WHO?

My name is Matison LeBlanc, and I am a self-made creative professional who prides herself on the ability to adapt, overcome, and take initiative. I was born and raised in the small town of Morgan City, Louisiana, and I recently became a first generation college graduate from the Savannah College of Art and Design where I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BFA in Film and Television and a minor in Dramatic Writing. Back in 2019 when I moved away for the first time in my life to attend college, I realized how truly unique of an experience it  was to grow up in a small town, specifically in South Louisiana. Growing up, I remember thinking this would be such a setback in my life— “How will I ever get out of here? There’s nothing for me here,” I used to think. Oh, how wrong I was. I’m 22 now, and I’d say one of the most profound lessons I’ve learned entering adulthood is that being born in Morgan City, Louisiana, is not one of my fatal flaws, but one of my greatest strengths.

I feel a profound responsibility as an artist and as a Louisiana native to tell the untold stories of my culture and heritage, and to give a voice to those often misrepresented in the media, which is what inspired me to write my first feature screenplay Ada and the Doc, based on the untold true story of a murder scandal that took place in my hometown back in 1927, which led to the first woman to be executed by the state of Louisiana. My storytelling is simultaneously both for and in spite of my background. For it, because there are so many untold Cajun stories that deserve to be told, and the ones that have been told often misrepresent our culture in the media— in spite of it, because I was discouraged time and time again by my community from pursuing a career in the arts, and I am so grateful that I didn’t let the opinions of others deter me from pursuing my dreams.

So, off I went to one of the top art schools in the country, and I did not look back. I began my career at SCAD as a painting major, but during my second quarter there, I took a film class on a whim and fell in love with the medium. There’s no other art form like it — so many different creative departments coming together to create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. I also figured, if I’m going to one of the top art schools in the country, I might as well take advantage and have them teach me something I’ve never done before. Up until that point, I had strictly only dabbled in the fine arts: painting, drawing, sculpting, and writing. I picked up a pencil at the age of four, and I haven't put it down since. I’ve been storytelling through different mediums for as long as I can remember. I’ve always understood the inherent importance of art, even if no one else around me did growing up. Art is about inter-human connection. It is simply a form of communication: it makes the intangible, tangible. And I’ve found there truly is no better way to connect with people than through the universal, immersive language of film. There has never been a more easily decipherable art discipline. 

I believe my multifaceted skillset is one of my greatest strengths, which is why this website showcases such a broad portfolio. I want to create worlds that people can get lost in, and I want to tell stories that matter. I want to make people feel something, and I can think of no better way to achieve this goal than through the immersive art of filmmaking. As a passionate and motivated professional, I’m constantly striving to improve my techniques, expand my skillset and find new opportunities to grow. 

For more information about my experience, portfolio, or how we can collaborate on an upcoming project, get in touch today!