We believe the American Dream looks different depending on who's telling the story.
From the streets of Detroit to the larger American experience, our films explore the ambition, struggle, contradictions, and consequences that shape people's lives.
Courtney R. Brown Jr., the visionary partner of Big Boss Filmworks, and various other enterprises, is a distinguished alumnus of NYC College and a graduate of Western Michigan University.
His global travels and extensive business engagements have equipped him with a unique perspective that transcends borders. Despite a privileged upbringing, Mr. Brown remains deeply connected to the struggles faced by his community.
Today, as an accomplished filmmaker, author, and business consultant, Mr. Brown channels his diverse life experiences into the creative realm. Through Big Boss Filmworks, he is dedicated to authentically portraying the urban experience.
His mission is clear: to shed light on the truths of life in the struggle, offering powerful narratives that resonate with audiences worldwide.
Courtney R. Brown Jr. continues to leave an indelible mark, shaping narratives that reflect the resilience, complexity, and authenticity of the human experience.
Lewis F. Stevens Big Boss Filmworks' Inspired Partner is a Detroit-based filmmaker, producer, and writer whose work is rooted in storytelling, culture, and the preservation of authentic experiences.
Stevens studied film at Wayne State University, developing the foundation for a creative career that would span filmmaking, documentary production, screenwriting, and visual storytelling. His work has received festival recognition, including a win at the New York Film Festival in Los Angeles, while one of his documentary projects was showcased by HBO at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival.
Throughout his career, Stevens has collaborated with a range of respected creative figures, including legendary Motown arranger and composer Paul Riser. His writing has also attracted attention beyond the independent film world. His first screenplay, The Kingpin’s Kid, was reviewed and admired by influential Hollywood executive Michael Ovitz and venture capitalist and tech visionary Ben Horowitz.
As a filmmaker, producer, and writer with Big Boss Filmworks, Stevens continues to develop projects that explore culture, history, identity, and the complexities of the human experience. His approach combines documentary instinct with cinematic storytelling, drawing from real people, real environments, and stories that are often overlooked or misunderstood.
For Stevens, filmmaking is more than entertainment. It is a means of documenting culture, preserving stories, and giving lasting form to experiences that deserve to be seen, heard, and remembered.
Big Boss Filmworks is a Detroit-based independent film and television production company dedicated to bringing overlooked stories and firsthand perspectives to the screen. Our work explores the intersection of history, culture, ambition, and the human experience, giving a voice to people and communities whose stories are too often told by others.
Founded by Courtney Brown Jr. and Lewis F. Stevens, Big Boss Filmworks has spent more than a decade producing documentaries and original programming rooted in authenticity and lived experience. From Detroit's streets to the broader American landscape, we've built our reputation on access, trust, and a commitment to telling compelling stories without compromising the people or the truth behind them.
Photo Lenny Burnette (Homestead, Uptown Magazine) Courtney Brown Jr
