Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Williams.
Hi Justin, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My connection to voice acting started around the age of 16, during my sophomore year of high school. I was going through a pretty dark period in my life, and one of the things that gave me hope was my favorite anime, Fairy Tail. There was something about that world and the performances behind those characters that stayed with me. It sparked the idea that I wanted to become an actor—not just because I loved the art, but because I wanted to someday give somebody else the same feeling those artists gave me.
That is still one of my biggest personal goals. I want to rise in this industry far enough to work alongside some of the artists who inspired me and be able to thank them. I believe art fuels emotion and purpose in people. It can make somebody laugh, motivate them, give them an escape, or sometimes give them something to hold onto when they need it. I want to be a positive force in that while also using art to share and express my own story.
Voice acting became my primary focus, but somewhere along the way I realized I wasn’t interested in being only one thing. I founded Striving Sounds LLC, operating through Justin Williams Media, and earned my bachelor’s degree in Media Production from the University of Central Missouri with an emphasis in cinematography. Eventually, the title that made the most sense to me was multimedia producer and performer.
I like to say that I work in front of the camera, behind the camera, and even in the post-production studio.
That can mean stepping into a booth as a voice actor, acting on camera, producing or shooting a project, editing, working with audio, creating social media content, writing, or developing myself as a musical artist through singing and songwriting. I love being involved in the entire narrative of creating something. More than anything, I like being around people who are genuinely passionate about what they’re making. That human drive is really the fuel that keeps me moving forward.
Some of the experiences that shaped me most happened before any of the larger brand names came along. I worked as a stunt performer on the short film Fawn, which was filmed in the St. Louis area. It was another chance for me to step into a completely different part of production and reinforced the idea that I didn’t want to limit myself to one side of this industry.
One of the most important productions of my life, though, was Shiesty, created by my dear friend, the late Alysha Burney.
Alysha was already an incredibly driven creator when we were at the University of Central Missouri together, and she eventually built an audience of millions across social media. But what impressed me just as much as her success was her ability to bring people together.
When we made Shiesty, it didn’t feel like one department making a movie. She brought together people from the theater side of campus, media production students, actors, crew members, friends, and even people who had simply always wanted an opportunity to be part of a film. Everybody mobilized around this one idea and helped bring it to life.
I served as the cinematographer, assistant producer, one of the writers, and also acted as Spencer in the film. It went on to reach around 150,000 views in its first month and has since been watched more than 370,000 times on YouTube.
That experience changed me. It showed me what can happen when one person’s passion is strong enough to make everybody around them believe in a project too.
Alysha believed in me. She trusted me with major parts of something that meant a lot to her, and that belief has stayed with me. Losing her made that experience mean even more. She remains one of the major driving forces behind why I want to keep creating, keep pushing myself and, eventually, be in a position where I can open doors for other creatives too. I think carrying forward the belief people placed in you is one way of keeping part of them alive.
My years at UCM continued giving me opportunities to grow on both sides of the camera. I spent nearly three years as an official Social Media Producer and on-camera performer for the university, creating content and appearing in national-facing campaigns. That experience eventually expanded into promotional work with names such as Warner Bros., including Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, and Universal Studios around Jurassic World Rebirth.
At the same time, voice acting continued growing from the dream I had at 16 into an actual profession. I’ve worked across commercial, educational, corporate and character voiceover, including projects for New York Parks, St. Louis County, Indium Corporation, Pencil Box Solutions, and others.
One project that means a lot to me is my ongoing relationship with Pencil Box Solutions, where I help provide professional voices for educational content designed for children. What stood out to me was that they weren’t simply looking for a technically good voice. They were thinking about cadence, relatability and whether the person delivering the message would feel familiar to the young people hearing it.
As a Black creator from the Midwest, that means something to me.
There aren’t always a lot of people in entertainment who look like me, sound like me or come from where I come from. I love representing St. Louis because this city has always had creativity in it. I want young people here—and especially young minority creators—to see that there are different ways into this industry and that our voices have value.
Recently, I moved back to the St. Louis area after college and made the decision to pursue media and performance full-time. That has probably been one of the biggest leaps of faith in my life. There isn’t a clean road map for becoming an independent artist. A lot of it is auditioning, creating opportunities, learning new skills, getting rejected, building relationships and then getting up the next day and doing it again.
But lately, I’ve started seeing some of those years of work connect.
