Page 124 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2026

story by Lynn Lofton photos courtesy of Little Lighthouse Productions
Savanna Jones is proving that it’s possible to have a film
career based in Mississippi. Her company, Little Lighthouse
Productions, came into being while she was still in college
and she has been busy ever since making documentaries and
shooting advertising for businesses.
She recently was chosen to be part of the NFL Film
Experience. “I was quite shocked to be selected,” she said.
“Up until this point I had shot football highlight videos and
motocross, but most of my video work was in commercials, real
estate and reality TV.
“Meeting all the other women on the first day, I realized the
caliber of experience in the room and felt under experienced.
However, after completing a tryout with NFL Films at the end
of the program, I was offered a contract job with the company
to shoot documentaries and coverage of games throughout the
football season.”
Last year was her first year working with them and involved
traveling all over the states. “I had always enjoyed watching the
Biloxi football games with my grandfather and consider it a way
of honoring him,” she says.
The Biloxi native and graduate of the University of Southern
Mississippi serves as president of the Mississippi Film Alliance.
“My role is to provide resources and programs for creatives
across the state to grow in their filmmaking journeys,” she said.
“For women specifically, I try to be an advocate and role model
in this field across the southern region.”
Jones notes that the industry can be very competitive, and it’s
sometimes difficult to connect with other people in the field,
especially in our area. “Living in Mississippi, our film industry
is completely different from that of major hubs,” she said.
“However, it’s important that filmmakers and women realize
we are able to make a living doing what we love where we live.
The path to success may be different, and building a brand and
business takes a lot of hard days and long hours, but I love being
able to show that it’s possible to make your mark.”
With a passion for music, songwriting, and acting, she knew she
wanted to go into that field in some manner. That passion kicked
in when a feature film, “Arsenal,” used her family’s home in
2016. The experience included being
a stand-in for the lead actress and
several scenes as a featured extra.
“As our company grows, I
hope to produce feature films and
documentaries that reach audiences
across the country while continuing
to showcase the Gulf Coast. My
goal is to create films that
not only entertain but also
preserve important stories,
inspire others, and leave a
lasting impact,” Jones said.
124 | September 2026 www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living