Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Oliver Jr..
Hi Richard , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Richard Oliver Jr. is a multi-talented award winning actor, producer, filmmaker, humanitarian, and two time White House letter Recipient. Richard has been featured in various press articles with NBC, Fox, CBS, Top Shelf, Voyage ATL, Canvas Rebel, Daily Music Spin, African Hype and Certified Bop online magazines just to name a few. His award winning music and short film projects include: Hero, My Mother, When The Fire Comes and These Sad Times. Over 43 award wins, nominations and honorable mentions respectively to his credits.
Richard Oliver Jr. returns once again with another remarkable afro-beat inspired humanitarian song and film entitled: “Beautiful Life”. The film explores both the present and past origins, in relation to the dire humanitarian crises and instability in Haiti and Africa’s Congo and Sudan.
Award Winning Projects:
“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 solidarity for Ukraine)
Which received a 2nd consecutive White House personal letter acknowledgement from our 46th President: Joe Biden. In addition to 9 official selection awards, a Semi – Finalist award 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 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 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 Richard’s mother
Winner of 2 film festival awards.
“HUMANITY” for the children of Gaza.
Since its initial release on 12/22/2023 his film has received an Audience Choice and Jury Award acknowledgement, nominations, honorable mentions and over 63 Official Selection award wins both nationally and globally in the following award categories:
BEST FILM OF THE YEAR, BEST AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD, BEST JURY AWARD, BEST SOUNDTRACK, BEST MUSIC VIDEO, BEST DOCUMENTARY, BEST ACTOR, and BEST HUMAN INTEREST FILM
Humanity also received a BEST DOCUMENTARY consideration from the acclaimed
international film festival: Bangkok Movie Awards in Thailand. In addition to his very 1st BEST AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD consideration from the prestigious (NIFF) Newada International Film Festival 2024 in Bihar, India. “Humanity” beat out over 1800 + Films from 84 plus countries across the world. Richard’s official Award certificate was signed by Bollywood celebrity: Shabaz Kahn
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.
His student short films include “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 very 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”.
In the midst of these smaller projects he’s set to produce 2 romantic comedy feature films entitled: “You Are Love” and “This Beauty We Call Love – A Christmas Story”.
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. Hopefully it will 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
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think any artist or entrepreneur’s life is never a smooth road or journey. It’s more of a marathon, rather than a sprint. That first starts out with a creative thought, vision, passion, idea or intention, then gradually builds up, evolves and transforms into something you may never have expected. I’ve encountered those moments many many times. I was battling mental illness, depression, suicidal thoughts and homelessness at the very same time I was building up my company. I would have to say that that period was the most challenging life obstacle(s) that I have ever experienced. I talk more about that time in my upcoming new personal memoir coming – 2025. A hard but must read for any artist or entrepreneur with a dream, goal or aspiration in life.
The struggles I would say are very common. Financing, the assembling of a creative team to help bring one’s visions to life. Lack of emotional and mental support from family in the pursuit of one’s dreams. My Jamaican parents till this day, even with my budding success still want me to stop everything and resume my studies in law and become the 1st lawyer in the family ya mon lol. Not knowing that all the studying I had as a paralegal never left me, but I’ve applied all that legal knowledge to my business, successfully winning and settling many civil court cases for my company ICP Entertainment.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I think what sets me apart from others is my ability to wear many hats if need be, and do a lot with a little without sacrificing the quality of any project. Also my natural talent and ability to act, direct, write, sing, compose, produce music and edit all of my projects, This enables me to keep production costs low until a said project reaches a huge level of success.
I specialize in every single facet of art. From the idea to the script to the vision financing casting assembling of the team to bring the vision or said project to life. To the final completion of both the pre and post production process of the project. Then the packaging marketing promotion advertising and distribution of the project to reach bigger audiences.
I’m known for my award winning music and short film projects that include: Hero, My Mother, When The Fire Comes and These Sad Times. Over 43 award wins, nominations and honorable mentions respectively to my credits.
I most recently released my new afro-beat inspired humanitarian song and film entitled: “Beautiful Life”. The film explores both the present and past origins, in relation to the dire humanitarian crises and instability in Haiti and Africa’s Congo and Sudan.
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. But by far the most meaningful project that I would have to say I’m most proud of 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 who 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 63 official selection award wins, nominations and honorable mentions both nationally and globally in the following award categories:
BEST FILM OF THE YEAR, BEST AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD, BEST JURY AWARD, 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 fed 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.
Humanity 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
“We appreciate your dedication for filmmaking and creating social awareness through the film medium. Congratulations.” – Rahul Verma, Founder (NIFF) Newada International Film Festival. 5th Season, Bihar, India.
“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
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I would say my volunteer work with my local community church and food pantry. Where I help to feed the homeless, elderly, children and low income families all suffering as many in American and around the globe, from poverty and food instability.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.richardolivierjr.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/richardoliverjricp
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/richardolivierjrfanpage
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardoliverjr/
- Twitter: https://x.com/richardoli91073
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/therhymeimpersonator
- Yelp: http://www.icpentertainment.org
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/richardoliverjr
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0DtOaPOVwyCMbpKF7RfK4Y?si=0b2101054d9842bc
Image Credits
Veena Kondapalli
Patrick Cashin
Martin Cortez
Nadezhda Setkevich