We recently connected with Gobi M. Rahimi and have shared our conversation below.
Gobi M. , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
I started out producing and directing gangster rap videos in the late 90’s. I ended up creating over 350 music videos and commercials. During this time, I became Tupac’s production partner, photographer and director. I produced and directed some of his most iconic music videos. A week before he was fatally shot in Las Vegas, we had a 3 film, pending deal. I also ended up sitting security watch for him for six nights in Vegas from 12-8am. I’m developing a book and screenplay based on my experiences with him.
After Tupac’s passing, I produced and directed more music videos, but eventually transitioned into traditional commercials and branded content. Some of my campaigns with Seth Green and Snoop brought in more than a billion media impressions each.
For the last 3 years, I’ve been focusing on ESG (environmental, sustainablity and governance) type content. My idea being that I can use the same ‘propaganda’ used by global brands, to educate and empower consumers to make wiser choices with their spending dollar.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
In a previous life I used to be a real estate agent for Century 21 professionals in Newport Beach in Irvine. I was a listing agent and on average had 14 properties that I was selling. In 1993 I got a centurion award for selling the most expensive home in Orange County history. I met a girl at a wine tasting in orange county that used to produce gangster, rap videos. within a month I was going out with her, moved in with her in LA and start out as a production assistant, then a production manager, and then a producer on gangster rap videos. She also introduced me to 2pac. For whom I had an immediate affinity. He saw something special in me that no one else had ever seen. The thing about working with rap videos, is that it gives you the ability to problem solve and put out fires continuously.
From rap videos, I went on to producing comedy specials. Reality shows, branded Content and commercials. The last three years I’ve focused on all things, environmental, sustainability and governance or what I’d like to call social justice content.
I really do believe that our job is content creators is to educate them power consumers, so they can make better choices with their spending power. I’ve assembled a co-op a very powerful individuals and different skill sets. We have low overhead so we can keep our costs below what other firms charge. Were able to maximize in double or triple production value. And we have some very talented award winning directors on our roster as well, who work around the world.
One of my most recent, proudest moments involved the creation of an original song. One of my sustainability clients asked me to get Billie Eilish, because she wanted her to create an anti-plastic song. I told her that she probably didn’t have the 5 million she would charge, and that Billie’s next 3 years were already planned out. I told her to let me put a team together. I got a girl from the Voice, a rapper from the ATL and a Grammy winning producer, I Executive Produced a song called Champions of Change (that’s under case studies on my site). Karla Ortiz who’s on my team took a 30k marketing spend and did a targeted influencer campaign and brought in 2.5M views in 2 weeks. The campaign was a huge success for the brand and the artists.
I also just second unit directed episode 4 and 5 of Dear Mama on HULU/FX, which has become their most successful non-scripted series ever. I also happen to be in episode 4.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
In the early ’90’s I used to sell Real Estate in NewPort Beach and Irvine, California. I was successful, but didn’t have any passion for it. The money was good, but my soul wasn’t being fed. I briefly married to one David Lynch’s ex girl friends who was an aspiring director. She was waiting for David to fund one of her films, which I would rebut by saying, “you’re his ex-girl friend, he’s not going to fund your projects”. Then I suggested we make a music video for one of the bands we knew that didn’t have a video. She was down for the idea, so I put 10k on my Amex and we created a video for a group called “God #9”. She directed and I produced, and I fell in love with the film making process and finally found a passion in my life. I had been taking photos since I was a kid, but never considered the arts as an option. I wanted us to become a directing/producing team, but my wife wanted me to stay in Real Estate and said “there can’t be two artists in our family”. Three months later, I divorced her. Shortly after I met a girl at a Wine Tasting in Orange County, who was a gangster rap video producer. We got on very well. In fact 6 weeks after I quit real estate and moved up to LA started working with her. First as a production assistance, then a production manager and then a producer. I ended up producing 80 music videos with her for artists like Ice Cube, Mack10, Dr. Dre, Snoop, Erykha Badu, and Tupac. That lead me into commercials and branded content and now, I have a production company that focuses on Environmental, sustainability and social justice type content, that works around the world, called Staticfreefilms.com
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I was Tupac’s production partner, director and photographer. I was the first person at the hospital in Vegas after he was shot and ended up sitting security for him from 12-8am for six nights. I’ve written a script and book about my experience with Tupac and it’s taken me over two decades to bring it to market. The film is finally going out to investors and my intention is to make my movie in 2024.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.staticfreefilms.com
- Instagram: gobi1
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gobir
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gobirahimi/
- Twitter: gobirahimi