From acting in Mr. Robot and You to now making his own films and teaching younger students about video, at just 18-years-old James DeFilippi has already made an impact within the film industry, both nationally and at home in Swampscott.

DeFilippi, who graduated from Swampscott High School in May, is planning to go on to college and study film. He has already made a name for himself before even entering college, however. DeFilippi has had two films accepted into national and global film festivals, with his newest film, Shindig (2025), recently accepted to the Screaming Ostrich International Film Festival.

His passion for film began early on, when a then 5-year-old DeFilippi would use the family iPad to film the everyday happenings in his childhood home. 

“My parents were like, ‘I don’t know what to do with his kid’,” DeFilippi said. 

In an effort to nurture DeFilippi’s interest, his parents sent him to a week-long summer camp held at entertainment agency Boston Casting, which specializes in matching child actors to roles. The group cycled through learning how to be an actor, a director and a cameraperson. DeFilippi’s interest in film expanded that summer, and he left camp with the desire to start acting. 

He has since held small roles in TV shows like Tommy in Mr. Robot (USA, Amazon), Cooper in You (Netflix, Lifetime), defendant in Castle Rock (Hulu), and young Brian in Evil Lives Here (Investigation Discovery). DeFilippi joined the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) in 2019. He also acted in several independent films, including as JJ in Last Night in Rozzie (Amazon, AppleTV). 

In addition to acting, DeFilippi spent his childhood summers at film summer camps, including at the visual and performing arts teen programs at the School of Creative and Performing Arts (SOCPA).

Over time, DeFilippi’s interests veered back toward being behind the camera. 

“It was really the years of spending time on sets and seeing the community there,” said DeFilippi. “Just seeing these people get to tell stories, tell things and show things that they care about, I was like, ‘I really, really want to do that.” 

Since middle school, DeFilippi has written scripts of his own. After starting high school, he also began to pursue filmmaking. 

“We have a really, really amazing film program at the high school run by JoE Douillette, and it’s miles ahead of anything around,” said DeFilippi. “It honestly rivals most colleges I’ve visited…It’s allowed me to really elevate what I get to do at a high school level.”

Media Arts Instructor JoE Douillette has worked with DeFilippi for the past four years, throughout his time at Swampscott High School.

“James is one of those students that really pushes me as a teacher,” said Douillette.

The Swampscott program now provides students, including DeFilippi, with editing software, cameras, lighting and sound equipment. Douillette, who has taught at the high school for ten years, credits a large portion of the program’s growth to DeFilippi’s participation.

“[James] had an eagerness to take full advantage,” said Douillette. “[He] elevates the potential of the program.” 

DeFilippi pushed Douillette to define what the Swampscott media program is, as Douillette said he was called into the administration’s office on more than one occasion to discuss the experimental take that DeFilippi was pursuing in his projects. DeFilippi often explored media beyond Douillette’s own capacity as a teacher, he said, calling it “exciting.”

Now, DeFilippi’s films carry a sense of political weight. His two most recent films, The Savior (2024) and Shindig (2025), showcased more heavy, sometimes controversial, topics. The Savior is about stalking, while Shindig, which will be screening in October at the Screaming Ostrich International Film Festival, depicts a sexual assault case and how people in power are often able to get away with misconduct due to their position of authority. 

“[James is] not afraid to deal with serious issues,” said Douillette.

Douillette has continued to be a mentor for DeFilippi even outside of the classroom. DeFilippi has served as a counselor at the TV production summer camp at the Swampscott High School. He also was an associate producer for town’s local cable channel, and, most recently he is working to archive and digitize the town’s old VHS tapes. 

In the fall, DeFilippi will start his first year at DePaul University in Chicago. He said he is looking forward to growing as a filmmaker in Chicago, getting to spread political awareness and expand his skillset.

“More than anything, I want to keep making: keep making movies, keep spreading political awareness, just keep making,” DeFilippi said.