Meet Lydelle Jackson | Writer, Director, Producer

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

Hi Lydelle, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I was born in the Philippines, but I grew up on a military base in Japan with my father and brothers after my parents divorced when I was seven. My mother moved to California, started a new family, and to this day, I’ve only seen her four times since childhood. Losing such an important figure at a young age created a unique kind of sorrow in me—one that felt, at times, like being a step removed from being an orphan. It was isolating, especially since I couldn’t find anyone who shared my specific experience. Who’s mother abandons them and starts a new family? It was a question I wrestled with for years, especially because my father, who raised us, was and still is such a superhero of a man. I’ll probably never get the answer, so instead I’ve learned to do my best to let it go and just roll on. It’s a wound that will never heal but the pain reminds me that I’m alive and keeps me in a constant state of appreciation for the things that are present in my life.

That early pain forced me into a lifetime of self-exploration, which, in hindsight, developed a strong relationship with myself. Over time, that isolation evolved into a sense of individuality, even though it didn’t come easily. Like most people, I went through a lot of failed attempts at “finding myself” during adolescence and young adulthood. But those struggles shaped me and gave me a deep sense of empathy for others.

Being mixed race—half Black, half Filipino—and growing up on a military base in rural Japan added layers to that feeling of being an outsider. When my father retired from the Air Force, we moved to the U.S., and I experienced a major culture shock. I was American by nationality, but I didn’t know much about American culture. I had spent most of my life immersed in military and Japanese customs, so adjusting to civilian life in the States was strange and disorienting. On top of that, I didn’t have much connection to my extended family. I never knew anyone from my mother’s side, and even though my dad’s family is wonderful, I grew up on the other side of the planet from them. That sense of rootlessness shaped how I saw the world—and myself.

My unusual upbringing led me to an unusual life. I’ve been many things: an OG anime nerd, a video game junkie, a comic book fanatic, a designer, an illustrator, an emcee, an athlete, a hoodlum, a hustler. I’ve boxed bareknuckle in backyards. Dealt in the underworld. I’ve had friends who were career criminals and been involved in things I’m not proud of. But in hindsight, I see those phases as part of my journey to find an identity. I was a lost spirit, wandering without roots to orient me to the world.

Eventually, I found my way. The artist’s life called to me, and I embraced it. Art became the best way for me to make sense of my experiences, and it’s perhaps the best thing I can offer the world.

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.
This is going to sound very general but trust me, it applies to everything for me; I’ve learned the most through mishaps and failures—those lessons tend to stick the best. As a filmmaker, so much of the job, especially during production, is about mitigating risks. No matter how much planning you do, something unexpected will always happen. Coming from indie filmmaking roots, I’ve encountered all kinds of surprises—some bizarre, some frustrating, but all valuable in their own way.

The key is perspective: you can view these surprises as problems or as opportunities. Over time, I’ve learned that mistakes often lead to unexpected breakthroughs, sometimes resulting in a better outcome than the one I originally envisioned. This philosophy doesn’t just apply to filmmaking—it’s shaped how I approach business, relationships, and life in general. There’s beauty in embracing the unexpected and letting it guide you toward something greater.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
For me, I love taking friends to the Magic Castle. There’s simply no other place like it. It’s legendary for a reason and remains one of my absolute favorite places in all of Los Angeles.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to give a shout out to my homie Arthur Hinson. He’s a producer and friend of mine who has always done good by me. Through thick and thin, he’s supported my path as a filmmaker. We’ve done a number of projects together. Arthur’s a marine vet with an incredible story — so much so that we’ve recently developed a mini-series recounting his tour in Iraq, working in Mortuary Affairs. The pilot script is starting to gain recognition at screenwriting competitions and I want nothing more than to see him succeed at brining his story to life. It would be a poetic full circle moment to take all the darkness that he’s endured as a service to our nation and to spin it into something positive for him and his peers.

Website: https://www.lydelle-jackson.com/

Instagram: @lydelle

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lydelle/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lydelle.jackson

Image Credits
All photos were created by me (Lydelle Jackson)