Dom Campbell
a life in Cinema
2016
The Last Draw, his first short film
Out the gate, Dom Campbell put his self-taught skills to the test after countless hours studying YouTube creators like Film Riot. He wrote and directed his first short film — The Last Draw. Fueled by passion to film, the project laid the foundation for his journey into independent filmmaking.
2017
Bitten by the filmmaking bug, Dom Campbell quickly developed and released two more short films within the same year. Inspired by the imaginative worlds of Steven Spielberg and James Cameron, he explored science fiction through two ambitious projects — Project Armageddon, centered around the aftermath of an alien invasion, and Dimension: Planet Earth, following a young Zeus sent to Earth to discover his true purpose
Though limited by budget and resources, the projects reflected Campbell’s growing imagination and determination to create worlds far bigger than his environment. Each film became another hands-on lesson in storytelling, visual effects, directing, and the realities of independent filmmaking — shaping the foundation of the filmmaker he would later become.
2018
TURNING POINT After developing his first feature-length film, Bad Business, a story about a group of friends on their yearly couple's retreat, Dom Campbell reached a major turning point in his filmmaking journey. With a runtime exceeding 60 minutes — far beyond his earlier 10–12 minute shorts — the project demanded a new level of discipline, leadership, and commitment. From casting sessions to weeks of rehearsals, a family-like bond was formed among the cast and crew...
Operating under the banner of Show Room Studios — now known as Emperium Studios — the team spent weeks in production, including a weekend in Hocking Hills, they created what became more than just a film, but an event for the local Columbus community. At the time, large-scale independent film premieres within the Black community were rare in the city, echoing a spirit not widely seen since the local filmmaking movements of the late 1990s.
The momentum surrounding Bad Business quickly grew. The film received local press coverage from outlets including Fox 28, Radio One’s Magic 95.5, and support from several local businesses. In February 2019, Campbell SOLD OUT his premiere screening at the Gateway Film Center, drawing a crowd of more than 200 attendees. The overwhelming response even led theater staff to request an encore screening. However, despite the success, Campbell respectfully declined. Watching the audience react to his work in real time revealed areas where he felt the film’s pacing and structure could improve. Rather than chasing the moment, he chose refinement. Months later, after reworking the film, Campbell released the DVD edition on April 20, 2019 — personally selling copies out of the trunk of his car throughout the city.
This became the defining moment where Campbell no longer saw filmmaking as only an art form — he began to see the business behind it.
2019
2020's
The birth of Emperium Studios
2021
Though Emperium Studios was officially filed in November 2020, its true beginning started earlier that fall during the production of The Female Hustler. Inspired by his own mother, Dom Campbell set out to create an uplifting rags-to-riches story aimed at inspiring young women chasing success against difficult odds.
Determined to build upon the momentum of Bad Business, Campbell wrote and directed a small short called 'Romance' then repeated the same blueprint that had begun shaping his filmmaking identity with 'The Female Hustler' — weeks of rehearsals, a family-like atmosphere among cast and crew, and creating films that felt like cultural events for the local Columbus community. This time, however, the road proved far more difficult.
As the world grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic, local support became harder to secure. Press opportunities slowed, businesses hesitated, and theater restrictions limited seating capacities across the country. But rather than waiting for momentum, Campbell created his own. Investing money from his personal savings, he launched grassroots marketing campaigns throughout Columbus, including purchasing billboard advertisements in well-known neighborhoods to build awareness for the film.
In April 2021, despite pandemic restrictions still affecting theaters, Campbell successfully packed AMC Easton for the premiere screening of The Female Hustler. Once again, the community showed up. What began as another independent film release was quickly evolving into something larger — the official emergence of Emperium Studios.
STREAMING ERA — Coming off the local success of another independent film, Dom Campbell entered a new chapter in the summer of 2021 after securing a distribution deal with Homestead Entertainment, a boutique distributor focused on Black and Brown storytelling. Through the partnership, Campbell’s work would be introduced to a rising platform that was still largely unknown to mainstream audiences at the time — Tubi.
