Today we’d like to introduce you to Darius L. Francis.
Hi Darius L., so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey has been shaped by discipline, reinvention, and a deep belief in purpose-driven work.
Before and during filmmaking, I spent 12 years serving in the U.S. Army. That experience instilled structure, leadership, and resilience traits that later became foundational in my creative life. After transitioning out of the military, I found myself drawn back to storytelling, not as a hobby, but as a way to explore humanity, trauma, faith, and redemption. Film became the medium where all of those elements could live together.
I didn’t come into the industry through traditional doors. I learned by doing and studying the craft, building relationships, and taking risks on myself. Early acting roles helped me understand storytelling from the inside out, but I quickly realized my voice was strongest behind the camera. I wanted control over the stories being told and how they were told. That realization pushed me into writing, directing, and producing my own projects. At the same time, I began building my career in real estate as a licensed REALTOR®. Real estate sharpened my entrepreneurial instincts in a different way: understanding people, negotiating high-stakes decisions, managing risk, and building trust. That business foundation has been invaluable in filmmaking, where leadership, budgeting, logistics, and relationship-building are just as critical as creative vision.
I built my production company with the mindset that creativity and business must coexist. I learned how to develop projects, assemble teams, manage budgets, and bring ideas from concept to completion without waiting for outside validation.
Those parallel paths came together with Willow’s Tree, my first feature film. The project demanded the same discipline, problem-solving, and people-centered leadership I apply in real estate, while allowing me to fully step into my creative voice. I had written and directed several projects before that one but never really felt ready for the world to see. My feature film challenged me as a leader and storyteller. I was determined to utilize every failure and lesson to create something special. It did just that and seeing it resonate with audiences and receive over a dozen awards, including several Best Feature Film and Best Director awards, affirmed that the long road was worth it.
Today, I operate at the intersection of storytelling and entrepreneurship. Whether I’m developing films or helping clients navigate real estate, my focus is the same: clarity, integrity, and long-term impact. Every chapter of my journey has informed the next and I’m very intentional about what comes next. This is only the beginning!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all. It’s been meaningful, but far from smooth.
One of the biggest challenges has been learning to build momentum without waiting for permission. As an independent filmmaker, especially early on, resources are limited. Financing, access, and visibility don’t come easily. There were moments where I had to choose between delaying a project or finding another way forward, and most times, I chose to adapt and keep moving.
Balancing multiple careers has also been a challenge. Building a film takes time, emotional energy, and focus, while real estate demands consistency, availability, and trust. Learning how to manage both without burning out required discipline and humility. Understanding when to push and when to pause.
There were also creative risks. Telling darker, emotionally complex stories that don’t always fit commercial formulas. Choosing authenticity over safety meant accepting uncertainty, but it also led to work that feels honest and lasting.
Every challenge refined me. The setbacks didn’t stop the journey, they shaped it. Looking back, the struggles were necessary. They taught me resilience, clarity, and how to lead with purpose, which ultimately made the success more meaningful.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At my core, I’m a storyteller who builds worlds rooted in emotional truth. As a filmmaker, I write, direct, and produce character-driven stories that explore human psychology, moral tension, faith, trauma, and redemption. I’m especially drawn to darker, layered narratives and stories that ask audiences to sit with discomfort and think beyond the surface.
What I specialize in is ownership of the entire creative process. I don’t just direct scenes; I develop projects from concept to completion. That includes shaping the narrative, leading teams, managing production logistics, and ensuring the story’s integrity survives every stage.
I’m most proud of Willow’s Tree, my first feature film. It represents years of growth, risk-taking, and trust in my voice. Seeing it resonate with audiences was deeply affirming, not just creatively, but as proof that independent stories with emotional depth can find their place.
What sets me apart is perspective. I didn’t arrive here through a single lane. My experiences in the military, real estate, and independent filmmaking have given me a grounded approach to creativity. I understand structure and discipline, but I also value intuition and vulnerability. I lead with clarity, but I create with heart.
Ultimately, I’m known for telling stories that linger. Stories that don’t rush to answers but invite reflection. That balance between artistic vision and practical execution is where I thrive, and it’s what continues to drive my work forward.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I love most about Atlanta is its creative energy and sense of possibility. It’s a city where culture, entrepreneurship, and storytelling intersect. There’s a strong community here, especially among artists and small business owners where people genuinely want to see each other win. Atlanta has a history of resilience and reinvention, and that spirit fuels my work both as a filmmaker and an entrepreneur.
What I like least is the TRAFFIC! Driving in Atlanta is a journey all in itself lol I think that is a collective agreement by anyone in the city.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dfrancis.georgiamls.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/dl_francis and instagram.com/mmagicproductions
Image Credits
Blue Suit Pics by Juliet Rosa
