LS3 STUDIOS

Film Production Studio

LS3 Studios is an award-winning full-service film production studio in Louisiana.

 

We specialize in producing high-end video biographies for individuals, organizations, and businesses. Our goal is to create visually stunning and emotionally compelling stories that capture the essence of our subjects and showcase their accomplishments, values, and personalities.
We provide services in personal histories, photography, archival storytelling, film editing, website design, and filmmaking.

Read More

LS3 Studios

We would be honored to tell YOUR Story!

We pride ourselves on providing clear and intuitive access to archives,  information, and staging compelling narratives using digital media. The creative team of producers and writers are dedicated to educating, entertaining, and inspiring audiences through innovative storytelling.

As an independent studio, LS3 Studios has produced several award-winning documentaries.  Our most recent project, “A Place Called Desire,” was a finalist for Best Documentary at the San Diego Black Film Festival. Winner of a prestigious Award of Recognition Impact DOCS Award. It also won a Silver Telly Award and a Gold Digital AVA Award. It was a Semifinalist in the Rootstech 1st Film Fest. Nominated for the 2020-2021 LEH Humanities Documentary Film of the Year. Official Selection for the New Orleans Film Festival, Winner of the Best Documentary, and Winner of the Jury Audience Award in the Black Film Festival of New Orleans. Official Selection for the San Francisco Black Film Festival. Artie Nominee 2020 Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., New Orleans. “Life Stories of Raymond Andrew “Ray” Boseman,” winner of a Telly Award and Communicator Award, “From Shanghai to Harlem,” winner of the Gold AVA Award and Bronze Telly; “The 100th Anniversary of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church,” winner of two Bronze Telly Awards and “A Legend in the Classroom-The Life Story of Ms. Yvonne Busch,” winner of the AVA Platinum Award, Hermes Gold Award, and Bronze Telly Award.

Hire Us Now!
award-winning studio

Projects

The Clients We Have Served

LS3 Studios has a proven successful track record with storytelling. We have produced projects for: Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans Jazz Museum, Black and Indian Mission Office, Washington DC, Treme Charter School Association, Dillard University, Communities First Inc. (Flint, MI), Blessed Sacrament-St. Joan of Arc Parish, Ohio State University, Tulane University, Friends of Joe W. Brown Memorial Park, Rich Girl Collective, Fannie C. Williams Charter School, Narrative Network, New Orleans Public Library, Ruby’s Restaurant Lafayette, Royal T Fitness, LLC., Blueprint Marketing & Public Relations, The Iberia African American Historical Society, WYES-PBS, Cozy Couture SPA Parties, Roots of Faith: Ancestry on Catholic Life Television, Robert R. Moton Charter School, O2 Face and Body, Dr. Danielle Dore, CEO InsideHer, Second Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Herlin Riley, The Josephites, Terrebonne Genealogical Society, Peonage Detective, New Orleans Public Schools, St. Raymond-St. Leo Parish, Algiers Charter Schools Association, OW Dillion Preservation Organization, and the Louisiana Recovery School District.

San Diego Black Film Festival - Leonard Smith III
Leonard Smith III

Story Strategist

Story Strategist

Leonard Smith III is a story strategist and documentarian. He has been involved in every aspect of historical research from genealogy, photography, multimedia, archival storytelling, film-making, and music. Leonard’s company, LS3 Studios, has produced several award winning documentaries. 

  • 13 Awards in 2020/2022

His most recent project, “A Place Called Desire,” was a finalist for Best Documentary in the San Diego Black Film Festival. Winner of a prestigious Award of Recognition Impact DOCS Award. It also won a Silver Telly Award and a Gold Digital AVA Award. It was a Semifinalist in the Rootstech 1st Film Fest. Nominated for the 2020-2021 LEH Humanities Documentary Film of the Year. Official Selection for the New Orleans Film Festival, Winner of the Best Documentary and Winner of the Jury Audience Award in the Black Film Festival of New Orleans. Official selection in the San Francisco Black Film Festival. Artie Nominee 2020 Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., New Orleans and Winner of the Louisiana Heritage Media Award and aired on WYES-PBS. It is the story of the community Leonard grew up in the 60s and 70s in New Orleans. 

LS3 Studios mission is to “educate, entertain, and inspire others to tell their story.”

Producer/Director/Editor

director-producer-editor Leonard Smith III

Our Best Stories

A Place Called Desire

A Place Called Desire offers unforgettable history lessons applicable to American history, Louisiana history, African American history, urban history, racial history, studies of neighborhoods, studies of survival, and memorable stories of love and community. Somehow the filmmaker manages to share hard truths with a gentle touch.
~ Dr. Al Kennedy

Website
screening of #APLACECALLEDDESIRE

#APLACECALLEDDESIRE interview

Robert R Moton in Desire

Delta Theatre where St. Philip the Apostle Church mass was held

#APLACECALLEDDESIRE

#APLACECALLEDDESIRE premiere showing at George Wein Center

Do You

Need Effective Storytelling?

Hire Us Now!

In Production

The Power of One: 
The Musical Legacy of Yvonne Busch

Yvonne Busch was one of the most inspirational, respected, and impactful figures in New Orleans music education. Busch set aside her burgeoning music career to teaching others as a musical prodigy and an accomplished, sought-after orchestral jazz performer as a child and young teen in the 1940s. In doing so, she helped shape the lives and careers of thousands of New Orleans music students and profoundly influenced the course of New Orleans music.

Website
Carver Sr. High Band at Dillard University

Yvonne Busch retirement celebration

Ms Yvonne Busch and former student Leonard Smith III

Yvonne Busch teacher of the year

Yvonne Busch at Gilbert

GW Carver Sr High School 1962

In Production

Leading to Glory

Leading to Glory is the story of five Louisiana men who volunteered to fight for the freedom they sought and cherished. Their stories have often been forgotten, shared only by word of mouth or hidden deep within public and private archives, but the impact of their lives is still felt to this day. To see people of color in today’s United States military or to exercise one’s right to vote is a nod to the contributions and sacrifices of these men and others like them.

Website
men of color to arms civil war poster

O.J. Dunn

bureau of pensions - U.S.C.T.

native guard U.S.C.T.

pension postal card

U.S.C.T.

Come Join Our Mailing List Now!

Our Testimonials

LS3 Studios Clients

He was a hands-on teacher, sometimes finding historical nuggets about our ancestors while doing his own research, writing, and presentations. I know a great teacher when I see one. Adult education is very effective in his informal but structured guidance instructional delivery.

Smith, PhD Educator

Smith’s skillful storytelling adds up to a compelling narrative that fills a significant void in New Orleans’ history; furthermore, he makes an important contribution to the humanities by helping viewers gain insights into people we have not met and places we have not experienced.

Kennedy, PhD Historian

Leonard Smith, III of LS3 Studios, a favorite speaker at seminars in the past, again brought his humorous and interesting knowledge of genealogy and technology to encourage everyone’s challenge of protecting their family’s history for future generations.

Lafourche Heritage Society

Leonard Smith III’s talk named What’s Your Story?. And what a heartfelt presentation it was. This was an amazing presentation and to really appreciate it you would have had to see it for yourself because my words cannot give it justice. I was in awe after seeing and hearing a story like this.

Terrebonne Life Lines

When you look at the times we’re in, Desire is the perfect storm of black America’s plight. Nixon, landfill, shoddy construction, war on drugs, geographic isolation, police showdown, incarceration. And it all started out as just a place where families were trying to nurture their kids in an affordable location. What a story.

Johnson Producer