We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Calvin Callins Jr. a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Calvin, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
The most meaningful project I’ve worked on was a virtual performance video I filmed and edited for American Idol alum Syesha Mercado. Syesha is a singer-songwriter, actress, and model who had her child taken away in 2021 by CPS. Syesha’s son “Amen’Ra” was taken away after allegations of malnutrition after the singer had started to wean him off breast milk. After Mercado’s milk had started to dry up during her second pregnancy and their son had struggled to adjust to solid food, they took the toddler to the hospital in February to help him get the nutrients he needed.
She fought to get her son back through petitions, rallies, donations and a very special virtual performance I was blessed to create. In this performance Syesha chose to dedicate a song to not only for her situation but the hundreds of mothers who go through this situation evert day. Syesha chose to use her voice and to do a cover of the song “Rise Up” by Andra Day. Throughout the video, Syesha emotionally sings as we see fond memories of her and Amen’Ra show on screen. This video gained over 200k views on Instagram and 12k on youtube which boosted the amount of support and backing Syesha got to get her son Amen’Ra back in her custody.
I will never forget the phone call I got from her after she saw the final video. She was in tears and that showed me how meaningful and how much of an impact my work could have on someone.
Thankfully Amen’Ra is back in Syesha’s custody today.
This video can be found on youtube under “A Tribute To Amen’Ra” posted by SBA Family
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m a Branded Entertainment filmmaker. Branded Entertainment is the process of filmmaking where a narrative is being shared while promoting a brand. Thus far I’ve assisted, written, and directed branded content for Kit Kat, Uber Eats, Post It-Notes, Ray Bans, Amazon Alexa, and more! I have a strong interest in writing and directing in any form of storytelling not just branded content.
Outside of filmmaking, I’m also a DJ. I go by the name of CJ The DJ. I’ve been DJing for about 6 years now. You can find me DJing campus activities and events at Ringling College or you can find me DJing event for many other local organizations.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an creative is seeing your hardwork come to life. There’s nothing more magical than seeing the words you wrote on a script come to life visually on a screen. Especially during a screening where your audience is viewing the product for the first time, the raw authentic reactions is what we do this for.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
What’s driving my creative journey is my mission to provide entertainment to as many people as possible in many different ways whether it’s directing, DJing, hosting or acting. I’m currently climbing a hill right now where at the top of this hill are entertainers like Jordan Peele, Donald Glover, Chance The Rapper and other entertainers who have the ability and access to reach millions of people with multiple different art forms of theirs. Whether it’s music, acting, writing or directing these entertainers have multiple outlets where they can entertain and create an experience for their consumers. In the future, that is where i want to be, using my talents to the best of my ability and combining them to create an overall entertaining experience for people not only seek it but need it.
Contact Info:
- Website: cjcallins.center
- Instagram: cjcallins4real
- Facebook: Calvin Callins Jr.
- Linkedin: Calvin “CJ” Callins
Image Credits
Jesse Clark Jeno Broschofsky “Spotlight” – Film Grab “Post It Up” – Film Grab “A Tribute To Amen’Ra” – Film Grab