Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Silverstein.
Hi Robert, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I began my career in music production before discovering my love for filmmaking. When I was in high school, I would produce beats for a few friends of mine who were aspiring rappers (AndrewTheRapper, Alex Fraze…). One evening, AndrewTheRapper asked me to film a video of him freestyling over a beat that I had produced. We put that video on Instagram, and the following day, I woke up to a bunch of music video inquiries. The rest is history!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have been smooth periods and others that haven’t been. Aside from the typical “starving artist” struggles, the biggest struggle has been taking care of my mom, who has vascular dementia.
Growing up, my father always pushed education on me, encouraging me to go to college, get a degree, and get a 9-5… But my mother always supported my creative endeavors. So when she got sick towards the end of high school, and I decided to drop out of college, it was shocking to have my father’s support. I remember he came up to my room one day and said, “Okay, you can drop out. Make mom proud while she still remembers.”
And that is an even bigger responsibility that I carry on top of the care she needs. It’s also a responsibility that I don’t know will ever be truly fulfilled because she no longer has the ability to tell me that she is proud. Deep down, I know she is proud of me even without saying it. But there will always be a part of me that would do anything to hear it, and that’s why I keep doing what I’m doing.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I produce, direct, film and edit music videos. I also DoP short films (currently for Towson students) but I hope to break into the bigger parts of the industry soon.
I think I’m known for my style in music videos…? People tell me that I’m adaptive and can make each video look drastically different from each other, depending upon what the song needs.
I also pride myself on my ability to tell stories in music videos. A lot of underground Baltimore directors aren’t really sure how to tell a compelling story in 3 minutes or less with performance shots mixed in, but since my passion is in narrative film, I think I’ve found a way to incorporate comprehensible stories into the work that requires it.
Since I’ve been doing this since 2018, I also feel as though my technical skill much more very refined compared to some other’s in the underground. And I think that that is what sets me apart from the rest in the area. But I also recognize that I have a lot to learn which is why I want to break into the bigger parts of the industry and work for people who I look up to.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
1.) Money comes around – time does not.
2.) Make your own opportunities – stop making excuses not to start.
3.) Never put someone else down for trying to be happy.
4.) YOU and your health, both physical and mental, come before anything else.
5.) Knowledge, skill and execution matter so much more than your gear – stop chasing gear!!
And that’s just some.
Pricing:
- Music Videos: $1200+
- Weddings: $2500+
- DoP: $750/day
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.robsilvervisuals.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/robsilvervisuals
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@robsilvervisuals
