We recently connected with Kevin Black and have shared our conversation below.

Kevin , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Any advice for creating a more inclusive workplace?

The closest person I have is Seth Rogen, and I only relate to him because of our connection with chubbiness and maybe our curly hair, but that’s it. There’s no real representation of main characters played by people that look like me on TV in America besides Maui and Jason Momoa, who are both fictional characters.

Since I rarely see people who look like me on TV, I make it a priority to ensure others don’t feel the same exclusion. One of my short films that I created was a story where the main killer is a female cannibal—something I don’t often see represented in the media. Bringing that vision to life was an exciting experience.

Another short film, Wolfie, explores the deep bond between a man and his dog. It highlights a unique relationship that isn’t often portrayed on screen.

I have several projects in development, but one I’d love to share is Mama Chava. It’s a bilingual short film in English and Spanish that will be animated. The story follows the loving relationship between a young boy and his grandmother. Making it bilingual is another way to bring representation to the screen.

Inclusivity, diversity, and representation aren’t always about skin color. Sometimes, they’re about the stories that are missing from the film world—stories that simply aren’t being told. I hope that the films I create can help change that, providing a space where people can see themselves represented on screen.

At Matusalem Pictures, we believe all forms of representation matter. Our mission is to bring all shades of people, all shades of culture, and all shades of stories into the limelight.

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?

Who am I? How can I paint a picture for you to truly know who I am? A mixture of characters from SpongeBob SquarePants, specifically Pearl Plankton, and Mrs. Puff comes to mind when I ask myself this question.

I’m like Pearl because I’m very sensitive and emotional, but I’m still that girl. And Pearl is that girl. She wears her name on her chest, and it gives Kevin Black coded. I give Mrs. Puff because this anxiety is crazy. And lastly, I’m a little like Plankton because, at the end of the day, the real question I ask myself is, “am I trying to conquer the world?” Absolutely. Now you have an idea of me and my personality in a Sandy Cheeks nutshell.

Thank you for allowing me to speak about SpongeBob at this time—I really appreciate it. Who doesn’t love a good SpongeBob analogy?

But in the real world, I’m a filmmaker who does not like waiting in long lines.

Although you can catch Kevin flipping through the Housewives of Bikini Bottom during his time off, you will never catch Mr. Black, owner and CEO of Matusalem Pictures indulging and showcasing interests like the ones mentioned earlier on his day to day. I purposely made sure to keep Matusalem Pictures completely separate from Kevin Black. Kevin Black is colors, sparkles, rainbows, and unicorns, while Matusalem Pictures is sleek and gold. Matusalem Pictures has a strong film purpose—to be a community source and create beautiful films—whereas Kevin Black is a hot mess.

Any advice for managing a team?

In many ways, being a director is very similar to being an aftercare teacher. I remember that if I looked away from my kids for even a second, one of my students would disappear, another would be climbing a tree, and others would be fist-fighting. YES, THIS ALL HAPPENED ONCE UPON A TIME. Being a director is the same way. You have to keep your eyes on everything and everyone to ensure the film set runs smoothly.

What I noticed while working on my upcoming movie is that it was truly a group collaboration. I wanted to bring in people I trusted to do their jobs without having to second-guess them. One of those people was Miguel Rodriguez, a cinematographer I had previously worked with on my short film, Wolfie. I knew right away that I wanted him on board because I loved his artistic ability to think on the spot, as well as his optimism on set. He was and is always willing to lend a hand and bring positive energy on any set he enters, so choosing him was a no-brainer.

Then there were my producers, Aries Rodriguez and Jazmin Slaughter. I wanted two producers I could count on—two absolute rock stars and baddies. Aries is a teacher, and as we all know, especially in today’s world, if you’re a teacher, you’re indestructible. So Aries had to be a producer. Jazmin, on the other hand, is a PR specialist with an incredible talent for event planning. Jazmin has huge clients left and right. If you can handle celebrity drama, tight deadlines, and high-pressure situations, you can definitely handle a film set. They both did that thing!

I also want to pass some flowers to the crew. Everyone else involved in my project, from lights Ruth Zapico, audio Corey Jackson, to my production assistant John Torres, was phenomenal at being a team player. We even had a fairy on set, Saffron Lancaster. EVERYONE PULLED THEIR WEIGHT!

My advice if you’re trying to make a movie: You don’t need a big set. You don’t need a huge budget. You don’t need a billion production assistants or a massive crew. You just don’t. I made it work with a small team, and what I’ve learned is that finding a crew you trust—people who can pull their own weight—makes all the difference. Everyone you hire on your team needs to be people who you know are good at collaboration. I don’t care how amazing someone’s resume is, if you don’t know how to work as a team, I’m not working with you.

I think the next question would be: How do you know if someone works well in a group?

The answer is simple—don’t start by working with them on a big project. Instead, collaborate on a smaller project first and take mental notes on who you’d want to work with again based on their positive attitude on set. This approach helps you build a strong, reliable team over time. Just keep in mind not everyone’s personalities shine at first, but your intuition is key. Pay attention to how they treat people. Do not be afraid to fire them, not work with them again, and not hire them back, if you have already tried to work out any discourse. It’s good vibes first. Always!

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

You are not your business! Separate the two! If I hangout with friends, I don’t always want to hear about all your projects. My business is not who I am. Even though we share many similarities in core beliefs and morals, we are two separate entities. That is why I believe my business can stand on its own—it does not have me attached to it, nor is my art about me ever. My art is a movement. It is independent, with its own character and personality.

Matusalem Pictures operates with clear intention. Every aspect—whether it’s the writing, the casting, or the crew selection—everything is deliberate. Every decision, from choosing our main stars to shaping our creative vision, is made with purpose.

I find it a little strange when people define themselves by their businesses because if their business starts failing, what does that say about them? Does it mean they’re a failure too? Let’s have a real conversation for a quick second—stop with the cute quotes. Things fail sometimes. It’s not all going to be successful. I don’t know—I just find it really odd and it feels like a lot of pressure to constantly be your business and have it attached to you at all times.

I prefer to separate myself into different entities and personalities. My social media persona, Kevinenvy, is not the same as my at-home self, Kevin Black. And Kevin Black is not the same as Matusalem Pictures. We are all different; we all stand independently, but together, we are a powerhouse.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.instagram.com/matusalempictures
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kevinenvy
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevinblackshow
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/kevinenvy
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@matusalempictures

Image Credits

@snappedvisionsfkp