Meet Jamaal Williams | Writer, Director, Filmmaker

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

Hi Jamaal, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Well for one I feel like were ever evolving as individuals and everything ties into one’s own purpose. The hard part is finding out what that purpose is and how one can live in it. I was able to have such clarity about my purpose as an artist, creative, and writer. The fulfillment was undeniable and the journey I’m on constantly reminds me I’m built for the lifestyle in which I’m pursuing. All of that to say simply when you know you know, and I think lives too short to go against what you know. More importantly it just feels good to wake up every day and know what you’re doing has meaning, makes you happy, and others enjoy it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I for sure consider myself a writer and storyteller above all things and it just so happens to translate into various forms of art and expression. I remember writing stories that entertained my classmates in grade school, and even writing poetry because my mom believed I could. Writing as a form of expression has always been a part of my life no matter how much I tried to be and pursue other careers. When I was 22 my daughter was born which really sent me on a path of discovery, I wanted so much for her, and I genuinely believed this was the way I could do it. I moved to Houston, Tx and found an internship at Choice One Media Group under Sonja & Bradford Lowe blogging, content creating, content writing, and eventually writing my first short film Redness Relief. It premiered at an event The Cinematic Affair along with two other projects, Next Lifetime by Shacolby Shentell, and The SZN Series by Malcolm Dwain Carter. The event sold out and the experience put me on a mission to top myself in every aspect by the time we did it again.

Since then, I began writing a series of my own entitled Soulmates. The entire time keeping in mind the commitment I made to myself and to the audience to give them a true experience with my rendition of storytelling.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
So usually, I’m not one to be out and about, but there are a very select few spots in the city that hit different in my opinion. For starters, there’s the Locker Room. The vibes are hella dope and you can literally go there Tuesday- Sunday for a differently themed night. The owner Ced is a true man of the people and that’s something I can relate to. Outside of there, I probably only hang around a few bars in mid-town every blue moon or the Playground. I’m very much so a skateboarder so anywhere in the city is fair game as long as there’s open road.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I could literally do and be nothing without my team. That consists of my parents Elbert and Ernestine who are probably my biggest supporters along with my fiancé Bre. The faith they have in me allows me to move freely as an artist and never have to question my abilities. My immediate friend group, Kai, Duck, Jamal, Gary, B- Clark, and Phoenix are the lifelines in what I do. Each playing a role in the process that adds to the collective. Malcolm, Shacolby, and Sonja and Bradford Lowe, have become my family, advisors, and fellow trailblazers.

Together we’ve built something that will stand the test of time. Finally, to my daughter who showed me that I could and needed to do more in this life Aubrey Williams.

Website: https://www.thecinematicaffair.com/summer-2022-event

Image Credits
Breanica Jackson Carlos V – Vallevisualz