Artii Smith of Burbank on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Artii Smith. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Artii, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Honestly, it’s nuts right now; it’s pretty much full throttle from the moment I wake up. Every day is packed with moving parts and creative decisions. I’m currently managing the launch of Dhar Mann Studios’ premier podcast, which Dhar himself will be hosting. That’s been my main focus for the past few months, getting everything off the ground and running smoothly.

At the same time, I’m creatively leading two major new scripted series for the studio; both high-impact, highly visible projects that represent exciting new chapters for the company. Alongside that, I’m also developing ideas for the main Dhar Mann channel.

On any given day, I might be reviewing podcast edits, reading scripts for the series, coordinating with guests, working with post-production on music or VFX needs, planning shoot logistics, developing lookbooks and mood boards, or collaborating with the casting team. I also spend a lot of time researching and preparing for upcoming podcast interviews.

So a “normal” day doesn’t really exist for me right now. I’m usually switching between multiple creative worlds, moving at about a hundred miles an hour until the day’s over. But honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hey everyone, I’m Artii Smith. I’m a multi-hyphenate filmmaker (writer, director, and producer) based in Los Angeles. I’ve worked across multiple facets of the industry for over a decade, including commercials, live television, unscripted, scripted, and branded content. Currently, I mainly work on scripted digital content.

I often describe my career as having two sides: My Bruce Wayne job, producing, which covers the bills, and my Batman job, writing and directing, which I’m actively working to bring to the forefront.

For the Bruce Wayne sector, I’m currently the Senior Producer at Dhar Mann Studios, where I serve as sort of a creative lead / creative director producing a multitude of content for them. I oversee multiple projects, including the launch of a new podcast, production of some of their main-channel scripted films, and various special projects. While I officially produce under Dhar Mann Studios, for my Batman sector, I direct primarily under my personal banner, Arthouse Stories.

What makes my story interesting or unique is how I’ve been able to move from the outskirts of the industry to the forefront of a major shift in content creation in our industry.

For years, I sought to break into the traditional studio system, but always felt like I was on the cusp, one toe in, but never fully accepted or invited through the door, working on the periphery at places like BuzzFeed (unscripted digital), on the live broadcast side at FOX, in commercial companies, or at Revolt TV.

But this path that I’ve toiled away on for so long is proving to be the blessing I never fully expected. Being on the cusp of the digital content world has uniquely positioned me at the forefront of the industry’s shift toward creator-led storytelling; right place, right time. My background as an independent filmmaker, having written and directed over nine short films and a feature film (Lilin’s Brood, now streaming on Tubi), has been instrumental in shaping my perspective. Today, I’m grateful to be at the heart of the creator-driven movement. It feels like all the different parts of my journey are finally aligning. I’m exactly where I need to be.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
The moment that really shaped how I see the world came when I was in high school. I was a kid who was in love with basketball, and I trained every single day, convinced that if I just worked hard enough, I’d get the chance to prove I could make it to the NBA. (I mean, no one was actually checking for me in the sport; it was just a pie-in-the-sky dream, so obviously, now it’s a no-brainer why that opportunity never came. But back then, it was heartbreaking when it didn’t.) No matter how hard I worked, I was always on the B-team or the bench, waiting for the coach to finally give me a shot.

Eventually, I switched to Track and Field, a sport where I could choose exactly what I wanted to do and control the events I participated in. If I wanted to run the 200-meter or compete in the long jump, I could. The results were eye-opening: I started winning medals and ended up as one of the top athletes in my city in the long jump.

That experience taught me two of the most important lessons of my life.

First, it taught me the power of choosing myself. Instead of waiting for someone to pick me, I realized I had the ability to take control of my own path. When I gave myself an at-bat and controlled my input, I was able to create my own success. That perspective has guided my entire career. I’ve never been the person to wait for permission. If I want to make a film, I make it. If I don’t have the money, I write to the budget I have. I use whatever resources are at my disposal and go make it happen.

