We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Christopher Matthew Spencer. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Christopher Matthew below.

Christopher Matthew, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The most meaningful project I have ever undertaken is my first directorial effort, the short film The Red Market. At age fifty‐five, after retiring from a romantic business career, I resolved to dedicate myself to the art of filmmaking. My friend Clay Wilde encouraged me to begin with a short project rather than risk a larger investment on a feature. Although I initially intended to move straight into features, his encouragement convinced me to “give it a whirl” and see what I could achieve on a smaller scale.

With extremely limited funds, I financed the entire production on my personal credit card. Every member of cast and crew volunteered their time and talent, drawn by the film’s experimental sci‐fi horror premise. Many participants were current students or alumni of the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University, and I was honored to work alongside actors from the Brian Cutler Actor Studio where I have trained. The cast and crew represented a rich tapestry of ethnic backgrounds—East Indian, Hispanic Latino, Eastern European, Middle Eastern and Anglo‐Saxon—which, though not a deliberate diversity initiative, brought invaluable perspectives to every aspect of production, from sound design to cinematography.

Given the resource constraints, each day on set demanded creativity, collaboration and problem‐solving. We built futuristic props on a shoestring budget, designed practical effects in our garages, and improvised special‐effects rigs when equipment was unavailable. Watching the team rally around those challenges, offering solutions far beyond their formal roles, remains one of my proudest memories.

The film has since earned multiple awards—as of this moment, a total of 27 first-place festival awards, as well as a plethora of finalist, semi-finalist, nominee and honorable mention titles. The Red Market has been praised for its imaginative storytelling and technical achievement. More than the accolades, however, The Red Market affirmed my belief that vision and determination can overcome any limitation. It stands as proof that, even in the face of financial risk and steep learning curves, passion and community can bring a dream to life. That experience not only launched my career as a film director but also taught me the true power of collaboration and creative resilience.

Christopher Matthew, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I was born into difficult circumstances and, by age sixteen, found myself homeless after fleeing an abusive household. Without the opportunity to complete high school, I immediately entered the workforce and taught myself resilience, responsibility and resourcefulness. In my view, success is not defined by a diploma but by accomplishing the goals I set for myself each day and by surrounding myself with loyal friends and collaborators.

My earliest passions included cooking and baking—I trained and competed to master chef‐level, an entertainment management career, an eight-year stint in public speaking, many investments in real estate—but when I turned fifty‐five, I answered a new calling and embarked on a professional acting career. Almost immediately, I signed with an agent and landed my first speaking role on camera alongside the Saturday Night Live star Kyle Mooney in a television series directed by Dave McCary and featuring Emma Stone. That experience taught me the power of collaboration under pressure and cemented my belief that it is never too late to pursue one’s creative dreams.

Today I wear several hats in the film industry as actor, writer and director. My work spans on-screen performances, original screenplays and the direction of award-winning short films such as The Red Market. I draw upon my life experience—my military service in the United States Navy, my years of self-reliance and my culinary training—to bring depth, discipline and vivid imagination to every project.

What sets me apart is a combination of late-life reinvention, veteran discipline and an unrelenting commitment to collaborative storytelling. I have financed projects out of pocket, assembled diverse volunteer teams from institutions such as the Brian Cutler Actor Studio and Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, and guided every element of production with care and determination. I am most proud of transforming adversity into opportunity, of earning multiple festival awards for my directorial debut, and of continuing to write feature-length screenplays.

To potential collaborators and fans, I want you to know that I bring maturity, authenticity and creative courage to every role and every story. I seek partnerships that value integrity, innovation and the belief that the best work emerges when passion meets perseverance.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I confronted a moment that required me to pivot both personally and professionally. I recognized that continuing along my established paths would no longer satisfy my creative ambitions.

At age fifty, I enrolled in acting classes at the Brian Cutler Actor Studio and began networking with fellow students and alumni. Within weeks, I signed with an agent and secured my first on-camera speaking role for a television series directed by Dave McCary and featuring Emma Stone. That early success affirmed my choice to reinvent myself. I devoted my days to studying screenwriting, attending workshops, and collaborating on projects.

Today, I am grateful for the pivot I embraced during those challenging months. I performed in 39 projects within a single year, I have written and directed an award-winning short film, The Red Market, and completed my first feature-length screenplay. By redirecting my energy toward acting, writing and directing, I have cultivated a renewed sense of purpose and joy. This pivot not only elevated my creative spark but also enabled me to build a career that aligns with my lifelong passion for storytelling. I am now living my best life, grateful for the resilience and courage that guided me through such a transformative period.

Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

Every idea isn’t for everybody and for me and NFT isn’t something I’m very familiar with or have a great clarity about and my personal opinion is I prefer to have tangible things in my hand.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/borntodeal
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/borntodeal/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/borntodeal
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/borntodeal/
• Twitter: https://x.com/borntodeal
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@borntodeal

Image Credits

Not applicable