Biography
With more than three decades in the business of professional storytelling, Lionell's award-winning creative work is recognized literally around the world. Collectively, his films have aired over several broadcast and premium cable channels across the country and have been appreciated by audiences in well over fifty (70) film festivals in the United States and abroad.
Having served on the production teams of several successful television shows including "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air," "Sister, Sister," "The Bernie Mac Show," "Girlfriends" and others, Lionell is recognized as an accomplished and multi-talented Producer and Screenwriter.
Sharing a particularly close relationship with platinum recording R&B legend, Patti LaBelle, Lionell claims her as his industry godmother in that she personally encouraged him to continue his filmmaking career when he became professionally sidetracked in 1998. In 2004, his delightful yet controversial AFI thesis film "The Sunday Morning Stripper" took Best Narrative Short at the Jamarican Film & Music Festival in Montego Bay, Jamaica, hosted by Sheryl Lee Ralph. Befittingly, Ms. LaBelle was on hand to personally present Lionell with the award.
In the following year, the film, which features superstar comedians Bruce Bruce ("Idlewild," "Who's Your Caddy?"), Reynaldo Rey ("Friday," "First Sunday") and incomparable stage and screen phenom Jenifer Lewis, was also declared winner of the 15th Annual Black Filmmaker Showcase presented by Showtime Networks, Inc. To date, the widely sought-after film continues to entertain and spark poignant conversation amongst audience members in both secular and spiritual circles.
In 2008, he created (wrote, produced and directed) "As For Me & My House," a sitcom about a blended Houston family coping with the aftermath and effects of Hurricane Katrina. The comedy special aired locally and was favorably received in more than 600,000 households in at least 13 counties in and around the Houston area. The show also received top honors in the 41st Annual Worldfest Houston International Film Festival.
His 2009 short film project, "I Pledge Allegiance..." tells the heart-wrenching story one soldier's personal sacrifice to and for his family in the face of the Nation's military conflict with Iraq. The film garnered 'Audience Favorite' at the 2010 Iowa's Independent Film Festival.
An initiate of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, Lionell received his bachelor's degree in radio/television/film production from Sam Houston State University, and his master's degree in producing from the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. He is also the recipient of the coveted Ben Kingsley Scholarship presented by AFI and Target Stores during his thesis year at the American Film Institute.
Aside from writing and producing, Lionell also serves as a Film & Cinema Studies professor with the Art Institute of Houston.