Built around an ad-supported model, Tubi was quietly creating a new lane for independent filmmakers by giving audiences free access to films while paying creators in ways traditional independent distribution often could not. The platform sparked a wave of opportunity for low-budget filmmakers across the country, opening the door for underserved voices and independent stories to reach massive audiences.
In November 2021, The Female Hustler officially premiered on Tubi — and the response was explosive. Within its first 90 days, the film surpassed more than 100 million minutes viewed, instantly transforming Emperium Studios from a passion project into a real business.
The film quickly developed a viral presence across social media platforms, particularly on Twitter — before its rebrand to X — and Facebook, where clips, debates, and audience reactions circulated for months. For Campbell, the moment validated not only the power of independent storytelling, but also the growing influence of streaming platforms in the new era of filmmaking.
With momentum now building nationally and a distributor officially behind him, Campbell immediately shifted his focus toward preparing the next chapter of Emperium Studios.
A BORN ENTERTAINER
ACTOR. FILMMAKER. STORYTELLER. — Frequently appearing in his own productions, Dom Campbell also co-starred in The Female Hustler, reconnecting with his childhood roots in theater and performance. A natural entertainer at heart, Campbell continued collaborating with local artists and creatives, witnessing firsthand how filmmaking was beginning to change lives around him — including his own. For the first time, he felt he was truly walking in his purpose.
2022
Campbell secured his first angel investment, allowing him to expand both the scale and ambition of his productions. The funding led to the creation of his second feature film, Temporary Suspicion — a mystery thriller centered around a man desperately trying to uncover why everyone in his life suddenly no longer remembers who he is.
Stepping outside of his usual routine, Campbell began casting talent beyond Columbus, tapping into the growing buzz surrounding Detroit actors and filmmakers who were rapidly dominating the Tubi independent film space. Understanding the importance of audience familiarity and regional momentum, he strategically blended recognizable talent with a different style of storytelling to broaden the reach of Emperium Studios.
THE FEMALE HUSTER 2
UPPING THE PRODUCTION VALUE — With momentum building behind what had now become a successful franchise, Dom Campbell elevated every aspect of production for The Female Hustler 2. For the first time in his career, the film was shot on RED cinema cameras — a dream piece of equipment Campbell had admired since his high school years while studying filmmaking and cinematography online.
Beyond the upgraded cameras, the sequel marked Campbell’s largest and most ambitious production to date. Every department expanded in scale, from lighting and wardrobe to locations and overall production coordination. Determined to push the franchise forward, Campbell secured his first celebrity attachment — Jamal “Gravy” Woolard, widely recognized for portraying The Notorious B.I.G., along with appearances in numerous independent films. He also brought on rising musical artist Miss Raindrop, helping broaden the film’s cultural reach and audience appeal.
With a significantly larger cast and crew, Campbell navigated the difficult challenge of securing more than 32 filming locations across Central Ohio for the independent production. The scale of the sequel reflected not only the growth of Emperium Studios, but Campbell’s expanding vision as a filmmaker and producer.
The Female Hustler 2 was no longer simply a follow-up film — it became the expansion of a cinematic universe Campbell believed still had far more stories left to tell.
BUILDING THE LIBRARY
FROM DIRECTOR TO EXECUTIVE PRODUCER — As Emperium Studios continued to grow, Dom Campbell began shifting his focus beyond directing his own stories and toward helping other creatives bring their visions to life. Inspired by the passion and untapped talent within his community, Campbell stepped into a new role as a full-time Executive Producer — mentoring filmmakers, developing concepts, and helping transform raw ideas into marketable independent films.
Watching the impact of his earlier projects motivated a new chapter for Emperium Studios. Campbell realized many of the stories surrounding him had the potential to resonate with audiences on streaming platforms like Tubi, particularly within the growing independent film movement centered around authentic Black storytelling.
