In an industry obsessed with big budgets and even bigger names, Daevion Markell Smith is quietly and powerfully rewriting the script from Virginia Beach. A gospel mime turned media mogul, Smith is the founder and creative executive behind DMS Studios, a rising multimedia powerhouse blending faith, storytelling, and cultural authenticity into an empire-in-the-making. From shooting films on an iPhone to establishing a network of production arms under the DMS banner, Smith is proving that creativity, resilience, and purpose can outshine even the glossiest studio setups.
“I didn’t wait for permission,” says Smith. “I built my own house.”
From Gospel Mime to Creative Visionary
Smith’s creative journey began not on a film set, but on a church stage using mime as a sacred art form to communicate emotion, faith, and healing. This foundation in expressive movement instilled in him a lifelong devotion to storytelling that’s layered, visual, and soul-stirring. While pursuing a degree in Legal Studies and working various jobs, Smith envisioned a space where stories rooted in faith, culture, and identity could be told outside of Hollywood’s narrow framework.
Enter DMS Studios, a media house he started from scratch with little more than an iPhone, a few friends, and a burning desire to create something meaningful. “There weren’t enough platforms that reflected who I was spiritual, creative, Black, and ambitious. So I decided to build one.”
Building a Studio for the Margins and the Mainstream
DMS Studios is now one of the most culturally diverse and boundary-pushing indie studios in the country. With subdivisions like DMS Studios News, DMS Kids, Luxavox, and DMS Family Entertainment, the studio produces everything from independent films and stage plays to news programming and children’s content. And behind each division is a core belief: that faith and excellence are not mutually exclusive, and that your story is the revolution.
In a world where mainstream media often overlooks niche artistry like mime or faith-driven narratives, Smith’s studio offers a multi-lane highway for underrepresented voices. “We don’t just make content, we create conversation,” he says.
One of the studio’s newest creative innovations, the “Shot on Apple. Styled by DMS.” campaign, emerged as a strategic response to economic pressures. By leaning into accessible technology and bold visual styling, the initiative proved that you don’t need million-dollar equipment to produce million-dollar ideas. “It’s not about the tools,” Smith says. “It’s about the intention.”
The Films, The Future, The Faith
DMS Studios’ upcoming film SevenFiveSeven is already building buzz for its raw depiction of community, resilience, and spiritual searching. It’s more than a film, it’s a cultural moment. And it reflects Smith’s broader mission: to create media that uplifts, reflects, and challenges.
But storytelling is only part of the equation. Smith is also laying the groundwork for a national expansion, with dreams of launching a streaming platform, live shows, and a performing arts conservatory called the Commonwealth Conservatory of Performance. His long-term vision is to position DMS Studios as a household name, an entertainment empire where faith meets future.
Mentorship, Message, and Meaning
For Smith, this journey has never been about fame. It’s about creating legacy. Through mentorship initiatives, faith-based performance workshops, and media consulting, DMS Studios continues to serve as a launchpad for young Black creatives, queer storytellers, and spiritual entrepreneurs. His message? Be multidimensional.
“You can be business-minded and spiritual. Analytical and artistic. There’s power in not choosing a box to live in.”
A Voice for a New Generation
As the recession challenged creatives across the board, Smith leaned harder into community, adaptability, and digital innovation. His ability to balance legal studies with a creative CEO role might seem extraordinary, but to him, it’s just part of the mission. “Progress isn’t always pretty, it’s persistent,” he says. “And I’m still showing up.”
In a world that often tells young creators to pick one path, Daevion Smith is paving many with faith as his compass, culture as his canvas, and stories as his tools of revolution.
Explore more:
You can follow Daevion Smith’s creative journey and the evolution of his powerhouse brand through two key platforms. For a behind-the-scenes look at his media empire, follow @dmsstudiosv, the official page of DMS Studios, where you’ll find exclusive content, film updates, and a vibrant celebration of storytelling rooted in faith and culture. For a more personal lens into Daevion’s life as a visionary, performer, and entrepreneur, his personal handle @marrrkell offers a closer look at the man behind the mission, raw, real, and relentlessly purpose-driven. Together, both pages paint a powerful portrait of an emerging creative force shaping the future of faith-based entertainment.
