Meet Phillip Lindsey | Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Phillip Lindsey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Phillip, what’s the most important thing you’ve done for your children?
I have a 5-year-old son and a 10-year-old daughter. As many people know, building a successful career as an artist requires perseverance, discipline, and the ability to overcome failure.

Over the past 15 years, I’ve worked professionally as a director and editor of commercials, but my ultimate goal has always been to direct feature films. While I’ve directed several award-winning short films, none of them have served as the springboard into feature filmmaking that I had hoped for.

My daughter is incredibly creative and a natural performer with a genuine passion for acting. As a parent, you want your children to pursue their dreams with confidence and determination. I realized that if she didn’t see me actively pursuing my own dreams, it would be much harder to inspire her to chase hers.

With that in mind, I turned last summer into a teachable moment. I wrote a low-budget independent feature film and spent 25 days filming it with our team. It was my first feature-length project as a director, and I am currently in post-production, editing the film. More than anything, I wanted my children to see firsthand that dreams are worth pursuing, even when the path is difficult and success is far from guaranteed.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Sometimes the more you learn and the more experience you gain, the easier it becomes to create limitations for yourself. Knowledge can be invaluable, but it can also introduce unnecessary rules, self-doubt, and fear that stand between you and your dreams.

At some point, you have to stop waiting for permission. No one is going to hand you an opportunity or tell you that you’re ready. You have to take the risk, trust your instincts, and take your shot.

I’m drawn to stories about complex, flawed, and deeply human characters. These are the kinds of films that first inspired me to become a filmmaker, yet they seem to be increasingly rare in today’s Hollywood landscape. Because of that, I feel a responsibility to tell those stories myself. Whether the path is conventional or not, I’m committed to bringing these films to life by whatever means necessary.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live in Los Angeles, and if a close friend were visiting for a week, I probably wouldn’t spend much time at the traditional tourist attractions. The Los Angeles I love is a city of contradictions—a place where beauty and decay exist side by side, where forgotten dreams sit just blocks away from reinvention and ambition.

On the first day, I’d take them to the Old Zoo in Griffith Park. There’s something fascinating about wandering through the abandoned animal enclosures and imagining what the city was like decades ago. From there, we’d explore some of Griffith Park’s lesser-known trails before grabbing lunch at Grand Central Market in Downtown Los Angeles. Afterward, we’d spend the afternoon walking through the Historic Core, admiring the old theaters, neon signs, and architectural remnants of a bygone era.

Another day would be dedicated to the Los Angeles River. We’d rent bikes in Frogtown and ride along the river path, passing warehouses, train tracks, murals, and hidden pockets of the city that most visitors never see. We’d stop at one of the local breweries along the route and spend the evening talking over a few beers while watching the city wind down.

No visit to Los Angeles would be complete without a night in Koreatown. We’d start with Korean BBQ, then explore the neighborhood’s late-night energy, karaoke bars, dessert cafés, and hidden restaurants. K-Town feels alive at all hours and offers one of the most unique urban experiences in the city.

Throughout the week, I’d take them to places that reveal the character of Los Angeles beyond the postcards. We’d explore the Arts District, browse vintage shops in Highland Park, catch a movie at an old theater, and spend an evening driving through the industrial neighborhoods south of Downtown that have served as the backdrop for countless films. We’d visit San Pedro to watch cargo ships move through the harbor, grab tacos from neighborhood spots that have been around for decades, and spend sunset overlooking the city from Mulholland Drive.

As a filmmaker, what fascinates me most about Los Angeles isn’t the glamour—it’s the layers. Every neighborhood feels like a story. You’ll find abandoned buildings next to luxury developments, struggling artists living blocks away from movie stars, and neighborhoods that seem frozen in time. The city is constantly reinventing itself, yet traces of its past remain everywhere.

That’s the Los Angeles I would want my friend to experience—not just the famous landmarks, but the strange, beautiful, imperfect city that continues to inspire dreamers, artists, and storytellers from all over the world.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to have several influential experiences that have shaped and inspired me as a filmmaker. From my time at SBCC and UCSB, to studying screenwriting through UCLA’s program, I’ve continually sought opportunities to grow as a storyteller. I’ve also read countless books and watched films that have repeatedly reignited my passion for filmmaking.

Most recently, revisiting Robert Rodriguez’s book Rebel Without a Crew had a profound impact on me. His story reminded me that waiting for the perfect opportunity can often become an excuse for inaction. The book challenged me to set my fears aside, stop overthinking, and finally take the leap. That inspiration ultimately gave me the confidence to write, produce, and direct my first independent feature film.

Website: Phillip@onewaypictures.com

Instagram: Onewaypictures

Linkedin: Phillip@onewaypictures.com

Twitter: @LindseyPhi46052

Youtube: @onewaypictures

Other: https://Www.philliplindsey.com