Following the success of The Female Hustler franchise, Campbell expanded the Emperium slate by writing and executive producing a variety of genre-driven films, including Her Way (2023), the studio’s first comedy; Tears For Tasha (2024), an emotionally driven drama; and Affliction: Toxic Misery (2024), a romance thriller that would go on to become Emperium Studios’ biggest release outside of The Female Hustler franchise.
In interviews, Campbell often spoke about the deeper fulfillment he found in collaboration. Beyond directing, he discovered a new warmth in helping others see their imagination transformed into cinematic experiences that audiences around the world could connect with. For him, filmmaking was no longer only about personal vision — it became about creating opportunities, empowering artists, and building a creative ecosystem larger than himself.
.png)
CHILDREN, FAMILY, & CARTOONS
In between film productions, Dom Campbell began exploring the world of children’s entertainment. Inspired by being a father of three, the idea first sparked in 2021 during the production of The Female Hustler. His son, DJ Campbell, appeared in a small role as “Bug,” a gifted 7-year-old computer hacker who quickly became a standout character in the film. Natural on camera and surprisingly professional for his age, DJ reminded Campbell of the same childhood excitement he once had about movies and storytelling.
Inspired by both his son’s performance and his own love for imaginative adventure stories, Campbell created a spin-off web series titled A Kid Named Bug. The series followed Bug, now an 8-year-old computer nerd building a video game with his best friend Mark, until he discovers he possesses unusual abilities — including the power to teleport into a digital dimension known as the Cyber World. Recruited by a secret agency, Bug is tasked with protecting the cyber universe from growing digital threats.
For Campbell, the experience became one of the most enjoyable productions of his career. Working with children — especially his own son — brought back a deep sense of nostalgia from his own childhood dreams of being in movies. Through DJ, Campbell watched those dreams come alive from a completely new perspective.
However, a new challenge quickly emerged. Campbell began noticing the rapidly changing landscape of children’s entertainment and the difficulties surrounding monetization in the digital era. More importantly, the young cast members were growing up fast. After nearly a year away from production before returning to film the second season, the physical changes were impossible to ignore — noticeable height growth, deeper voices, and aging that threatened the continuity of the series itself.
Campbell realized time was working against the project. Unless he adapted quickly, the world of A Kid Named Bug would outgrow itself. Then the idea clicked — animation.
Ending the second season with a dramatic transition from live-action into animation, Campbell introduced audiences to a future version of Bug and his friends within a fully animated world. The cliffhanger hinted at an even larger universe ahead. But stepping into animation introduced another obstacle entirely: cost. Unlike the lower-budget independent films Campbell had mastered, the scale and quality of animation he envisioned required resources far beyond what he had experienced before.
Still, the challenge did not stop him.
.png)
2024
Dom Campbell collaborated with his son once again on the short psychological thriller What Happened to the Bodies. Stepping outside of his beloved “Bug” character from A Kid Named Bug, DJ Campbell took on a far darker and more emotionally intense role — showcasing a completely different side of his young acting abilities.
The film follows Hakkem Jr., a troubled young boy being questioned by a suspicious doctor regarding the mysterious disappearance — and presumed deaths — of a group of children. Blending psychological tension with mystery and unsettling atmosphere, the short allowed both father and son to creatively experiment beyond the worlds of family entertainment and science fiction.
What began as a collaborative passion project between the two quickly gained recognition, with the short going on to win multiple awards across several categories during its festival run. For Campbell, the project became another meaningful milestone — not only as a filmmaker, but as a father watching his son evolve artistically in front of the camera.
EXPANDING THE VISION
Seeking greater opportunities and deeper industry connections, Dom Campbell relocated to Los Angeles for a year, where he focused on building relationships, exploring new ventures, and further expanding the vision behind Emperium Studios. While in California, Campbell continued developing projects across film, technology, and children’s entertainment — but one pivotal moment would take place far beyond Hollywood.
