Today we’d like to introduce you to Stefon Whitaker.
Hi Stefon, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am a Film Director, Screenwriter, and Producer based in the Bay Area of California by way of Indiana.
I’ve always been into visual storytelling, cinematic imagery, and emotional impact through filmmaking.
At around 8 years old, I started writing my own stories, being inspired by many different things, noticeably; Godzilla, Dragon Ball Z, Sonic The Hedgehog, and a lot of other animated TV shows and video games.
Once I got my first camera, I was filming everything around my childhood home. As I grew older, I strayed away from film for a little bit and expressed interest in music, which I can say has been a huge inspiration for me and my storytelling throughout the years. In my senior year of high school, I got back to my senses and made the leap to locking down what I believe I was destined to do.
I attended Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Film. I made the tough decision to move back home to Indiana and pursue working freelance. In 2017, I created my production company, SW Films, and ever since then, it’s been a beautiful ride, despite the many bumps along the way.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The path to making it where I am today has not been an easy one.
For a lot of reasons but weirdly enough I feel like I am placed in these situations for a reason. I made a decision to come back to my hometown of Angola, Indiana after film school and at that time, it felt like a terrible choice but I didn’t have the money nor a real plan to make any moves to the places that the industry booms in, such as Atlanta or LA.
My hometown is very small. The arts and entrepreneurship are few and far between out there and I knew that but it only pushed me to make things happen more for myself. I went about my small hometown and created all of my own opportunities until people were forced to open the door to me.
I definitely had many challenges during my time, when it came to how much I would get paid per project, keeping up with the bills I took on out there, not having a “real job” or “second job”, trying to get local businesses to understand visual/social media marketing, etc.
Once I did all that I could in my hometown (for that time) I made the big move to California, which in itself was a struggle to move away far from my immediate family. Many bumps here but it has only led me to a lot of success that I’m truly grateful for.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I would say, I do many things in the space but what I like to credit myself with the most is being a Film Director, Screenwriter, and Producer. For my company, SW Films, I mainly take on those roles and my company is what I want to build up more than anything else.
Growing in those fields, especially directing and writing, helps ascend my production company. On the same side of the coin, I also work freelance film in the bay area on much bigger projects. Working with major tech company ads, Television, and Movie productions that take place in major cities like Oakland and San Francisco.
On those sets, I’ve mainly been a production assistant or an assistant director. The time is coming to make my directorial debut on something of that size in the bay. I now, also run a podcast underneath SW Films, called The Excellent Podcast.
The work I’ve been the proudest of comes in my 2 most recent experiences as an AD. Last year, I was a 2nd 2nd Assistant Director for Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar’s “Family Ties” music video in Los Angeles. I got to work and meet one of my idols and it was a pure manifestation that lead me to that moment.
Then in February of this year, I was the 1st Assistant Director for a Nike photoshoot, all from a happenstance. The thing that sets me apart from everyone else is my energy. Nobody has this energy. That alone has taken me everywhere and will only ascend me further in my career.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
First and foremost, following and subscribing to my content on social media is the first way to support me.
I am based in the Bay Area but I love to travel for work and meet new people that way. I’m only a message away from a new project with someone in Memphis or anywhere in the world!
Follow SW Films on YouTube, Vimeo, Instagram, & Facebook
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/arkel96
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arkel96/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/swfilmsproduction/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SsStefon
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaSH8TZpjmESjMo0kVRlO5Q
- Other: https://vimeo.com/swfilm
Image Credits
Kelsey Martin, Enedawry Santana, Bethlehem Solomon, and Mark Benckendorf
