Women remain underrepresented in the art world. Although women at the helm of studios and creative ventures are changing the dynamics of storytelling and entertainment consumption, the unfair battle of the sexes cannot be ignored. Research shows that women hold only one-fourth of the C-Suite jobs in media and entertainment companies facing an imminent glass ceiling that needs to be shattered. Robbie J. Atkinson, film director, editor, philanthropist, and artist, is redefining digital entertainment with her production house and making a mark for herself.
Biography
Born Priscilla Janet-Robynne Atkinson, Robbie, 28, spent seven years of her early school life to become a professional orchestral musician. Her interests took a different direction in 2012 when she decided to pursue films upon entering college. She graduated with a Bachelor’s in Film and Video with a minor in Music from Georgia State University in 2016. She then acquired her master’s degree in digital production. She picked up various odd jobs on small film sets in the Atlanta film industry, which fanned her entrepreneurial streak. In 2019, she established her own production company, RPX Media Production.
Robbie’s stint with ATLocal Entertainment (a local company that planned and coordinated concerts for K-pop artists coming to Atlanta) as a video producer shifted her perspective and shaped her as a professional. In 2019, she dove into the K-pop industry by editing and filming promotional videos and traveled to various places with the Korean boy group MONT besides doing public relations for them. Later that year, she was promoted to media director in the company and bagged the first contract between ATLocal and RPX. Robbie says her job at ATLocal is a perfect combination of her passion for music and videography and allows her to be in the moment with fans and artists.
RPX Media
An Atlanta-based hybrid production house, RPX Media specializes in various forms of digital entertainment and is dedicated to bringing stories to life through film. It delves into producing material ranging from narrative storytelling to experimental films, promotional branding, and much more. The services on offer include Film and Video Production (Pre-Post), Animation, Branded Product Design, Graphic Design, and Illustration. RPX’s projects span different industries and segments, including a promotional video for Kung Fu Tea and a collaboration with the Director of Peace Maker (a dance company that performs on stage with the likes of Got7, BTS, and Mamamoo).
Although the onset of COVID-19 threw life off gear for the company, Robbie’s resilience and grit kept her going with a change in approach to collaborations and future projects. She credits her team’s dedication, flexibility, and willingness to continuously improve their craft as the main reason due to which RPX Media thrives in difficult situations. COVID-19 might have interrupted production and halted many projects, but Robbie feels a greater shift in industry diversity will soon happen.
Being Heard
Robbie initiated another non-profit project in 2020 after being ruffled by the blatant onset of xenophobia during the pandemic and the revelation of police brutality stemming from George Floyd’s demise. Named FIER (Foundation for Inter-Ethnic Restoration), the organization provides a safe place and outlet for people of color to share their stories and feelings with professional counselors. A filmmaker herself, Robbie believes in the power of cinema as a catalyst in igniting change through inspirational stories and wants to give voices to those who feel ignored and invalidated.
And she did not stop there! Robbie gathered a team of more than 100 volunteers and researchers from several countries to increase the reach of FIER and spread the vision that it stands for. Spurred by the “Black Lives Matter” movement in America, FIER’s primary mission is to bring ethnic communities together, give people of color a platform to voice their opinions and challenges, address racial trauma through education, foster community engagement to bring people together in the fight, and host open discussions that are inclusive, transparent, and inspiring. Robbie also wishes to compensate the people involved in her endeavor and use some financial resources to lobby for the change that she hopes to bring to the world in the near future.
Powering Through
Slowly but steadily, RPX Media is making inroads into the entertainment industry despite all trials and tribulations. Besides engaging in some exciting projects, the company’s work has also been screened at a variety of film festivals, including the Urban International Film Festival and the 48-Hour Film Festival. To expand, Robbie wishes to get into feature filmmaking in the future.
Like other business owners, Robbie also faced the challenge of maintaining a work-life balance. She learned the hard way that to sustain her business, she needs to first take care of herself. Juggling a day job and managing a business took a toll on her, and she had to alter her lifestyle to make the sailing smoother. While she understands that sacrifices are to be made, she now grasps the concept of prioritizing and moving forward.
“While going through the process, you will be working harder than you ever imagined. Sacrifices are part and parcel of any dream that you follow. What is important is that you must decide where to draw that line, what you want to give up, and what you do not. Build rest and self-care into your schedule. Build your team so you can rest when they are working. Understand that anything worth having will not come easy. It will test all your skills, but it will be worth it in the long run. Just keep at it,” said Robbie.
A print and digital magazine for businesswomen focusing on leadership, business, and entrepreneurship that made its debut in 2017 has WomELLE Magazine.
