We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mattison Lewis. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mattison below.
Mattison, we are so appreciative of you taking the time to open up about the extremely important, albeit personal, topic of mental health. Can you talk to us about your journey and how you were able to overcome the challenges related to mental issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
I’ve learned that persistence doesn’t always look like powering through — sometimes, it’s as simple as getting out of bed, asking for help, or choosing not to give up when everything in you wants to. Mental health challenges have forced me to slow down, re-evaluate my self-worth, and stop measuring success by hustle alone.
What’s helped most is anchoring myself in purpose: faith, creativity, and the belief that my story isn’t over yet. Therapy, journaling, community, and staying physically active have all played a part. Still, the biggest shift came when I stopped trying to “fix” myself and started learning how to care for myself. Persistence, for me, means showing up — imperfect, uncertain, but still here.
In that journey, I’ve been able to give up alcohol, nicotine, and all the distractions that took away from my art. This allowed me to show up not only for my clients, but also for myself, my friends, and my family. Now, I’m using that extra energy to participate in classes and re-energize the Matty I was pre-COVID, minus the mental blocks and obstacles.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m a filmmaker and screenwriter, working at the intersection of faith, healing, and storytelling. What excites me most is the ability to take real human experiences—pain, joy, hope, redemption—and shape them into something that speaks to people’s hearts. Whether it’s writing children’s scripts that make science fun or crafting deeply personal dramas, my work is rooted in empathy and the belief that storytelling can change lives.
Right now, I’m in the final stages of completing a student film that means a lot to me. It’s a story born from personal heartbreak and the search for grace, and I believe it’ll resonate with anyone who’s ever wrestled with forgiveness or the feeling of not being enough. I’m also gearing up to apply to some of the top writing fellowships and development programs in the industry, with the hope of opening doors for myself—and eventually for others—who come from nontraditional or underserved backgrounds.
If there’s one thing I want people to know, it’s that my art isn’t about perfection; it’s about presence. I create from a place of truth, even when it’s messy. And I believe that kind of honesty is what connects us all.
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 impactful qualities in my journey have been resilience, adaptability, and emotional intelligence.
Resilience helped me keep going when the doors closed, the jobs fell through, or life just felt overwhelming. You don’t always need to be the most talented person in the room, but if you’re the one who refuses to quit, that can take you further than you think. My advice: build your resilience by embracing failure as part of the process. Let rejection refine you, not define you.
Adaptability enabled me to thrive in various roles—writer, coordinator, camera operator, and assistant—by staying open to learning and evolving. In an unpredictable industry, versatility is your superpower. Be willing to pivot, stretch, and grow outside your comfort zone. It’s often in those uncomfortable moments that you discover your strengths.
Emotional intelligence—being able to read the room, navigate conflict, build trust, and stay grounded under pressure—has been the glue holding everything together. Whether I’m on set or in the writing room, people skills matter as much as technical skills. My advice: listen more than you speak. Journal. Reflect. Get to know yourself so you can better understand and relate to others.
If you’re starting out, remember: success is rarely a straight line. Be patient with the process, stay humble, stay hungry, and stay kind. That combination opens more doors than you’d expect.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
Over the past year, my biggest area of growth has been learning how to slow down and truly heal, not just push forward for the sake of productivity, but to intentionally rebuild from the inside out. I’ve spent most of my adult life in survival mode, hustling nonstop to stay afloat. But this past year, I started confronting the emotional weight I’d been carrying—grief, disappointment, burnout—and began doing the inner work needed to move forward with clarity and purpose.
Practically, that’s looked like getting serious about mental health, deepening my faith, setting boundaries, and committing to a daily routine that supports my long-term goals. Creatively, it’s helped me reconnect with my “why.” I’m not just making films or writing scripts to prove something—I’m doing it because I believe stories have the power to heal people, the way I’ve needed healing, too.
This season has been less about external success and more about internal strength. And honestly, that shift has made everything else—my writing, my relationships, my focus—feel more grounded and meaningful. I owe a massive debt of gratitude to my friends, family, mentors, and my life coach for their continued support in this endeavor. If you seek guidance and stability in your spiritual and creative endeavors, I highly recommend Irene K’s life coaching services. Look her up on Fiverr—you won’t be disappointed!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/crashcamthemovie
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcamthemovie/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattison-lewis-837b35179/
- Twitter: https://x.com/mattywritethis
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mattyfilmthis
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