For us, “soul” represents the unique essence each person contributes to their community, weaving a colorful tapestry of stories, talents, cultural experiences and more. In Greenwood, this tapestry comes alive through individuals whose captivating stories and deep connections to the region’s food, music and history define our town and make Greenwood an extraordinary place to visit. These remarkable individuals are our “Soul Mates.”
Stories have a way of preserving moments that might otherwise slip away. A familiar street. A family memory. A conversation worth remembering. For Matthew Moore, telling those stories has become both a career and a calling.
As the founder of Third Bird Films, Matthew spends his days behind a camera, capturing everything from documentaries and commercials to community stories. While his work has taken him across the country, from California film sets to productions for national clients, Greenwood has always remained home.
That’s exactly how he likes it.
Growing Up in Greenwood
Matthew’s roots stretch back to nearby Tchula, but Greenwood is where he grew up and where most of his memories were made. He remembers a childhood that felt wonderfully uncomplicated, spending entire days outside with friends, skateboards and bicycles replacing schedules and screens.
“I remember growing up where we’d leave the house early and go skate, and we’d just be gone all day,” he says. “Nobody ever really worried about it. It was just a fun time growing up.”
That freedom left a lasting impression.
Today, one of the things he appreciates most about Greenwood is that same sense of closeness. Nothing feels too far away, and the relationships that define the community remain just as important as they were when he was young.
“I love that I don’t have to go too far to do the things I want to do,” he says. “And when it really matters, people come together.”
It’s a sentiment that has surfaced throughout Greenwood’s Soul Mates series. Time and again, local residents point to the people as the city’s greatest strength, and Matthew’s experience echoes that same belief.
A Camera, a Skateboard and a Creative Spark
Matthew’s path into filmmaking didn’t begin in a studio. It started with a camcorder, a skateboard and a curiosity about how stories could be told through video.
While attending Bankston Elementary, he helped film school programs and learned to edit footage long before digital software made the process easy.
“I loved it then,” he says. “I asked for a camcorder for Christmas one year so I could make skate videos, and that’s kind of how I got started.”
Skateboarding became more than a hobby. It became an introduction to storytelling.
His friends would spend hours exploring Greenwood together, filming tricks, making videos and drawing inspiration from the X Games and the music they loved. Creativity wasn’t something reserved for classrooms. It was happening every afternoon in parking lots, parks and neighborhoods across town.
Music soon became another major influence.
Matthew’s father provided sound for festivals and community events throughout Greenwood, exposing him to live performances from an early age. Before long, Matthew was playing drums in a band himself, performing in front of crowds that most kids his age could hardly imagine.
His first concert at Whittington Park drew well over a thousand people.
Looking back, those early experiences helped shape both his confidence and his creative direction.
Turning Passion into a Profession
Although filmmaking had always been part of Matthew’s life, building it into a career took patience.
After studying audio engineering and live sound, he worked full-time while steadily growing his own production company on evenings and weekends. In 2012, he officially launched Third Bird Films, balancing client projects alongside another job until he was finally ready to make the leap into full-time filmmaking.
That decision wasn’t without risk.
“It’s always good whenever you love what you do,” Matthew says. “Even though at the end of the day it’s still work, once you’ve rested, you’re ready to get back to it.”
Today, Third Bird Films serves clients throughout Mississippi and across the country. Matthew’s work has taken him to Texas, Kentucky and California, where he contributed to a documentary project centered on legendary actor James Hong. While opportunities like that stand out, he remains just as passionate about telling stories closer to home.
His current projects range from commercial work to documentaries, including productions that shine a light on the Mississippi Delta and the communities that make it unique.
Faith at the Center
For Matthew, filmmaking isn’t simply a business.
It’s an extension of his faith.
The name Third Bird Films carries personal meaning, reflecting his Christian beliefs and serving as a reminder that every opportunity ultimately points back to something greater than himself.
“My relationship with the Lord is very important to me,” he says. “Anything I’ve had in business, I have to give credit where credit is due.”
That perspective shapes the way he approaches clients and collaborations.
He believes honesty matters. Transparency matters. Building relationships matters.
If someone wants to tell an important story, Matthew does everything he can to find a solution.
“When someone needs something, I do my best to make sure we can work together to make it happen,” he says.
It’s an approach rooted less in transactions and more in serving people well.
A Community That Invests in Each Other
Running a creative business in a smaller community comes with challenges, but Matthew says Greenwood has continually surprised him with its support.
“Everybody has always been supportive to the best of their means.”
That encouragement has allowed him to build a career doing work he genuinely loves without leaving the place he calls home. For Matthew, that’s one of Greenwood’s greatest reasons to stay.
People here invest in each other. They support local businesses, celebrate one another’s successes and find ways to lend a hand whenever they can. That spirit has shaped both his business and his perspective, reminding him that a community isn’t defined by its size, but by the people who choose to build it together.
It’s the same mindset that guides the stories he tells. Whether he’s producing a commercial for a local business, filming a documentary that preserves Mississippi history or helping someone bring an important project to life, Matthew approaches every opportunity with gratitude and a desire to serve others well.
Greenwood has become the backdrop for much of that work, not simply because it’s where he lives, but because it’s a place filled with stories worth telling.
For visitors, those stories are part of what makes Greenwood memorable. You’ll find them in conversations with local business owners, in the history woven throughout downtown and in the people who care deeply about preserving the character of their community.
Matthew is one of those people.
Through Third Bird Films, he’s helping capture the people, places and moments that make the Mississippi Delta unlike anywhere else. And in doing so, he’s adding his own chapter to the ongoing story of Greenwood, one frame at a time.
Experience a day in Greenwood like Matthew!
