We’re looking forward to introducing you to Milan Williams. Check out our conversation below.
Milan, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Lately, I’ve been really enjoying discovering new cafés and restaurants around San Diego. I’m a big foodie, and there’s something so fun and relaxing about trying a new spot—especially when it involves a great iced coffee or matcha. One place I recently loved is El Riqui Marisqueria: https://www.mariscoselriqui.com/
The decor and atmosphere are super stylish, the staff is incredibly welcoming, and their coffee was excellent too! It’s been a nice way to slow down, explore the city, and enjoy good food and good vibes.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Milan Williams, and I wear a lot of creative hats—Video Producer, Cinematographer, Video Editor, Motion Graphics Designer, Photographer, and occasional dancer.
At my core, I’m a visual storyteller. I founded MIMSTERUNNIE LLC to offer freelance creative services that help brands and individuals bring their ideas to life through compelling, polished, and emotionally resonant content. Whether I’m filming on location, animating motion graphics, editing a brand video, or snapping portraits, I believe I thrive at the intersection of storytelling and design.
Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with a wide variety of clients and collaborators across the United States. Currently, I work as the Video and Motion Content Producer for Berkshire Blanket & Home Co., where I handle video production and motion graphics for both their in-house brand and large retail partners like Costco, Walmart, QVC, TJ Maxx, and even legacy brands like Peanuts. It’s fast-paced, collaborative work that constantly challenges me to refine my visual style while meeting the evolving needs of a national audience.
MIMSTERUNNIE LLC has been my passion project and my business for nearly a decade now. As a freelancer, I provide everything from full-scale video production and motion design to graphic design and photography. I love the freedom and diversity that comes with freelancing—one day I might be directing a product shoot, and the next I’m editing a social campaign or designing motion assets for a nonprofit. I also had the privilege of being selected for UP’s Unlock Her Potential mentorship program, where I was mentored by two industry powerhouses: Amber Rasberry, Senior Creative Film Executive at Amazon Studios, and Sophia Chang, best known for managing the Wu-Tang Clan. Their insights into the entertainment and creative industries were incredibly impactful and helped me deepen my sense of purpose in my career.
In 2019, I was selected as a W+K Studios Resident at the iconic creative agency Wieden+Kennedy. That experience opened doors to working on campaigns for Nike, Coca-Cola, Old Spice, and GirlGaze, and allowed me to bring my skills in cinematography, motion graphics, and screenwriting into a commercial advertising context. It was an intense, rewarding experience that shaped how I collaborate with brands to create content that’s not just visually sharp, but also meaningful.
Earlier in my career, I held a motion design role at ButterLove&Hardwork, where I helped bring their bold Valentine’s Day campaign, “LOVE IS A DRUG,” to life. I also worked as a Creative Intern at PayPal, contributing to instructional and corporate content—including eLearning modules, internal communication videos, and interactive assets. I’ve designed photo composites, animated 2D characters, and developed social content during my time with Toymail Co. in New York as well.
Academically, I earned both my BFA in Motion Media Design and my MFA in Film & Television from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). My technical foundation began even earlier when I earned a Certification in Graphic Design from the Advanced Technology Center in Virginia Beach. These programs gave me the skills and creative discipline to work across a wide range of media and platforms—and they also helped me become a better storyteller.
Above all, I value collaboration, creativity, and clarity. I believe that strong storytelling comes from understanding the audience, listening to the client, and pushing past the surface to find something that resonates. I bring a strong work ethic and a sense of play to every project—whether I’m behind the camera, animating frames late at night, or dancing between takes.
MIMSTERUNNIE LLC is a reflection of who I am: multifaceted, intentional, and driven by a deep love of visual storytelling.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Who was I before the world told me who I had to be?
That question hits deep.
Whenever I sit with it, my mind immediately drifts to a song — Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides, Now” (2000 orchestral version).
“I’ve looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose, and still somehow
It’s life’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know life at all.”
It’s not exactly the peppiest tune — but it’s one I return to, again and again. Not because of its melancholy nature, but because of its forgiveness. That’s what I’ve learned most over the years — the value of forgiving. Not just others, but also the past versions of myself… especially the one I was before the world stepped in and told me who I should be.
There’s a line in the song that hits me every time:
“Something’s lost and something’s gained in living every day.”
That is everything.
