We recently connected with Richard Oliver Jr. and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Richard, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
Throughout my career I have worked on a series of meaningful short film projects. Some addressing or dealing with many relatable social, love, relationship, family and political issues and topics ranging from Covid -19 “HERO”. Mental Illness “Alright. Family “My Mother”. To handgun violence and school shootings “These Sad Times”. To the war in Ukraine with “When The Fire Comes”.
But by far the most meaningful project would have to be my current national and global award winning afro-beat inspired humanitarian film entitled: “HUMANITY”. A song and film in love, solidarity and protest against ongoing Israeli aggression on the innocent children of Gaza in Palestine. In the film I play the role of Salim. A Palestinian father after losing everything in an Israeli airstrike, his home, wife and newborn child, attempts to help ease his unbearable pain by telling his own personal story of growing up in Gaza under the occupation of an apartheid regime.
Since its initial release on 12/22/2023. My film has received over 49 official selection award wins, nominations and honorable mentions both nationally and globally in the following award categories:
BEST FILM OF THE YEAR, BEST SOUNDTRACK, BEST MUSIC VIDEO, BEST DOCUMENTARY, BEST ACTOR, and BEST HUMAN INTEREST FILM
Before the film’s production I reached out to many in my circle to ask for funding for my film, and no one wanted to donate or invest. Some were more interested in my comedy and feature film projects that I had in the works. Many also encouraged me not to produce or release it, citing that it could hurt me as an artist and my aspiring and budding film career that I would like to have in Hollywood. But I decided to follow my heart and spirit, so I self funded the entire project and wore multiple hats to decrease costs. It was literally classic DIY (do it yourself) filmmaking on another level, and Humanity was born.
Honestly I want no awards, fame, fortune or recognition for my project at all. It was a very emotional and painful project to produce. As a chef that has feed the homeless in nyc and also kindergarten preschool students (the same ages as the children in Gaza). This project hit me differently, if I was a parent it would probably hit me that much harder. I asked myself everyday, how could I not look and interact with these children everyday and not think about all the children being killed in Gaza?.
As an actor to play a father who lost everything, his home, wife and newborn child in the film really broke me emotionally. I hope I never have to play a role like this ever again.
My only wish and hope is that my song and film “HUMANITY” will be not only a voice for the most vulnerable and voiceless children in Gaza. But also for children in the Congo, Sudan, Haiti and children all across our entire globe suffering immensely from the inhumanity, financial greed and political interests of others. These children should be safeguarded and protected at all costs under humanitarian and international law. My second hope is that my film will reconnect each and everyone of us, back to our HUMANITY.
My next humanitarian song and film is entitled: “Beautiful Life”.
A afro beat inspired heartfelt historical project that addresses the ongoing and extremely dire humanitarian crises in the
Congo, Sudan and Haiti. I look forward to sharing this wonderful body of artistic work with you all.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Richard Oliver Jr. – (Press Release)
Richard Oliver Jr. is an award winning producer, filmmaker, humanitarian, and two time White House letter Recipient. Richard been featured in various press articles with NBC, Fox, CBS, Top Shelf, Voyage ATL, Daily Music Spin, African Hype and Certified Bop online magazines, for not one but four of his award winning music and film projects entitled: Hero, My Mother, When The Fire Comes and These Sad Times.
43 awards and honorable mentions respectively to his credits.
“HERO”
(A Tribute to frontline healthcare workers of Covid-19) received numerous awards and a special acknowledgement from the highest office in the land. The White House of the United States of America, in a personal letter bearing the official presidential seal from our 46th President: Joe Biden.
“WHEN THE FIRE COMES”
(A reggae conscious song and film in love, unity, support and solidarity for Ukraine) has received over 9 official selection awards, a Semi – Finalist award nod from the prestigious Dumbo Film Festival, and a special judges panel acknowledgement and VIP Guest Invitation from the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival.
