want to help students discover what kind of storytellers they want to be,” Anthony Thaxton says. “At the end of the day, we don’t want to just leave behind a couple of films. We want to leave behind like-minded storytellers who share our vision of celebrating the good around us.”