Working in the creative and entertainment industry, you’re constantly told: keep up, stay relevant, evolve or be left behind. The pressure to conform can be overwhelming. And while reinvention is a natural part of artistry, there’s a toxic side to chasing every trend, every algorithm. I’m learning, now more than ever, that it’s about balance.
I feel like I’m in that season now — the season of finding balance between creative survival and soul preservation.
When I first entered the industry, I was full of fire — radical ideas, bold visions. My first independent mini-film? It was about a vampire seeking redemption and finally making it to heaven, set to Shirley Caesar’s electrifying “Satan, We’re Gonna Tear Your Kingdom Down.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQIGhp8E8oU
So yeah — you can tell where my mind was. 😅
But when you come in hot, the industry often wants to cool you down. And if you’re not careful, you go completely cold. I had moments where I was ice. Just moving through the motions. A vessel for whatever was needed — horror, drama, animation, stop motion… you name it, I did it. But somewhere along the way, I stopped doing me.
It wasn’t until the stillness of the pandemic that I realized how far I’d drifted. I needed to reconnect with the version of myself that existed before the labels, the boxes, the hustle.
That’s when I launched my visual podcast: IKIGAI.
Ikigai (生き甲斐) is a Japanese word that means:
“A reason for being” or
“A reason to wake up in the morning.”
生き (iki) = “life”
甲斐 (gai) = “worth” or “value”
The podcast was an exploration — a conversation with others about passion, purpose, meaning, creativity, and connection. I figured if I was asking those questions, others were too. And I was right. IKIGAI became a way for me and my creative community to stay mentally and spiritually grounded during a chaotic time.
In hindsight, I’m grateful for what that time gave me. It helped me see “both sides now” — who I was before and who I’d become.
I’m still learning how to blend those parts into someone whole. But I think that’s what art, life, and forgiveness are really about.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell her: You don’t have to carry everything so heavily. Life isn’t meant to be a constant test of your strength. You’re doing the best you can with what you’ve been given — and that’s enough.
Now… struggle? Struggle will show up whether you RSVP or not. But the upside is — it gives you a killer sense of humor. Honestly, the funniest people I know have suffered. Like, if you meet someone truly hilarious? Just know: something probably went down. I’m convinced laughter doesn’t just make you live longer — it makes the surviving part worth it.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
That you have to be just one thing — that’s one of the biggest critiques I’ve faced throughout my career.
I’ve often been labeled a generalist rather than a specialist. And it’s true — I can do nearly every part of the video production process: from Screenwriting and Copywriting to Video Editing, Motion Graphics, and even Sound Design.
Whenever I’d explain this in industry spaces, I’d get those familiar looks — as if being versatile was somehow a weakness. But I’ve never seen it that way. In fact, I believe the opposite: that Filmmaking, at its core, demands a level of fluency across disciplines.
To edit a film, campaign, or AD effectively, you need a sense of story. You need to understand pacing, structure, and emotional flow — all of which come from Screenwriting. The shorter the medium, the more crucial that understanding becomes.
To direct anything — whether it’s a commercial spot, a stop-motion sequence, or a fully animated piece — you need a vision of the final result. And to communicate that vision clearly, you need at least a working knowledge of every element involved: Motion Design, Cinematography, Animation, Post-Production.
Without that, you’re essentially building a machine with missing screws. It might run for a while, but eventually… it breaks.
This is why I believe we should be teaching emerging Filmmakers and visual storytellers every part of the craft — not boxing them into one lane, but giving them the full toolkit. In today’s creative world, being multidimensional isn’t a liability — it’s a strength. It’s how you make work that lasts.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
What I believe my customers would miss most is my human-centered approach — whether it’s through Photography, Video, or Sound Design.
People are always at the heart of my storytelling. I’m drawn to the complexity of the human experience — the subtleties of emotion, the crease in a chin just before tears fall, the unfiltered joy in a child’s laugh. Humans are, to me, the most fascinating subjects in the world.
Whether I’m playfully chasing a toddler with a camera during a children’s photoshoot or capturing the quiet intimacy between a couple in film — MIMSTERUNNIE LLC is built on the belief that the most powerful content begins and ends with people.
Every frame, every sound, every story is shaped with that in mind.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mimsterunnie.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mimsterunnie/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milan-williams-655635b2/
