Dennis Williams

Unaffiliated

What was your first professionally directed work and when was it?
In 2022, I directed a campaign titled “Dear Brodie” for Russell Westbrook’s Honor the Gift clothing brand which was my first professional directing work. The campaign involved a one-min commercial as well as a 10-min narrative project.

How did you get into directing?
I have an unwavering passion for characters and storytelling. I’ve always had a camera in my hands, though I wasn’t always certain how that passion would take shape.

In college, I studied Theatre with the intention of becoming a playwright. While learning the intricacies of writing, I discovered my love for directing. Storytelling has always been a core part of who I am, but directing—being able to guide how words come to life—became my true purpose. I began directing short films during college and soon after moved to New York City to advance my career with narrative projects.

In 2020, I was selected for Vanishing Angle’s Short-to-Feature Lab, led by Sundance alum Jim Cummings. This experience was invaluable; I learned about his journey in filmmaking and found guidance on how to carve out my own niche as I pursued commercial storytelling and continued to deepen my narrative work.

What is your most recent project?
My most recent project was an intimate social spot titled “Game Day Style,” featuring LAFC’s Denis Bouanga and stylist Brittany Hampton, created to promote Apple TV and the MLS playoffs.

I wrote the social spot, which aired in both French and English, and directed it. The spot featured extreme close-up probe shots of fabrics, a seamstress at work, green screen visual effects, and more, capturing Bouanga’s preparation for the first playoff game on Apple TV.

What is the best part of being a director?
The best part of directing is bringing characters to life off the page and making audiences believe in them.

Beyond that, the sense of teamwork and camaraderie that develops while making a film is an experience I’ve grown to love deeply. Forming bonds like brothers and sisters with each department throughout every stage of production is transformative for me. Together, we create an idea and allow it to take on a life of its own.

What is the worst part of being a director?
The most challenging part of being a director is dealing with the uncertainty of whether your projects will come to fruition. Balancing that uncertainty with preparation, confidence, and optimism is an integral part of the craft, but it’s undoubtedly the toughest aspect of the job.

What is your current career focus: commercials and branded content, television, movies? Do you plan to specialize in a particular genre–comedy, drama, visual effects, etc.?
My current career focus is about growing my portfolio within commercials and narrative features.

I have a knack for thriller films and aim to bring that energy into my work, combining high production value with the nuance of character-driven storytelling.

Tell us about your background (i.e., where did you grow up? Past jobs?)
I was born and raised in Columbia, Maryland, as the eldest of three boys. I studied theatre in college and played Division 1 basketball before packing my entire life into two duffle bags and catching a bus to New York City, where I held an early writing and directing role at the production company Funny or Die. After cutting my teeth in the indie film scene and gaining recognition, I relocated to Los Angeles in 2020.

I learned the trade among thespians but fell in love with commercial films that made a cultural impact. My obsession with being a historian through film—capturing moments in time—has deeply influenced my directing style. I’m known for using continuous one-shots and intimate character depictions to evoke a sense of nostalgia, achieved through a specific approach to symmetry and texture.

In 2020, I was chosen for Vanishing Angle’s Short-to-Feature Lab by Sundance alum Jim Cummings.

I’ve been recognized for my character-driven thrillers, which draw heavily from my own life experiences, and with a knack for storytelling, I aim to blend my narrative style with commercial projects.

Contact

Website: directedbydennis.co
Contact Dennis via email here