Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert X. Golphin.
Hi Robert, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
My mother exposed me to the arts when I was five years old. I learned to act for the camera and model as part of the bygone ‘Kid’s Today Show’, an organization in Plainfield, New Jersey. I enjoyed strolling the catwalk, posing for photos, and acting in commercials.
I participated in little league baseball (not my favorite), as a courtesy to my grandmother. One summer I went to a tennis camp (enjoyed it). And I attended a single Boy Scout meeting (wasn’t for me).
Regardless of how I felt about any of these things, they had no long-term value at the time.
My childhood dream was to become a doctor. My frequent nosebleeds then, however, brought the fantasy to a stop. I soon came to the conclusion that the sight of blood—real blood, not movie blood—was a little too much for me. Then I decided that I would one day practice humanitarian and entertainment law.
However, when I was 12 years old, the arts re-entered my life and clung to me. I discovered my passion for filmmaking in a year-round camp for youngsters called Cinekyd.
While in high school, I produced two award-winning films that urged young people to practice safe sex and refrain from smoking. The projects won awards and were profiled in the media.
Throughout my college years, I continued making movies and working in the field. I later earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in film and theatre and screenwriting respectively.
I’ve had excellent mentors, some of whom are no longer with us, whose confidence in me and my talents motivates me to keep chasing what I want in life, especially on particularly difficult days.
My tale is always changing. I consider myself fortunate for all that I have accomplished. Yet there is still a great deal of work to be done.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
An artist’s life is not an easy one. You cannot simply want it. It must be essential to your existence. The journey is not for the impatient or faint of heart, so keep that in mind. It comes with the territory to be rejected and scrutinized. And you must resist developing imposter syndrome.
I often wish I had more time to concentrate on my creativity, but since show business is also a business, it demands a lot of attention. Meetings can occasionally be frustrating, especially when they are held to determine whether or not another meeting will be called to discuss the prospect of one or more additional meetings. In this business, nothing ever moves as quickly as I’d like, haha.
I wish I could constantly showcase my skills in front of or behind the lights and cameras. For me, a film set is the happiest place on earth. Or secondarily, before my laptop producing something from a blank page. However, regardless of how talented you are or how easy you are to work with, opportunity can still be reluctant to knock.
There are lulls, politics, red tape, the “crab mentality,” financial difficulties, family matters, outside forces, and an absence of inclusivity. There are negative reviews, screenplays that are turned down, and failed castings or bookings. And it’s acceptable to have temporary sorrow. However, wallowing in self-pity won’t help you be productive. Similar to falling off a bike and getting back on, it’s simple. You find a way to rebound.
I don’t hold out for appreciation or approval from other people. Nobody has to give me a seat at the table. Although it’s great to receive flowers when I can smell them, I’m more than happy to give myself a bouquet once in a while.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’ve appeared on the big screen alongside actors like Denzel Washington (“The Great Debaters”) and John Doe up-and-comers. Because regardless of a person’s status in the industry, I respect them equally and am ready to collaborate. In essence, our goals are the same.
I can currently be seen in the award-winning “How To Tie A Tie”, a coming-of-age LGBT drama, for which I won ‘Best Supporting Actor’ on the film festival circuit. And I am one of the leads in the upcoming short drama “The Good of Man”, a true story.
I have written, produced, and/or directed a feature film, a TV pilot, shorts, student films, new media projects, stage performances, and more. I’ve collaborated on a range of projects with diverse artists and creatives.
The purpose of entertainment is to, well, entertain. However, since the beginning of my career as a youngster, I have always been driven to stories and characters that push the boundaries, expose, and challenge. The work I create is not meant to be didactic but rather revelatory and even ambiguous.
I’m a nerd (but a cool nerd if I do say so myself). I don’t possess six-pack abs. And I don’t turn heads everywhere I go. What is expected or considered to be above standard is determined by society and the industry. Because I don’t often see myself represented on screen or stage, parts of me can be found in all of my work.
Both a love letter to the creative community and a kind of diary for those who wish to understand us better, “Cold Night In A Warm Season,” my novella, is available online from national and international retailers including Barnes & Noble and Amazon.
I co-founded an award-winning production company a decade ago, and for the majority of my career have enlisted other companies to produce my projects. It was about time I started my own, therefore Robert X. Golphin Entertainment was born in October of this year.
My company’s mission is “to helm and champion cutting-edge content (scripted and non-scripted) for the screen and stage. Other potential endeavors may include live performances, master classes, workshops, fireside chats, and arts education programs.”
The company also “functions to align and rebalance lived experiences, creating and producing engaging messaging to expand worldviews, maximize equitable launchpads and vanquish barriers. There is a commitment to unearth intimate revelatory insights into the richness of cultures, the diversity of genres, and the multitudes of voices embedded within the global artscape. (The company) looks to welcome collaborative and sponsored unions.”
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I regularly watch motivational speeches and listen to positive affirmations.
Additionally, music has a significant impact on my mental and physical health, as well as my ongoing development and maturation. If you know me well, you’ll frequently be able to tell by the music I listen to what type of mood I’m in or what kind of day I’m having. My musical preferences range widely, from pop to gospel to R&B to a little bit of country. The music I choose to play first thing in the morning usually sets the tone for the rest of the day.
And while nowadays I read screenplays more than books, as a kid I read the latter every chance I could.
So many literary and cultural sources encourage me to be the best version of myself in both my personal and professional lives. Although I must draw attention to my own series, “RXG: Exclusives” (sorry for the blatant plug), because I pick up new tips for healthier eating, thinking, and living from my wide range of guests.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.robertxgolphin.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robertxgolphin/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RobertXGolphin/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/robertxgolphin
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC93T5WiFRd-f3ZTmgnMbBDQ
- Other: https://resumes.breakdownexpress.com/458144-3248226
Image Credits
Gail Y. Bennett
Ibrahim El Helw
Mercedez McLeod
Blue Angel Entertainment
Robert X. Golphin Entertainment
Paul Sirochman
