Rule #1: Fun comes first. For Detroit’s own Philip Johnson, aka Philaye, filmmaking is simple – keep it fun, keep it real.
A relaxed and down-to-earth director and producer, he brings an easygoing vibe to his work, focusing on stories that feel genuine and relatable. For him, filmmaking is less about sweeping statements; it is about having a blast.
Picture this: friends on set, cracking up between takes, telling stories that do not take themselves too seriously. “Do I have a message?” he pauses, then shrugs. “No, I can’t think of one.” He laughs and adds, “Yeah, it’s literally about the fun and entertainment for me.”
But do not let all that fun fool you, Philip has a serious side too. By day, he is a financial analyst. “I’ve just always been very mathy,” he explains with a grin, like that is a totally normal thing to say.
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With a bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Michigan, he is crunching numbers and works on strategy, marketing, finance, accounting—all the things most filmmakers try to avoid.
“I loved business school,” he says, as if it is a confession. And it turns out, he has found the perfect way to bring those skills into his film work.
“Bringing that to the film world and to my creative peers,” he says, “I feel like it makes good synergy…because it also makes all the other parts possible.” In other words, he is the guy who keeps the lights on.
Philip’s journey into filmmaking began back in college, thanks to a nudge from his mom. While he was busy traveling and making recap videos of his study abroad trips, she noticed his knack for storytelling.
“I like these!” she would say, especially about his San Francisco videos. Suddenly, Philip found himself seeing the world through a lens. After college, he took on the role of finance chair for a campus fashion organization, where he raised $45,000 for their annual show.
It was then he had an epiphany: “This is how I want to combine my business degree with creative stuff.” And, voilà — Philaye Films was born.
Since moving to Los Angeles, Philip has made quite a name for himself within the city’s Black and queer communities. As the founder of Philaye Films, Inc. — an entertainment company he launched in 2018 — he writes, produces, directs, and acts in projects that hit close to home. His films and shows reflect the humor, quirks, and real-life stories of his community.
One of his first major brand partnerships came about purely by chance. In 2021, he featured a funny character from the Jack’d dating app in a short social media video. To his surprise, Jack’d reached out, and what was supposed to be a three-video deal turned into a three-year collaboration.
“It was completely random,” Philip laughs, “but that’s how some of the best opportunities happen.” Talk about being in the right place at the right time.
Philaye knows that content creation alone is not enough in today’s media landscape. Building strategic partnerships is essential for strengthening a brand and securing opportunities. Philip understands this perfectly! His latest project, “Jamaal,” an award-winning sci-fi dramedy, is set to release on HereTV on Nov. 8.
The film dives into a futuristic world through a Black lens, following a couple who encounter a mysterious AI. Blending humor with suspense, “Jamaal” explores the complexities of modern relationships and the AI craze.
With each project, Philip proves that filmmaking does not need to be overly serious to be impactful. Whether it is through laugh-out-loud moments, relatable stories, or clever brand collaborations, he is building a space for Black and queer voices to shine—one fun, unexpected opportunity at a time. And if you ask him, he is just getting started.
Follow Philaye’s journey and films at philayefilms.com and on Instagram @philaye