I recently booked a national DoorDash voiceover campaign, have continued building my commercial and corporate work, and have been voicing a range of characters in the English dub of Paul, the Apostle. At the same time, I’m still producing my own content, acting, singing, writing and finding new ways to grow as an artist.
When I look at everything together, I think the common thread is that I love creation. I don’t just want to show up for my part and leave. I want to understand the story, the production and the people behind it. I want to collaborate with people who care.
I still feel like I’m at the beginning of my story.
When I think back to being 16 years old and finding a little bit of hope through a television show, and then look at the fact that I’m now able to work professionally in the same broader world of storytelling and performance, I can see the line connecting those two versions of myself.
My goal now is to keep carrying that flame forward—represent St. Louis, build with other passionate creatives, honor the people who believed in me, and hopefully create something that reaches somebody else the way art once reached me.
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?
Definitely not. One of the hardest parts of choosing a creative career is accepting that there really isn’t a road map. You can develop your craft, build a portfolio, and audition constantly while still not knowing where the next opportunity will come from. Rejection and financial uncertainty are realities I’ve had to learn not to let define my ability or ambition.
Building from the Midwest has also meant creating opportunities instead of waiting for the industry to come to me. I’ve had to become not only a performer, but a producer, editor, marketer, and business owner.
One of my greatest personal challenges was losing my friend and collaborator **Alysha Burney**. She believed in me early, trusted me with major responsibilities on *Shiesty*, and showed me what passionate people can accomplish together. Losing her changed how I look at time and made me even more determined not to waste the opportunities I have.
The road hasn’t been smooth, but persistence has become a major part of who I am. Every rejection, loss, uncertain period, and eventual breakthrough has given me another reason to keep moving forward.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
* **Multimedia Producer & Performer:** I work across the entire production process—**in front of the camera, behind the camera, and in post-production**. My background includes voice acting, on-camera performance, cinematography, video/audio production, editing, writing, social media, and music.
* **Voice Acting:** This is my primary specialization. I have **8+ years of experience** across commercial, character/dubbing, corporate, educational, and promotional voiceover.
* **Professional Credits:** My work includes projects with **DoorDash, Warner Bros., Universal Studios, Indium Corporation, New York Parks, St. Louis County, and Pencil Box Solutions**, among others.
* **Film & Production:** I served as **cinematographer, assistant producer, writer, and actor** on Alysha Burney’s *Shiesty*, and have also worked as a stunt performer and across other independent productions.
* **Social Media & On-Camera:** I spent nearly three years as an official **Social Media Producer and performer for the University of Central Missouri**, creating content both behind and in front of the camera. I also independently produce content across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
* **Music:** I’m continuing to develop professionally as a **singer, songwriter, and musical artist**, expanding the performance side of my work beyond acting.
* **What Sets Me Apart:** Versatility. I don’t only understand my individual role in a production—I understand how the entire process comes together. Being an actor who also understands cinematography, editing, audio, writing, and production allows me to approach performances from both the **artist’s and producer’s perspective**.
* **What I’m Most Proud Of:** Turning something that began as a dream at 16 into my full-time profession, while representing **St. Louis, the Midwest, and young Black creatives** in spaces where we aren’t always heavily represented. I’m proud that my voice and production work can entertain people while also contributing to educational and meaningful projects.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
**Passion, persistence, and staying spiritually grounded.** I’ve battled with my mental health, and I’ve learned the importance of holding onto every blessing and having respect for both the good and bad seasons of life.
I try to remain **solid in who I am, but malleable enough to grow**. The difficult days prepare me for the next ones just as much as the successes do. Staying connected spiritually helps me maintain hope for the future and trust in my ability to keep learning, adapting, and performing.
Ultimately, I think success comes from refusing to lose faith in your own growth. Passion keeps me moving, persistence keeps me working, and spirituality keeps me grounded through all of it.
Pricing:
- * Rates vary depending on the **scope, usage, duration, and production requirements** of each project. * Available for **voice acting, on-camera performance, UGC/content creation, and multimedia production**. * Custom quotes are available for commercial campaigns, recurring partnerships, and larger productions. * I welcome inquiries from **independent creators, businesses, agencies, and established brands**.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://JustinWilliamsMedia.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yng_emiya/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinwilliamsmedia
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Yng_Emiya
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/S5ZKfOtbY7xsMFSjwl
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@yng_emiya
