Xavier Burgin attended The University of Alabama before being accepted into USC’s School of Cinematic Arts for TV & Film Production. He nurtured his creative process there, discovering a love for writing and directing. Now, he’s a Sundance Lab Fellow with a following of over 60,000, an HBO Finalist, a Ryan Murphy Television Half Foundation alumni, and a director on the Emmy nominated series, Giants.
Xavier is a fellow of The Sundance Institute’s YouTube New Voices Lab where his series, Late Registration, was selected. Xavier shadowed on the set of American Horror Story as a member of the RMTV Half Foundation, a diversity mentorship program created by Ryan Murphy (American Horror Story, Scream Queens). Xavier’s feature script, On Time, has won The Film Empire’s diversity competition and was a finalist in Screencraft’s drama competition. Xavier has also been a semi-finalist for ABC|Disney’s Directing and Writer Programs, Sony’s Diverse Director’s Program, and Viacom’s Emerging Directors Program.
Xavier’s filmography has been accepted in The American Black Film Festival, HBO Short Film Competition, Raindance Film Festival, Urbanworld Film Festival, LA Shorts Fest, Anchorage Film Festival, Burbank International Film Festival, Sunscreen West Film Festival, and many more.
Xavier’s feature documentary, Horror Noire, which documents the history of Black Americans in the horror genre, will premiere on Shudder TV in 2019. Xavier directed Episode 204: Lights Out and Episode 207: Okay In the Silence, of the Emmy nominated series, Giants, currently on Issa Rae’s Color Creative. The series has been picked up for television via TV One.
On Time, Xavier’s proof of concept for his feature script of the same name, was an HBO short film finalist, was an Audience Award Social Political Film Festival Jury Winner, netted him a Best Director award at Sunscreen Film Festival West, and won Best Actress at Poland’s Grand Off Film Festival. It premiered on HBO and has been seen on Cinemax and Spectrum. Olde E, his thesis film, was a semi-finalist for the 43rd Student Academy Awards and chosen for Ryan Murphy’s Director’s showcase. Other, his film about Black America’s two voices, has been featured on Shadow & Act, Bossip, and Colorlines.
Xavier has also amassed a following of over 60,000 plus followers on twitter through his long form stories, landing him features on sites such as NPR, Buzzfeed, Complex, Global Grind, and more.
Xavier has worked with Kevin Hart’s LOL Network, AMC, Shudder, Baron Davis’ No Label, Stage 3 Productions, Bazelevs (Wanted, Unfriended), Blavity, Riveting Entertainment, Google, Lenovo, Coca-Cola, The Distinguished Filmmakers’ Network, and Oscar Mayer as a director, writer, cinematographer, and/or writer.
Xavier strives to bring an emotionally, powerful aesthetic through drama, and a pleasantly gut-aching, hilarity through comedy. Above all else, he currently works towards building an artistic resume highlighting his unique, and progressive sensibilities.
Que The Lights © 2010 Xavier Burgin Los Angeles, CA www.quethelights.com
