Calvin Callins Jr.

Unaffiliated

What was your first professionally directed work and when was it?
My first “professionally” directed work was a branded entertainment student short film I wrote and directed for Uber Eats titled “Spotlight.” This was at the beginning of my junior year of college during the month of September/October. This was the first time I had ever worked with a production budget, my first time using real actors (non students,) and my first time using an off-campus location which was also a four-story multi-million beach house in Longboat Key Florida. This film had gained success and awards due to the creativity of the story and the “solution” to the problem that the story presented. Spotlight was about a new upcoming Hotshot actor desperately seeking the savory taste of a delicious meal yet being a superstar came with unforeseen challenges that allowed the uber eats driver to deliver the food by using a flying drone. This project gave me the necessary momentum to write my next script for Air Jordan, “Contagious Swagger.”

How did you get into directing?
When I was in high school, I use to have a notebook where I would write a bunch of storylines and loglines for films I would want to star in as an actor. Back then, it was my dream to be an actor. However, one day my dad saw me writing in the notebook and wanted to take a look at it. He then told me that what I was doing was the work of a writer/producer/director. As a high school teenager with no real knowledge of the industry I had shut that down and kept on writing stories with me being only the actor. Not too long after that, I then found myself making highlight and promo videos for our high school sport teams which then led me to join the morning show crew. This was when I started to learn a little about the filmmaking industry but more so on the broadcast side so the work I ended up doing was mostly camera work.

It wasn’t until I got to college where I actually practiced and executed being a director and this is the role I see myself continuing in the future. However, I will still achieve my childhood dream to be an actor as well.

What is your most recent project?
My most recent project is the project seen in this Showcase, “Contagious Swagger.” “Contagious Swagger” is a branded entertainment film I wrote and directed for Air Jordan and it’s about a Black man visiting his Asian girlfriend’s parents for this first time. This project really allowed me to find my voice as a writer & director and I’m very grateful for the opportunities this film has presented me with.

What is the best part of being a director?
To me the best part of being a director is being able to turn words on a paper into visuals. Specifically to my voice and my work, I like to bring together people with different ethnic backgrounds so not only am I turning these words in to visuals but I’m also bringing cultures and people together which is a step to making our country and our world a better place.

What is the worst part of being a director?
There are very few cons of being a director but I will say just from my experience so far the hardest thing I’ve ran into as a director is running into an executive or colleague who doesn’t believe in your vision. Depending on the project and the situation it could really hurt a director’s mojo when there’s someone there who doesn’t believe in the vision and constantly challenges the director. This then puts the director in a situation where tough decisions have to be made whether it’s to take advice or stick with the original vision. With that being said, I’ve also found that this is also helpful when someone challenges your vision because it allows for you to think in different ways and find new solutions. But generally, the project is much smoother when everyone understands the vision and the goals.
I believe every director goes through this and how we handle these tough situations is really what can make each one of us great.

What is your current career focus: commercials and branded content, television, movies? Do you plan to specialize in a particular genre–comedy, drama, visual effects, etc.?
My current career focus is to create and direct content that audiences of any age and ethnicity will enjoy. To be more specific without spilling all of the beans, my next film that I would love to direct will be a Christmas/Santa Claus film that will explore how different cultures celebrate the holiday in a way I haven’t seen done before. While that will be my next film, I’m also working on a talk show I want to bring to life and serve as the host and director as well.

Have you a mentor and if so, who is that person (or persons) and what has been the lesson learned from that mentoring which resonates with you?
One of my great mentors is both a director and producer, Mark Schimmel. Mark served as my professor for four consecutive semesters at Ringling College of Art & Design and through him I really found my love for directing. Mark introduced and taught me the art of branded entertainment which was the path of film I decided to take in school. He also gave me a lot of great opportunities to be a production assistant on different projects, introduced me to industry professionals and even helped me get an internship in his hometown/my future home Chicago, Illinois.

Mark was such a great professor because he did this for all of the students in our class, there was no favoritism he was truly there to help us and watch us win. Mark always keeps his door open for questions, updates and opportunities. Believe it or not, Mark was actually the person who informed me on this opportunity with SHOOT.  Even outside of the classroom, Mark is a great person to learn from and to look up to.

Who is your favorite director and why?
Jordan Peele is my absolute favorite director. To begin with, I loved his Key & Peele skits, he’s an hilarious actor and he never failed to lift me up when I needed it by watching his skits. When I heard about his directorial debut Get Out, I immediately thought it was a comedy, even after I saw the trailer. The fact that it wasn’t necessarily a comedy threw me for a loop especially because i usually don’t watch horror films. However that experience made me appreciate Peele even more, he showed his wingspan and pretty much told the world that he can do anything he puts his mind to and to never box him in. I am following his footsteps on that statement.

He then followed up Get Out with the movie US, and as I said previously, I usually don’t watch horror movies but his style and his writing just make it all so worth it. Get Out and US are both on the top of my list as two of favorite films of all time. I’m looking forward to the day I get to meet Jordan Peele and show him my film “Contagious Swagger” which is highly inspired by his film Get Out.

What is your favorite movie? Your favorite television/online program? Your favorite commercial or branded content?
My favorite film that most people have seen is Get Out, however my favorite classic/deep cut film is Love Don’t Cost A Thing starring Nick Cannon, Christina Milian, Steve Harvey AND Kenan Thompson.
My favorite TV show which has come to an end is Donald Glover’s hit series Atlanta.
My favorite commercial is the Chance The Rapper Kit Kat commercial.

Tell us about your background (i.e., where did you grow up? Past jobs?)
My hometown is a small town in between Tampa and Orlando called Plant City, Florida. In Plant City we were known for strawberries during the winter season and that would be the only time we would have visitors or any hype around our city. As a young kid, the belief was to be the best athlete to be able to make it out of our city and “put our city on the map” but while I admire the talented athletes of my city, this is not the truth. It was hard trying to be a practicing filmmaker in Plant City because there wasn’t a lot of other people doing so and this was even the same case in my morning show high school class. For the most part, I was always the only kid who took things serious in that class. I’m excited when I’m able to return to my city and provide programs and resources for artists and filmmakers like myself to allow them to follow their dreams at a young age.
I grew up in a church as well, my dad is a pastor of “Greater New Hope Anointed Ministries” and a lot of my childhood memories and early creative beginnings came from different church activities and events.

Have you had occasion to bring your storytelling/directorial talent to bear in the Metaverse, tapping into the potential of AR, VR, AI, NFTs and/or experiential fare? If so, tell us about that work and what lessons you have taken away from the experience?
As of today, I have not had this occasion yet but depending on the circumstances could be a really great and interesting opportunity for me.

Contact

Unaffiliated, https://cjcallins.center/, ccallinsjr@gmail.com