This is the official archive and creative chamber of Stantonville’s Griot — the keeper of memory, myth, and multimedia. Curated by filmmaker and worldbuilder Jae Gilyard, this space holds the blueprint behind the world you've entered.
— Creator of the Stantonville Universe
Curated by
Griot
Our Founder
I’m Jae Gilyard — a screenwriter, director, and conjurer of worlds. I created Stantonville as a home for stories that carry the weight of ancestry, the tension of haunting, and the richness of Black imagination. My work lives at the intersection of folklore, horror, and surrealism, grounded in the belief that the past never truly stays buried — and that stories can be both sanctuary and reckoning.
For me, storytelling is a ritual. Every project I touch — whether it’s a short film like The Reaping, a podcast like Haunts and Haints, or an anthology series like Heir Looms — is rooted in memory, myth, and what we inherit across generations. I believe in building cinematic worlds that feel lived in, whispered about, and deeply spiritual.
This page exists not just to introduce myself, but to invite fellow artists, producers, and seekers into the ongoing work of tending this universe. Stantonville is many things: a city, a mirror, a warning. But most of all, it’s a space to imagine boldly — and create without apology.
Let’s build something that outlives us.
Welcome to Stantonville
the stantonville universe
Anthology Podcast
Short / Proof of Concept
Anthology TV Series
Anthology Comic by Kit Joseph
I specialize in screenwriting, directing, and transmedia worldbuilding that blends folklore, horror, and cultural memory into immersive storytelling. My creative lens is grounded in Afro-folk horror, ancestral wisdom, and speculative realism — where the past is alive, and every story is a ritual of remembering.
But beyond what I make is how and why I make it.
My work is rooted in a deep belief in creative sustainability, community care, and collaborative building. I don’t create in a vacuum — I create in conversation. I’m committed to growing a connected, values-led ecosystem where artists are protected, ideas are nourished, and stories are shared in ways that honor the people and cultures they come from.
Storytelling that is spiritual, intentional, and unafraid.
Collaboration that’s reciprocal, respectful, and aligned.
Community as both inspiration and infrastructure.
Ownership and authorship for Black creators across mediums.
Stantonville is more than a world — it’s an invitation. To build. To remember. To imagine better.
I’m building a cinematic future — and I’m looking for the right co-conspirators.
lets build together
📽️ Producers seeking original IP or concept-driven projects
🎙️ Podcast networks or studios looking for immersive audio horror
🎤 Universities, festivals, or panels curating conversations around Black horror & folklore
🤝 Creative collaborators & grants programs ready to nurture bold ideas
Storytelling
Collaboration
Community
Ownership
Calling all
Co-Conspirators in Creativtity
Thank you!
A reminder: This form is read with care and intention. Please allow time for a response. Not all projects will align, but all inquiries are deeply appreciated.
