Justin D. Hilliard was born in Fort Worth, Texas, where his creative journey began at the tender age of ten, as he started making films.
He further honed his skills at the University of Texas at Arlington, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Film. During his time at UTA, Justin had the opportunity to collaborate with digital artist and cinematographer, Ryan Hartsell, laying the foundation for a long-term creative partnership.
Upon graduating, Justin and Ryan decided to embark on their first feature film project, 'Wednesday', which was shot on location in Texas, California, and London, England. This marked the beginning of a fruitful and collaborative relationship between the two creatives.
In May 2007, Justin tied the knot with his long-time girlfriend and collaborator, Arianne Martin, solidifying their partnership both personally and professionally.
In the summer of 2008, Striped Socks Productions, now joined by producer Arianne Martin, began production on the comedy-drama 'The Other Side of Paradise'. The film premiered at the 2009 AFIDallas International Film Festival and went on to play in over thirty festivals, garnering several awards along the way. The film was eventually released theatrically in New York City on December 18th.
More recently, Justin's work 'A Father' was selected for inclusion in the Lars Von Trier-produced project 'Gesamt', which was showcased in several museums across Europe. Today, Justin resides with his family in New Mexico, where he continues to write and prepare for future projects.
