LS3 Studios is an award-winning full-service multimedia production studio in Louisiana. We provide services in personal histories, photography, storytelling, video editing, personal historian services and filmmaking. LS3 Studios bring the benefits of the internet and digital video technology to small businesses, individuals, schools, and not-for-profit institutions.
Leonard Smith III is a story strategist and documentarian. He has been involved in every aspect of historical research from genealogy, photography, multimedia, storytelling, film-making, and music. Leonard’s company, LS3 Studios, has produced several award winning documentaries. 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. He has a deep and abiding love to “educate, entertain, and inspire others to tell their story.”
We take pride in providing clear and intuitive access to archives and information and staging compelling narratives using digital media. The studio’s creative team of producers and writers is dedicated to educating, entertaining, and inspiring audiences through innovative storytelling. As an independent studio, LS3 Studios has produced the following video history projects: “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.
LS3 Studios has a proven successful track record with technology. We have produced projects and videos for Xavier University of Louisiana, Black and Indian Mission Office, Washington DC, Treme Charter School Association, Dillard University, 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, Second Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Herlin Riley (musician), 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.