That shift in high school taught me early on that I have the power to control my own destiny; to choose myself and let my actions speak for themselves.

Second, it taught me the beauty and benefit of pivoting. For a long time, basketball was the only future I could imagine, and it was heartbreaking when I realized that dream wasn’t going to materialize. But when I pivoted to track and field and found success there, it showed me the value of trusting my gut and being open to new directions.

Later, when I hit a wall with track and field in college, I pivoted toward my academic and business interests. And when I faced internal roadblocks during my professional life in New York City, I made another bold pivot, this time into my long-held passion for filmmaking, and took a leap of faith by moving to Los Angeles. Each time, I dove headfirst into the unknown, but each time, I trusted it would work out because it always had before.

That one moment in high school didn’t just teach me to bet on myself; it taught me that sometimes, the best thing you can do is pivot. And those two lessons have shaped everything about how I approach my career and my life today.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Absolutely. Last year, in 2024, I was unemployed for over a year, thirteen months to be exact. At first, it wasn’t all bad. I wasn’t struggling for food or housing, so I stayed grateful. But as time went on, the question started to weigh on me: Am I still going to be able to do this? Am I still going to make films? Or is it time to pivot again, like I’ve done before?

During that same period, I had finished one of my short films, a project I was genuinely proud of. It was darker in tone, but felt like one of my best works creatively, but it just wasn’t getting any traction on the film festival circuit. Nobody was selecting it. And while I still believed in the story, those rejections felt a little deflating. Probably because I was searching for any sign to keep me hopeful. It made me question whether my voice still had a place in this industry.

I was applying for jobs everywhere; across the country, in other countries, even outside of entertainment entirely, just looking for something that felt like a sign to keep going. The industry felt like it was collapsing, and I felt stuck. Honestly, if another opportunity had come along outside of film, I probably would’ve taken it. After eleven years of grinding in Los Angeles, it would’ve felt like a sign from God that maybe it was time to move on.

But right when I needed it most, a small opportunity came along, producing TikToks for a marketing agency. It wasn’t glamorous, but it kept me moving and reminded me that momentum matters, even in small doses. Then, just a couple of months later, I got the call from Dhar Mann Studios. Landing that role, finally getting the chance to work in scripted content, the space I’d been chasing for years, felt like divine timing.

That season reminded me that even when things look like they’re falling apart, they’re often just falling into place. It taught me patience, humility, and faith — and proved that sometimes, the breakthrough comes right after the point where you almost give up.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
One of the deepest truths I live by is that I’ll never sacrifice who I am just to succeed in this industry. I’ll never compromise what I stand for or dilute my identity to fit in or appease anyone. Authenticity is non-negotiable for me. I am who I am, unequivocally, and that won’t change, no matter the room I’m in or the opportunity in front of me. In every space I enter, I bring my full self, my voice, and my perspective. That’s my foundation, and it’s what keeps me grounded no matter where this journey takes me.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
Honestly, I don’t spend much time thinking about what people will say about me when I’m gone. I just hope they get the chance to enjoy me while I’m here. Legacy isn’t as important to me as presence; living in the now, fully and intentionally, to me, is what it’s all about.

To me, every moment, even the hard ones, carries its own kind of beauty. There’s honor in feeling pain, just as there’s honor in feeling joy. To be alive is to experience the full range of it: the struggle, the happiness, the growth.

So I don’t worry about the story people will tell later. What matters to me is how people feel with me right now — when we work together, create together, or simply share a moment. Because each moment is fleeting, but each one is precious. And if I can live those moments fully, that’s the only legacy I really need.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://artiismith.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artiinotarty/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthursmith1/
• Twitter: https://x.com/arthousestories
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/arthouse.stories
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/arthouse.stories/

Image Credits
ShotByKarra for my main headshot photo (https://www.instagram.com/shotbykarra/)