Meet James Williams III | Writer/Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with James Williams III and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi James, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
As a black man surviving the 1980-90’s crack epidemic in Maryland and Washington, D.C., I expected that no one was going to fund the stories that I wanted to tell, so I understood that in order to become a legit filmmaker I needed to be educated, to become an expert in my craft, savor life’s experiences, live around the world, and practice with like minded people. So after 21 years in the Army as a combat camera man and public affairs officer, I didn’t buy a luxury car when I made Major or a super SUV when I retired like most people, I invested in cameras and gear instead. Now that I am about to graduate from Chapman’s directing program with some fellow teammates, it was time to invest in a headquarters. Now we are set to fully open just outside of Atlanta this summer.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
You know that saying, “Your tastes precedes your talent? It’s been a long and very humbling journey to have finally found my “voice.” From dilemmas between shooting my camera or my gun, through countless shorts and 48 hour films, to now, finally entering the entertainment industry full time. My production company, Twilight Ebb, is more of a world wide collective, that now has a headquarters between Atlanta and Augusta, Ga, than it is a traditional company. We love to travel, so we love being on location; quite frankly, taking advantage of real locations vs building on a stage is what raises the production value of our work in many ways; this is why half of our stages are practical; like we have a fully functional restaurant that we plan on using for a food show, but is can also be used for catering on a large production.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The first real time I spent in LA was back in 2008, the army had me working in the Entertainment Office when it needed extra hands to help on Revenge of the Fallen. I had a temp studio apartment n Marina Del Rey, where it shattered my thinking that all of LA was like South Central, so I usually took my visitors to walk Venice, Hollywood Blvd., to K Town for BBQ at some point, and a mandatory Taco Tuesday. Since Venice isn’t such a nice place anymore, depending on who it is I’ll take them to Beverly Hills, In-N-Out, or Roscoe’s and then to work!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
“Army officers can do anything.” – Colin Powell

I am proudly the product of so many great mentors, army leaders, professors, and family that made the effort to nurture my talents. My aunt “Henny” was buried today; if it were not for that woman fighting anyone who interfered with me building computers and playing video games, vs always being in outside or in the streets, I would not have developed many of the skills that got me into college; yes even my father caught a good tongue lashing. May she rest in peace.

Website: twilightebb.com

Instagram: twilight_ebb

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-williams-iii-14475532/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100032758632838