Joseph Royston
Joseph is a storyteller and filmmaker based in Atlanta, Georgia. While filmmaking is what he does, it’s only one part of who he is. Above all else, he hopes to be known as a loving husband, present father, loyal friend, and follower of Jesus. He believes the best stories come from a life lived with purpose, and his heart is to use creativity to serve others and make a lasting impact.
What dream are you currently turning into reality?
I'm truly living the dream, as cliché as that sounds. I have gotten the chance to do some amazing projects with Bethel Music, ESPN, Steph Curry, and Gatorade. On top of that, I've always dreamed of becoming a dad, and now that dream is becoming a reality. My wife is pregnant with our first child, a boy! Thank you, Jesus.
When did you first realize you discovered your dream?
I definitely didn’t take the most direct path to get here. Growing up, I always knew I was creative and had a desire to make people feel something, I just didn’t realize video would be the medium.
I grew up in a small town in Alabama, but I always knew I wanted to explore beyond it. When it came time for college, I decided to spend my first year at my local community college while interning at my church. During my very first week, my youth pastor put a camera in my hands and asked me to tell a few stories about what Jesus was doing in people's lives.
The first story I filmed changed everything. I had never felt closer to the Lord, and I became obsessed with that feeling. Watching His redemptive work unfold through someone else's story made Him feel more real to me than ever before. That experience gave me purpose and showed me exactly what I wanted to do.
At the same time, I knew I didn't want to stay in my hometown forever. I wanted to experience new places and challenge myself. I set a goal to transfer to Auburn University after my first year. As one of six kids, paying for Auburn wasn't an option on my own, so I became a firefighter/EMT for the city. In return, they paid for my college, and that's exactly what I did.
I share all of that because people often think dreams happen overnight. The reality is they're built over years of sacrifice, hard work, and a lot of small, faithful steps. Looking back, every part of the journey, even the unexpected detours prepared me for where I am today.
How does your faith go hand in hand with pursuing your dream?
You have to remember where your creativity comes from. We were made in the image of the CREATOR OF ALL THINGS. When you truly remember that, you begin to see your creativity with a whole new sense of gratitude and purpose. It's not something you earned, it's a gift that was freely given to you. What an incredible gift.
What’s one or two practical steps you take to keep moving forward?
Surround yourself with people you aspire to become like. If someone is better than you at something, don't see them as competition, see them as an opportunity to learn. Lean in, ask questions, stay teachable, and remain humble. That's how you grow.
Some of the best projects you create are the ones you don't get paid for. It's important to remember to create simply for the joy of creating. If you don't, the thing you once loved can slowly start to feel like just another job instead of the passion you were fortunate enough to be paid for.
What encouragement would you share with someone who’s going after their dream?
When I was in 8th grade, I had a big history project due, and I always struggled a little in school with staying focused and feeling overwhelmed. I remember finally sitting down to work on it, pulling out the instructions, and seeing the very first sentence on the page: “Remember, the hardest part is getting started.”
That sentence has stayed with me ever since. The feeling of being overwhelmed by a big project has never completely gone away, but whenever that feeling comes back, I think about 8th grade Joe and that simple reminder. He finished that project, not because it suddenly became easy, but because he took the first step.
That lesson has carried with me throughout my creative career. Sometimes the hardest part of any project is simply beginning, and once you do, you gain the momentum to see it through. Shout out to my 8th grade History Teacher, Coach Brown.