In a major step toward understanding the global children’s entertainment industry, Campbell traveled to France October 2024 to attend MIP Junior and MIPCOM — two of the world’s largest entertainment markets for television, animation, and international distribution. There, he immersed himself in the business side of children’s media, meeting established executives, creators, distributors, and artists from around the world.
Originally attending the market to pitch a new animated preschool series titled Techie Tots, Campbell unexpectedly left with something even more valuable — a new creative partnership. During the trip, he connected with the owner of an animation studio, and the two quickly bonded over shared ambitions, underserved audiences, and the future of independent animation. Together, they began strategizing ways their talents, resources, and visions could support one another long-term.
While in France, Campbell also experienced a major industry realization: the landscape for selling children’s television had drastically changed. Traditional broadcast gatekeepers were no longer the only path forward, as platforms like YouTube had begun reshaping how children’s content was discovered, consumed, and monetized globally.
Techie Tots represented Campbell’s global approach to storytelling — a preschool animated series centered around a family of computer chips and tech parts living inside a digital motherboard city, solving technology-related problems throughout their community. Designed to introduce toddlers to the basics of technology, teamwork, and problem-solving, the series reflected Campbell’s continued passion for merging entertainment with education. The project remains an active long-term development within the Emperium ecosystem.
Out of these new relationships and creative ambitions, Campbell and his animation partners launched Emperium Animation — a separate label operating alongside Emperium Studios, but deeply connected to its larger mission. Much like his early independent films focused on underserved voices, Campbell envisioned the animation division as a platform for culturally relevant stories, imaginative worlds, and original art created for communities often overlooked within mainstream animation.
"We Create Our Own Luck"
- Dom Campbell
2026
SHIFTING HIS CINEMATIC APPROACH
After years of building within the streaming space, Dom Campbell shifted his cinematic approach and returned to the director’s chair with a renewed focus on grounded storytelling and elevated production quality. Marking the end of what he would later describe as his “Tubi era,” Campbell began pursuing more emotionally layered and cinematic projects inspired by real-life experiences and human complexity.
This new chapter began with the release of the mystery thriller Ava and The Boy She Loved, a psychological drama centered around betrayal, obsession, and murder. In addition to directing, Campbell co-starred in the film as a detective interrogating the lead character Ava following the mysterious death of her husband and the uncovering of a hidden affair.
The project generated strong local attention and press coverage throughout Columbus, including features from Fox 28, NBC 4, Power 107.5, and several other media outlets. For Campbell, the film represented more than another release — it symbolized a creative reset and a return to intentional filmmaking rooted in emotion, tension, and authenticity.
Following his return from Los Angeles, Campbell began moving away from fast-paced streaming content in favor of more prestige-driven storytelling. Drawing once again from the inspiration of his mother and personal life experiences, his next upcoming project, Every Mile Home, would become one of his most personal and ambitious works yet — a high-level dramatic short film centered around family, sacrifice, and emotional truth.
Every Mile Home is based on a true story — a deeply personal chapter from Dom Campbell’s life that would become a defining moment between him and his mother. Inspired by the emotional weight of that experience, Campbell believed the story could resonate far beyond his own life and inspire others facing similar struggles surrounding family, sacrifice, and identity.
Carrying the emotional spirit of classic dramas like Losing Isaiah, the film embraces grounded performances, raw emotion, and prestige-style storytelling. To bring the vision to life, Campbell assembled a talented group of artists and actors, many with years of experience across theater, television, and independent cinema, all contributing authentic and deeply human portrayals of their characters.
With plans for an extended film festival run, Every Mile Home represents another evolution in Campbell’s artistry — a deliberate step toward more mature, cinematic storytelling designed to challenge perceptions of his work and showcase his growth as a filmmaker.
Sream Dom's Projects
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |