Two Documentaries by UofM Alumna Liz Butler to Showcase at Film Festival
When she’s not spending time documenting the city, Liz Butler (BM ’21, MA ’25) can be found in OUTERSPACE., which is a recording and visual studio owned and managed by UNAPOLOGETIC., a creative story-telling music label in the heart of Midtown.
But it was a school project that led Butler (BM ’21, MA ’25) to the stars.
As part of her graduating thesis project in the University of Memphis’ film and video production program, Butler wanted to capture the man behind masked artist and producer IMAKEMADBEATS (born James Dukes).
IMAKEMADBEATS founded music and record label, UNAPOLOGETIC. in 2015, which describes itself as “a brand based in inspiring others to be boldly, daringly, and unapologetically themselves.”
Butler had briefly met the artist twice before signing on to produce the documentary in 2025.
“I saw a Threads post from him that read, ‘I live a very interesting life. Would anyone who knows how to use a camera be down to capture ‘a day in the life of IMAKEMADBEATS?,’” Butler said. “I was just like, ‘I could do that because I have a project, and this is exactly what I’m trying to do.’ And so, I went to the studio and met with him, and at the end, he was like, ‘Let’s do it.’”
The first day of filming Butler showed up at his home. For Butler that meant everything to be able to see the inside, private world behind the persona.
“This was huge … it’s one thing to let someone that you know into your home with your family, but the fact that I was a stranger and I had not met his family before that moment was something I did not take lightly, and when I arrived, they were so welcoming,” Butler said. “Seeing their dynamic and then being able to capture and express that allowed me to then create a documentary about him that allowed me to keep the integrity of him and his thoughts throughout the film.”
The documentary “Behind the Mask” – An IMAKEMADBEATS documentary will be taking the center stage during the Indie Memphis Film Festival at the Halloran Centre on Nov. 7 at 11:15 a.m.
In addition, another project Butler worked on as a student, a documentary on musician Marcella Simien titled “To Bend To The Will Of A Dream That’s Being Fulfilled” will also be shown at Indie Memphis.
“I don’t think that I even envisioned this happening. To be completely honest, I think I can say that younger me definitely did not think that I would be into film and have films in a film festival for sure,” she said.
Her younger self was watching “Warped Roadies,” a reality TV docuseries that aired in the early 2010s that followed musicians, road crew and tour managers for the Vans Warped Tour, which inspired Butler to explore photography and documentary film making as she got older.
As a kid, Butler described herself as very introverted. But a piece of advice she would give is that “It’s OK to be unafraid. It’s OK to be different. It’s OK to connect with people who are different because there’s something that you have in common with everyone … whether you realize it or not.”
A steady gig doing video and photography of student performances at Newby’s for Blue T.O.M Records, a student label ran by music business students, plugged Butler into the music scene during her undergrad years at the UofM. Then an opportunity to join the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music’s small marketing team expanded her skills. She eventually went on to complete internships with Yonas Media, Running Pony and continued to grow her network.
“What makes Memphis unique is even though it is a huge city, it’s quite literally a small town,” she said. “So, like for me, it all connected.”
Butler credits so many mentors at the UofM for motivating her and serving as catalysts of her pursuit in filmmaking and music including Associate Professor and Graduate Studies Coordinator David Goodman; Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Business Nick Black; Ben Yonas, former assistant professor of Music Business; Dr. Nichole Saulsberry-Scarboro in the School of Public Health; alumni José Rivas (BFA ’18), Johanna Wright (BA ’22, MFA ’25), JJ Brown (BA ’22, MA ’24, MA ’25 ); Erick Figueroa (MFA ’24); and Walker Crain; as well as local photographers and filmmakers including Logan Schaal, Gabriel DeCarlo, Andrew Fleming, and Ellen Phillips.
“It means a lot to be a part of Indie Memphis because I have met a lot of amazing people and amazing local musicians, and have worked with them,” Butler said. “What I love about film is just learning about people and being able to tell their stories in a very intentional way and making sure that their stories get heard outside of the city. Because when you hear Memphis on the news, it’s always about the crime, murder, you know all of that, and there’s plenty of amazing talent and things happening that should be showcased here.”
Butler is even squeezing in time to earn another master’s degree at the University of Memphis this time in public health with a focus on social and behavioral sciences.
“My dad always told me that you’re always going to be a student, regardless of how old you get,” Butler said. “So learning has been the thing that I’ve always been interested in and wanting to continue, which is probably why I’m still in school.”
She hopes that through education in public health, she can create a documentary that sheds light on health care accessibility for creatives.
Today Butler spends most of her time in The SHUTTLE, the visual media room where she began as an intern and now serves as the visual lead for UNAPOLOGETIC. collaborating with CEO and Founder IMAKEMADBEATS, who serves as lead engineer of ANDROMEDA; Kid Maestro, President of UNAPOLOGETIC., as well as a music producer and sound engineer of BUTTERFLY (who moved to Memphis from Chicago to attend the UofM before pursing music full time); producers and audio engineers CmaJor and LJ1S; along with a stacked list of singers, songwriters, rappers and other visual artists.
“I’m very much a believer in whatever is meant to happen will happen, and so when it was time for me to pick whether or not I wanted to continue being here and being a part of UNAPOLOGETIC., there was no question … no hesitation,” Butler said. “Of course, I want to be here because the people are great and we hold each other accountable in all aspects, the music is out of this world, and when you walk through the door, it’s just home.”
