Today we’d like to introduce you to Christopher Black.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Christopher. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
I got my start by producing music videos for Hardcore bands with my best friend and Director, AG Rojas. We started making these videos shortly after high school. Each video that we made was a progression of our craft, whether it was a slightly larger budget or working with an artist with a higher profile.
Our first “big break” came when we produced the Earl Sweatshirt video, “EARL” and that went viral and introduced the world to Odd Future. I continued to produce music videos and then produced the ASAP Rocky video, “PESO,” which also introduced the world to ASAP Rocky and crew, but also launched the career of the director of the video, my good friend, Abteen Bagheri.
I also produced “That B.E.A.T.,” which is a short doc for Nokia x Sundance about the bounce music scene in New Orleans. Since then I’ve transitioned to directing and directed a handful of music videos and most recently I wrote and directed my first short film entitled, “JIM.”
In 2016, I toured with the Grammy Award-winning band, Portugal. The Man as their hypeman. They’re some of my best buds! PTM and AG Rojas are both Executive Producers on my short film. Shout out to them!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The path I’ve traveled hasn’t always been a smooth one, but I wouldn’t change a thing about it. When you’re a freelance creator, it feels like you spend more time hustling to get work than actually working on something creative. And there are those moments when the jobs you take aren’t always the most creatively fulfilling, but you’ve got to remind yourself what it feels like to put gas in your car and have your bills paid.
As a freelancer, you have to have tough skin and be prepared to hear “no” many times over before someone says, “yes.” We’re living in a time of uncertainty and instability, and many of us participate in the “gig economy” to stay afloat and knowing where your next source of income is coming from, induces a lot of anxiety.
If most of your time is spent working, just to break even, how much time is left for you to devote to your craft? That is one of the hardest struggles a freelance creator faces.
We’d love to hear more about what you do.
I have more than ten years as a Producer, Director, and Executive Producer of music videos, short films, documentaries and commercials.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
My plans for the future involve increasing my creative output; hoping that I have the opportunity to write and direct more. I’m currently writing two feature films, and I’m working on a few pilots.
It’s a large undertaking, but in 2019 there is no room for complacency. You’ve gotta hustle hard each and every day! Hustling hard is business as usual for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.chrisblack.la
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/theblack
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/theblack
Image Credit:
Kayla Reefer, Sean Conaty, Maclay Heriot
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