Mr. Blake Martin

For Blake Martin, storytelling has never been confined to one medium. 

Every chapter of his career has simply been another way of learning how to tell better stories.

Long before he stepped behind a film camera, Martin built his career as a professional dancer, performing on national tours and appearing on some of entertainment's biggest stages. His work included performances for BET, appearances in MTV music videos, and opportunities alongside some of the industry's most recognizable artists. Those early years taught him rhythm, movement, collaboration, and perhaps most importantly, how emotion can be communicated without a single word.

That understanding of visual storytelling naturally led him into the world of fashion.

Over the next two decades, Martin became one of the most respected creative producers, producing hundreds of fashion shows while leading productions for some of the world's most recognizable brands, including New York Fashion Week, Gucci, Tommy Hilfiger, Timberland, Nike, and numerous luxury and commercial clients. As founder of Blake Martin Productions, he developed a reputation for creating experiences that blended fashion, performance, lighting, music, and emotion into unforgettable live events.

Then the world stopped.

When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the live event industry, Martin found himself asking a question that would ultimately change the trajectory of his career: What's next?

He bought a camera.

Without formal photography training, he immersed himself in learning the craft, studying light, composition, and portraiture with the same obsessive curiosity that had defined every previous chapter of his career. What began as a creative outlet quickly became one of the most recognized photography careers in the Midwest.

Since picking up a camera, Martin's work has appeared on multiple Vogue covers, been featured throughout Vogue and GQ, illuminated Times Square billboards, and graced more than 100 independent magazine covers. His portraits have been celebrated for their cinematic quality and emotional honesty, photographing everyone from emerging talent to nationally recognized actors, entertainers, and public figures.

Photography eventually opened a door Martin never expected.

He was invited to Cape Town, South Africa, to serve as the on-set still photographer for the BET series Average Joe. Surrounded by directors, actors, producers, cinematographers, and the organized chaos of television production, something clicked.

He had found the place he was always supposed to be.

On the 28-hour flight home from South Africa, Martin began writing his very first television pilot. Less than three months later, cameras were rolling.

Since then, his transition into filmmaking has been remarkably fast. As the creator, writer, and director of the independent drama series Sunday Evenings, Martin introduced audiences to emotionally grounded storytelling centered on complex relationships and authentic human experiences. The series generated more than 50,000 audience engagements and over two million social media impressions while earning screenings across multiple cities and establishing Martin as one of Chicago's emerging narrative voices.

His directing work has continued to expand through projects including MESSY LOLA, ON HOLD, M.A.I.D., ALONE, NOW, and an ambitious initiative to write and direct six short films in six months—a self-designed film school dedicated to sharpening his craft through relentless repetition, experimentation, and storytelling.

Martin's work is deeply influenced by filmmakers who have redefined Black cinema, including Spike Lee, Anthony Hemingway, and Ryan Coogler. Like the artists who inspired him, he is committed to telling character-driven stories that are emotionally truthful, visually striking, and culturally resonant. 

Whether exploring grief, love, identity, family, or hope, every project begins with the same question:

"How do we make people feel something?"

Beyond filmmaking, Martin is a proud graduate of Benedict College, a Historically Black College and University, where he earned his degree in Communication, Media, and Theatre. He later continued his business education through Harvard Business School, further developing the entrepreneurial foundation that has allowed him to build multiple successful creative companies while remaining an independent storyteller.

Today, Martin is the founder of 3rd Week of January Productions, an independent film studio dedicated to producing bold, character-driven stories that linger long after the credits roll. 

With Chicago serving as both his home and creative foundation, his mission extends beyond building a personal filmography. He is committed to helping elevate Chicago as a destination for world-class independent filmmaking while creating opportunities for the city's actors, crew members, and creative community.

For Blake Martin, every career—from dancer to producer, photographer to filmmaker—has simply been preparation for the one he was always meant to pursue.

This is only the beginning.