Yooo, I'm Dennis Williams, a film director based in LA by way of New York, by way of Maryland. I studied to be a playwright in college, and it was there that I realized how often Black stories were being erased from history books and the broader educational system. Film began to feel like the only record books they couldn't erase, so I took it more seriously. Over time, I developed my voice and the stories I wanted to tell. I did the starving artist thing, even slept in my whip to make it all happen. No glamour, just the story: At 22, I moved to New York with two duffle bags and no real plan, just a need to tell those stories, with nuance and my vantage point. I'm drawn to characters who risk it all for their dreams, like Nino Brown in "New Jack City," Truman in "The Truman Show," or Tonya Harding in "I, Tonya." I moved to LA in 2020 to take my career to new heights. I've directed my original films (shorts and feature length) as well as commercial campaigns for brands like Adidas, Honor the Gift, and more. My work feels like a blend of narrative storytelling with social commentary. I'm drawn to natural light, intentional framing, and moments that feel lived-in, less about polish, more about presence. I want the camera to reflect how each character perceives and navigates the world.

I'm passionate about what I do because I genuinely believe I'm here on Earth to direct. Telling stories about Black triumph isn't just my purpose—it's my way of sharing the kind of information and inspiration we need as artists, and as people. It's how we preserve our history and leave our mark on our future. Storytelling is a legacy, in my opinion. I often think about how much people need an escape. Some scroll, some ride bikes, some binge shows, and some sit with a film that shifts something in them. I want to be the one who makes that kind of movie. The kind they remember.

I've been a storyteller since I was a kid, finding creative ways to explain myself or shift the mood in a room. It became a real path about 10 years ago when I started working professionally in film and creative production.

I've been learning to love the process. But my favorite part about being a writer and director is when an actor brings something unexpected. When they take the character somewhere new and show me a side of the script I hadn't even seen yet, that shift in perspective is the most exciting part. 📸