Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Oscar Montion . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Oscar, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
My resilience comes from surviving what was meant to silence me. Growing up in South Gate, I experienced things that could’ve hardened me but instead, they taught me strength. Losing people I loved, being misunderstood in school, and facing violence at a young age pushed me to find purpose through storytelling.
When my great-grandmother passed, I lost direction for a while. Later, I enrolled at the Los Angeles Film School, and even after getting kicked out due to life circumstances, I refused to let that be the end. Eight months later, I came back with a scholarship and a renewed sense of focus. Writing From the Hood to the Woods and creating Echoes of the West became ways to transform pain into art.
Every obstacle I’ve faced reminded me why I started to protect my younger self, to represent where I come from, and to show that resilience isn’t something you find; it’s something you become.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m a filmmaker and storyteller focused on creating powerful, character-driven stories that reflect resilience, identity, and transformation. My work pulls from real-life experiences growing up in South Gate, where I learned to find hope in the darkest places and turn pain into purpose.
I recently released my memoir From the Hood to the Woods, and my Western anthology Echoes of the West is being developed for television. My short film Repercussions is set to shoot soon, and my feature script Entre Dos Mundos continues to gain recognition in festivals. I also have a poetry collection titled Sunsets & Sirens releasing in January. Right now, I’m working alongside my manager Keyun “Country” Parker on Northern Lights, an NMU football movie currently filming its early stages, with full production planned for next summer.
Each project I create is part of a larger mission to give a voice to those often unheard and to prove that where you start doesn’t define where you can go. What excites me most is inspiring the next generation of dreamers from communities like mine to tell their stories with honesty and heart.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, the three most important qualities that shaped my journey were resilience, discipline, and faith in my purpose. Resilience taught me to rise every time life tried to knock me down. Discipline kept me grounded through long nights of writing, editing, and rebuilding my path. And faith reminded me that what’s meant for me won’t miss me, even if it takes time.
For anyone starting out, don’t wait for the perfect moment or conditions. Start where you are with what you have. Stay consistent, stay humble, and remember that rejection and struggle are part of the process that shapes you into who you’re meant to become. The skills will come with time, but your mindset and heart are what will carry you through the hardest parts of the journey.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
My biggest area of growth this past year has been learning to trust myself and my timing. For so long I felt like I was racing against time, trying to prove I belonged in spaces that weren’t built for people like me. But over the last year, I’ve learned that my journey doesn’t need to match anyone else’s. Every setback prepared me for the opportunities I have now.
I’ve grown not just as a filmmaker, but as a leader and storyteller. I’ve learned how to build teams, take creative risks, and turn rejection into redirection. Most importantly, I’ve learned patience and faith that what’s meant for me will always find me as long as I keep doing the work.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Themontionsaga
Image Credits
Clifton Woodard, Oscar Montion
