Meet Lilton Stewart III | Writer & Director

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

Hi Lilton, why did you pursue a creative career?
I was always creative and artistic growing up. In school, I’d draw and paint instead of playing sports, and I would reenact my favorite movies with myself as the main character in the backyard. However, being raised in St. Louis in the 80’s and 90’s didn’t give me many options in the creative field regarding career ambitions. I tried almost every trade-based career, from customer service to paralegal, and none clicked with me as the path I should take. Unfortunately, I spent almost the first half of my adult life trying to figure that out. I finally decided to follow my true goal of being a filmmaker. I proceeded to self-teach myself for a few years before ultimately building and sharpening those skills by attending film school.

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.
I am a writer/director of narrative storytelling in film and television. This career has been a lifelong journey for me. I used to make cartoon short films in seventh grade using Mario Paint on the Super Nintendo and a VHS player. Eventually, that passion made its way through music, and I found myself shooting music videos for local artists and even doing wedding videography. After years of in-field experience, I attended film school and obtained my Bachelor’s in Digital Film and Video Production. Once I graduated, I moved to Los Angeles, California, and things got extremely rocky at that point. I was homeless for the first few years, including the COVID-19 pandemic. I kept freelancing, writing for producers, and eventually befriended some people who helped get me out of that situation. Now, I’m building a name in my field and finding stability as my hard work is slowly beginning to pay off. Through everything I’ve been through, I learned that you can’t give up on your dreams if you want them to see fruition. You must keep pushing forward despite how challenging or unrealistic they may seem, especially to others. I believe I represent the most likely possibility when it comes to entering the film world. It’s not an overnight success or a first feature film festival buyout wonder. I want people to know when they see my name and my brand that it represents hard work and dedication.

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.
Honestly, I would be the worst person to show somebody the best time ever. I am a homebody and don’t get out very much. I actually need someone to show me the best time ever. If it were up to me, we’d watch movies and order in every night. I came out to this city to work, so I haven’t done much exploring on a fun, personal level.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would love to shout out my daughters. They are the reason I breathe and the batteries that keep me charged up to continue this journey. Those girls gave me life when I thought I had no life left. I strive to be their guiding light as they are mine. I want to thank my mother and father for bringing me into the world and raising me. Between the two of them, they have taught me many valuable life lessons that aid me today. Last but not least, I must thank my Big Little Brother for being a great, caring soul. He keeps me grounded.

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