“THESE SAD TIMES”
(A reggae and r&b fused conscious song and film that addresses the serious issue of mass shootings and handgun violence in America, especially among our most vulnerable, children) This extremely emotional and heartfelt film has received huge rave reviews, 3 official selection awards, an Honorable Mention plus a second Semi – Finalist award nod from the prestigious Dumbo Film Festival in NYC. Richard’s hope is that his film “These Sad Times” will not only keep the memory of so many children alive, but that it will also prompt congress to pass more common sense gun reform legislation bills to better protect our children and teachers in their institutions of learning, so we can finally see an end to These Sad Times.
“MY MOTHER”
A beautiful song and film in love, gratitude and tribute to my mother
Winner of 2 film festival awards.
Richard Oliver Jr. returns once again with a remarkable heartfelt humanitarian music and film project. For Your Consideration: “HUMANITY” for the children of Gaza.
Since its initial release on 12/22/2023 his film has received over 49 official selection award wins, nominations and honorable mentions both nationally and globally in the following award categories:
BEST FILM OF THE YEAR, BEST SOUNDTRACK, BEST MUSIC VIDEO, BEST DOCUMENTARY, BEST ACTOR, and BEST HUMAN INTEREST FILM
Film Reviews:
“A powerful film that spreads love and also speaks loudly against decades of destruction and suffering of the Palestinian people”. – African Hype Magazine, Usa
“Humanity is a great music video with lots of heart. It reflects a very impassioned
performance alongside an emotional and catchy song. It is certainly commendable to focus creative efforts towards having a positive impact on the world, and the speech by Nelson Mandela is a nice touch, providing a very resonant message. All things considered, this is a fantastic piece of work and the filmmaker is encouraged to continue changing the world through their craft” – L.G.F.A.
(London Global Film Awards)
“An Extraordinary Film!” – Anatolia Intl Film Festival, Turkey
“A very Accomplished Film!” – Folkestone Film Festival, UK
“Congratulations on your remarkable success and victory!”
– Bangkok Movie Awards, Thailand
“Your outstanding talent and dedication have been dully recognized in this acclaimed
international film festival” – Bangkok Movie Awards, Thailand
“As our prestigious winner, you will be forever etched in the annals of the
international film industry” – Bangkok Movie Awards, Thailand
“May this glorious moment be just the beginning of a prosperous and illustrious
journey as you continue redefining the boundaries of artistic expression”
– Bangkok Movie Awards, Thailand
Richard Oliver Jr. is the CEO of his film and entertainment company ICP Entertainment, and founder and creative director of the annual ICP Entertainment Film Festival, which recently successfully completed its 10th milestone consecutive season.
Richard has studied and graduated from NYFA (New York Film Academy) while also directing and filming multiple film projects to his credits: A documentary feature on Hurricane Katrina entitled: “New Orleans, We Won’t Forget About You”. That screened twice at the NYFA campus theater, and premiered at the Anthology Film Archives in NYC.
3 short films entitled: “The Getaway”, “I love You” “Love & Confrontation”.
But one of Richard’s earliest accomplishments was a You-Tube comedy show Web Series that he produced entitled: The Rhyme Impersonator Show with over 5 SEASONS and 30 plus episodes with a host of famous celebrity interviews to his media channels credit. What’s remarkable, was that the product was initially Funded with 13.5k, (OPM) with not one, but two successful Kickstarter crowd-funding campaigns with over 184 Bakers.
Richard is also a seasoned and accomplished artist and dynamic soulful vocalist in various genres (R&B, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Reggae and gospel) with one independent album to his credits entitled: “Freaky Mon”. He is set to release a second follow-up album in 2025 entitled: “Everything I Have” filled with many songs to be featured in all of his up and coming film projects in 2025.
Richard can now add professional Chef to his impressive repertoire, since graduating from culinary school in December of 2019 with 2 prestigious honors. In May of 2020 Richard was contracted to work with 4 Covid-19 food relief efforts organizations in New York City. In the darkest days of the Covid-19 pandemic, when there was no vaccine, when we had no clue of what covid-19 was, when we were seeing over 1,000 deaths a day. Richard risked his own life as an essential worker to go out everyday to help prep, cook and package much-needed meals for the elderly homebound seniors, the homeless, quarantined college students and all low-income and unemployed families directly impacted and affected by Covid-19 Pandemic. While on his days off from work, Richard would also volunteer for various church food pantries handing out 300 plus grocery bags to all low income families, and grab and go meals to the homeless of his beautiful city. God is so good, in the end over 1 million plus meals for NYC.
