Meet Stephen Ray Thomas

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Stephen Ray Thomas. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Stephen Ray, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

I don’t think it would be normal to ever fully get over it but it is definitely something everyone deals with at some point, especially in this industry. When I started, I definitely had those moments where I thought, ‘Am I good enough for this?’ But over time, I realized it’s all part of the process and everyone goes through it. I’ve worked hard to get where I am, and I know I bring something to the table no one else can.

Instead of letting the doubts take over, I’ve learned to just focus on doing my job and doing it well. It’s not about being perfect or comparing myself to anyone else. It’s about staying true to the work and not letting those negative thoughts slow me down. Honestly, those thoughts start to fade when you stop worrying about what others think and just focus on your own path. Like Henry Ford said, ‘Competition, whose motive is merely to compete, to drive some other fellow out, never carries very far. The competitor to be feared is one who never bothers about you at all, but goes on making his own business better all the time.’

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Right now, I’m focused on the movie business, acting, producing, and building connections with streamers to make sure our films get seen by as many people as possible. Me and my brother, Devin Thomas, we do everything together. We’re a team through and through. We’re both working hard to get the right representation because we know what we bring to the table, and we want someone who sees that value. It’s all about finding the right people to help us level up.

On top of the movie stuff, me and my brother Devin Thomas own five real estate brokerages here in California: Thomas International Realty, Carmel Highlands Realty, Del Monte Forest Realty, Cheetah.ooo, and Luxury Listing Masters. These businesses are pretty hands-off, so we can focus on what we really care about, whether it’s movies or other projects. Our family brand, Thomas International Realty, is led by my mom, Susan Massa Thomas, and we’ve got regional brands like Carmel Highlands Realty and Del Monte Forest Realty that focus on Carmel and Pebble Beach. Cheetah.ooo is a 100% commission brokerage, and Luxury Listing Masters is our exclusive luxury brand, for members only.

What gets me excited is a lot of things, but filmmaking and acting is what I love to do. When I act and make movies with my brother, and when he’s directing, I want to give the best performance possible. There’s a friendly brotherly competition—he’s going to do his job behind the camera the best he can, and I’m going to do my job in front of the lens the best I can. And in business, Devin and I are all about growing the right way—no shortcuts, no fluff. We want to build companies and brands that last, and I think that’s what gravitates the right people to want to work with us.

Right now, we’re on a roll. We just dropped Peninsula Nights on Amazon Prime, and it’s been amazing seeing it chart in the romance drama categories. But for me, it’s not even about the numbers—it’s about the community we’ve built around that film. We made it with just the three of us: Devin wrote, directed, and shot the whole thing himself with no crew, Christine VonRobarie co-starred, and I was the lead. The three of us were driving out to locations in the middle of the night, getting it done with nothing but the drive to make something great. That’s what people are responding to.

For 2025, we’ve got three more films coming. First up is Feel It All Around, which we’re doing in the same style as Peninsula Nights, but with a bigger budget. The script is fire, and it takes place in LA and San Francisco. Then in the summer, we’ve got Cork, a big-budget feature set in a winery, and we’re aiming to bring in names like James Franco, Keanu Reeves, Sam Elliott, and Jude Law. We’ll be shooting in Salinas or Carmel Valley—back home—and maybe heading up to Northern California for a few more scenes. Lastly, we’re working on Harmony, but we’re keeping that one under wraps for now. All three films are written and directed by Devin, and we’re pumped to see where this takes us. Also, we’ll be scheduling a tour for these movies with live screenings followed by Q&A sessions, so we can connect with the audience and give them a deeper look into the stories and process behind each film.

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 and moving forward I mean, honestly, it’s hard to say. There’s no magic or secret formula. You just kinda learn as you go, you know? You find your groove, make some mistakes, and figure out what works for you. If I had to give advice, I’d say just keep at it, stay flexible, and don’t expect it all to come together overnight. You can try to plan it out, but things usually don’t work the way you think they will. So just do your thing and learn from it. That’s the best I can say.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

The most impactful thing my parents did for me was just letting me figure things out on my own. They didn’t push me into anything or tell me what to do. I had the freedom to take risks, screw up, and learn from it. They were always there to back me up, but they didn’t try to control me. That kind of freedom has been huge, especially in business and film. It’s all about making my own decisions and owning them.

My mom, Susan Massa Thomas, is a straight-up boss in real estate. She built a solid career and now runs our family brand, Thomas International Realty. Her intelligence and leadership are a big influence on me. My dad, Ray Thomas, ran a trucking company. He moved everything from appliances to hot tubs, but what really took off for him was getting government military contracts. Their mindset really shaped how I think about business. They both taught me to think outside the box, stay true to myself, and be open to whatever opportunities come my way. Their paths have definitely impacted mine and showed me how to push through no matter what.

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Image Credits

Devin Thomas

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