At an age where many young talents are still figuring out the difference between TikTok trends and true artistic expression, Dylan Fontenot stands out like a rebel with a cause and a camera in hand. This prodigy is not just another kid with a camcorder; he’s a bona fide filmmaking sensation in the making, whose journey into the heart of cinema is marked by an intense commitment and passion rarely seen at such a tender age.
Dylan’s love affair with filmmaking didn’t just happen overnight—it was a slow burn that erupted into a roaring fire of creativity. From the first time he picked up a camera, he was hooked. “My interest was piqued when I was about 9 years old,” he recalls. “I would make films with my friends, and one year, I convinced them to join the Florida Film Academy summer camp with me.”
This wasn’t just some hobby or a phase; what began as a summer pastime soon became a steadfast commitment.
“At first, I never considered filmmaking to be a realistic option,” he explains. But that all changed his freshman year when his first feature film, Unlucky Number Three was accepted into a festival. “I started taking things more seriously, trying to improve my videos every single time. And since then, I’ve wanted to do nothing but make films.”
No longer just a fleeting interest, filmmaking became a potential career path, challenging Dylan to consider a future beyond the conventional. One of Dylan’s more notable films, Jazz is Dead, is a documentary that reflects his deep love for jazz music, not only showcasing his storytelling talent but also affirming his rising status as a filmmaker.
Like a young Scorsese or Spielberg, Dylan is already carving out his unique niche in the vast landscape of cinema. He plans to attend Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), where he’ll delve deeper into film and sound design. With his sights set on becoming a director of photography, Dylan admits, “There’s so much in the film industry; I’ve barely even scratched the surface. I look forward to harnessing my artistic style and discovering my niche.”
As Dylan embarks on the next chapter of his journey, his optimism is infectious. He eagerly anticipates collaborating with fellow creatives at SCAD and discovering new facets of filmmaking. For Dylan, every frame is an opportunity not just to capture a moment but to inspire and challenge perceptions—an ethos that promises to define his burgeoning career in the world of cinema.