What’s even more noteworthy is that in the very midst of all of his courageous acts of service, this remarkable artist, entrepreneur and humanitarian, still found the time and inspiration to write, compose and produce his many award winning film projects.
One of Richard’s biggest mentors in film and entertainment is Tyler Perry. “Plant a seed and water it”, and Richard has been consistent in doing just that. Richard’s goals and future plans are to raise more finances, bring aboard more investors, and secure an indie or major distribution deal. Build a much bigger production studio here in nyc, where he can then secure distribution and produce even more independent film projects, cast amazing actors and employ numerous film production and crew hands as he did before with his comedy show web series.
Richard is currently working on a special song and humanitarian film project on the immigration crisis in America entitled: “Right of Passage”. And another short film entitled: “Beautiful Life” a song and film that addresses the urgent and dire humanitarian crises and instability in Africa’s Sudan, Congo and Haiti.
In the midst of these smaller projects he’s set to produce his 1st long awaited feature Romantic Comedy screenplay and film. Richard is also set to release his first personal Memoir in 2025 on a tragic life experience that with his faith and the grace of God he courageously survived and overcame. The budding star plans to expand his memoir into a documentary and feature film script for Hollywood. To join other notable hit films of overcoming life’s challenges and obstacles and never giving up. Hit films that have inspired his own like: “Pursuit of Happiness”, “Wall Street”, “King Richard” and many more.
Richard currently resides in Manhattan nyc.
For press and media inquires, bookings or more information contact:
Veena Kondapalli
(Public Relations Director)
ICP Entertainment
Website: http://www.icpentertainment.org
Email: [email protected]
(212) 470-0871
Follow Richards social media pages:
http://www.richardolivierjr.com
https://www.facebook.com/richardolivierjrfanpage
https://x.com/richardoli91073
http://www.instagram.com/richardoliverjricp
Subscribe to his You-Tube Channel Media Channel at: http://www.youtube.com/therhymeimpersonator
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/richard-oliver-jr/1543182581
https://www.reverbnation.com/richardoliverjr
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Without giving anything away cause I would like my current fans and new fans to go out buy and read my new upcoming memoir when released entitled: “Suddenly Homeless”. (Coming – 2025)
In the memoir I talk very honest and candidly about my life’s journey of overcoming by Gods grace, homelessness in not one but 2 states. While in the very midst of building up my artistry, business brand and conglomerate. A must read indeed, to give hope to the hopeless. Life changing, emotional, inspiring, hilarious, yet motivational and thought provoking. I look forward to sharing another part of me with you all.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I would say the ability to express myself honestly and freely without any fear, doubt or apprehension. Then experiencing the biggest reward of seeing my work move an audience both Nationally and globally to challenge themselves, to think, to choose or entertain a new thought or perspective on the many issues in life that affect us all, and that we all have to deal with. My third reward would be the prestigious film reviews, feedback and acknowledgements from seasoned professionals in the film industry. When a Hollywood filmmaker like Michael Moore waits backstage to meet and take a selfie with you, then you know you’re on the right track. Ya Mon 🇯🇲.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.richardolivierjr.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/richardoliverjrfanpage
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/richardolivierjrfanpage
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardoliverjr/
- Twitter: https://x.com/richardoli91073
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/therhymeimpersonator
- Other: “Humanity” Award Winning Film! Now Available on VIMEO at:
https://icpentertainment.vhx.tv/checkout/humanity-for-the-children-of-gaza-“Humanity” Single and Film Score Available on Spotify at:
Company Website:
http://www.icpentertainment.orgICP Entertainment Film Festival:
http://www.filmfreeway.com/icpentfilmfestivalRichard’s Music on I-Tunes!
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/richard-oliver-jr/1543182581Richard’s Music on Spotify!
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0DtOaPOVwyCMbpKF7RfK4Y?si=0b2101054d9842bc
Image Credits
Lindsey Seide
Martin Cortez
Keith Powell
Patrick Cashin
Veena Kondapalli