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Chris Robinson
Founder at ROBOT FILM COMPANY
Chris Robinson is an accomplished American film director, commercial director, and music video director, best known for his work in the hip-hop genre and his founding of Robot Film Company in 2000. Born on September 28, 1967, in Edgewood, Maryland, he developed a passion for filmmaking after being inspired by Spike Lee's She's Gotta Have It during his college years at Foothill College in California, where he also played football.123
Career Highlights
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Music Videos: Robinson began his career directing music videos, creating iconic visuals for artists such as Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, Nas, and Erykah Badu. His work on the video "One Mic" for Nas earned him a Grammy nomination, while he won an MTV Award for Best Direction for Erykah Badu's "Honey" in 2007.13
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Feature Films: He made his feature film debut with ATL (2006), a coming-of-age drama that starred T.I. and Big Boi. More recently, he directed Beats (2019) and Shooting Stars (2023), the latter focusing on LeBron James' high school years.1234
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Television: Robinson has also directed several successful television projects, including The New Edition Story, which became BET's highest-rated program. He has worked on series such as Black-ish, Grown-ish, and Wu-Tang: An American Saga.123
Contributions to the Industry
Robinson is recognized not only for his directorial skills but also for his innovative advertising campaigns. He was instrumental in creating the "Boost Mobile" campaigns featuring various rap superstars. Additionally, he co-founded RockCorps, an organization aimed at promoting volunteerism among youth.23
Through Robot Film Company, Robinson continues to develop projects that explore the music industry and its cultural impact during the late 1990s and early 2000s.13 His extensive body of work has solidified his reputation as a significant figure in both film and music video direction.
Highlights
TREATMENT THURSDAY: ONE MIC NAS
I directed a lot of music videos (over 300) I believe it's one of the greatest forms of visual storytelling. At first listen ONE MIC was inspired art - so HIP HOP but elevated in the most unexplainable authentic way. I was affected by it; this felt important - the song challenged me as a filmmaker and citizen of the planet earth to create a visual worthy of the power of this moment. My treatment grew from that reverence for Nas as hip hops own poet laureate, Chucky Thompsons genius as a producer and an impromptu trip to South Africa for a film festival. While there we toured Mandelas house and the Hector Pieterson museum where I learned the history of the Soweto Student Uprising. Children peacefully protested the mandatory decree from the school system to be taught only in the apartheid language of Afrikaans. Hector Pieterson and other elementary and high school students were gunned down by policeman during that peaceful protest march - forever silencing their voices. This brutal history of children being murdered for expressing their desire to learn in their language illustrated a sobering parallel reality. People of color in the U.S. and across world are continually fighting and dieing for their very existence to be acknowledged and their voices to be heard. The pace and patient crescendo of the track that drops off a musical cliff every 16 bars felt like the score to a revolution and a revelation. Hip hop in its highest sonic manifestation. Then Nas voice starting in a slow whisper then speeding up and growing to a war cry stitched together a flood of images that were in my head. The treatment process was quick - one day. The ideas were earned over years of working to understand our place in the world and like Hector how my voice can make a difference. This song was a vehicle and opportunity to express that through the art of filmmaking.
Many thanks to good brotha Nasir Jones - this was not an easy sell to the record label but he got it and understood my vision. Thank You John Perez for your bravery (opening up the side of an Arri 35mm camera "on beat" creating angulating light streaks "in camera" was risky and worth it!) And much love and appreciation to curator of culture and all things dope + Camille Yorrick.
Everyones voice deserves to be heard.
All you need is ONE MIC.
Great Night at the Ray Kurtzman Theater CAA #EMMYS FYC + THANK YOU @tvacademy/Universal/Spring Hill @TELEVISIONACAD
