Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Robert Palmer. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Robert, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
This is the million-dollar question if ever there was one. How does one in an endeavor like film/TV or any creative calling build up the thick skin to deal with rejection, near hits, failures on failures? As Tom Hanks famously quoted in ‘A League of Their Own,’ ‘If it were easy, everyone would do it.’ Being resilient is probably the most important skill to learn as one ventures into any profession but especially that of a creative. With so many different outlets and so many creators, innovators, influencers, storytellers, and filmmakers churning out more content than ever before, yet it still feels like the narrowest door to enter and be welcomed to the party…
You have to accept that rejection is going to happen so much more than acceptance, so if you embrace the losses, the victories seem that much more special. When things get tough, which they do for all of us, you can always rely on your gift… Okay, fine, let’s say a screenplay I wrote didn’t connect, that doesn’t mean the next one or the next one won’t hit a nerve and change things… You have to want to keep pushing your vision and throw caution to the wind. Only you can tell the story or paint the picture how you want. Don’t worry about everyone else… Just bounce back, start again, and keep creating.”
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Throughout my life, storytelling has been my passion. Even from my earliest memories in first grade, I recall captivating my classmates with my imaginative tales, much to the dismay of my teachers. Nevertheless, this early interest set me on a trajectory towards film and television. With guidance from my technologically savvy older brother, I delved deeper into the world of storytelling.
As I progressed through school, my knack for storytelling only grew. In high school, my classmates enlisted my help for their final senior video project on 19th-century British literature, which ultimately led to the creation of five distinct short films, each more advanced than anything our teachers had seen before. These experiences solidified my desire to pursue filmmaking, despite initial resistance from my parents.
I continued honing my craft in film school, collaborating with my best friend to create characters and content that we still develop to this day, nearly 25 years later. After graduating, I made the move to Los Angeles to chase my dream, taking on various jobs in the television and film industry. From my humble beginnings having to do fire watch on a Bally’s Total Health Club commercial (directed by Francis Lawrence – now famous director) to working my way up through producing on such acclaimed shows like Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and Hell’s Kitchen, Gene Simmons Family Jewels and The Curse of Oak Island and so many shows in between. I embraced every opportunity to learn and grow.
In 2013, I co-wrote with my childhood friend and Collaborator Michael A. Weiss. I also directed my second feature film, “I Am Alone,” a low-budget but ambitious zombie film that found success on the film festival circuit internationally and won many awards for all those involved. And eventually allowing us to secure distribution on platforms like Hulu and Tubi. This experience taught me the importance of collaboration and perseverance in the face of challenges. And boy do those challenges come fast and furious.
Since then, I’ve continued to write, produce, and bring new projects to life. In 2019, my other collaborator Eric N Horowitz and I revived characters from our first feature film for a scripted audio drama called “The Potchki Audio Chronicles.” This podcast breathed new life into our beloved characters and allowed us to explore new creative avenues with a talented international cast of voice-over artists.
From my humble beginnings in high school to my adventures in Los Angeles and beyond, it’s been a remarkable journey filled with ups and downs. I’m excited to see what the future holds and eager to continue creating and sharing stories with the world.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The key lesson I’ve learned is to believe in yourself—not in an arrogant or overconfident way, but in trusting the value of what you want to share with the world. You never know who might be listening or watching; even when you’re not aware, someone is paying attention, and the world is keeping score, often without you realizing you’re in the game.
When it comes to luck, it’s more about playing the numbers game. After spending some time in Canada working on “The Curse of Oak Island,” I decided to test the waters with some of my unproduced scripts. I polished them up and sent them out into the world, expecting little response. Was I a good enough writer? I believed I was, but was anyone out there actually listening, reading, or paying attention? It turns out they were. What I initially thought was a wasted effort turned out to be quite the opposite. My scripts and shorts began to garner awards, showing me that what I had to offer was indeed worthwhile. I don’t mean to sound so boastful although I’m extremely proud of every official selection and top prize, you have to put those efforts out there and accept your fate. Maybe I’m the exception to the rule or maybe not. That’s not for me to decide. All I knew was I wanted to write those stories and hoped someone anyone was receptive. Never did I expect them to be so well received. You just never know so might as well try.
The moral of the story is that opportunities rarely come knocking on their own; you have to be proactive and knock down as many doors as you can. You need to make people take notice of what you uniquely bring to the table. While it’s tempting to chase trends, if you do, infuse your work with your own voice so it stands out and doesn’t feel like a mere imitation.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
I can’t express enough gratitude for what my parents have done to nurture my unconventional career. Both of them immigrated from Europe, whereas I was born and raised here, fully embracing the American way of life. However, when I decided to pursue a path in the arts and filmmaking, they found themselves at a loss. They anticipated the challenges ahead, akin to Frodo and Samwise journeying to Mordor, yet they steadfastly believed in me every step of the way.
While my siblings excelled in academics and intellect, I was the outlier of the family. They supported me as I navigated through unfamiliar territory, shielding me from becoming overwhelmed and always reminding me that pursuing my passion was the only path to true happiness. I eventually realized they were right. Despite occasionally working in an office environment, it never felt fulfilling in the way that being an accountant might have for my sister, who excelled in math—a subject in which I struggled.
Recognizing that obstacles were inherent to my chosen profession, my family continued to offer unwavering support. Despite my career path being far from the traditional routes of becoming a doctor, lawyer, or engineer, they were determined to see me succeed. Without their support, I doubt I would be here today, sharing my story with you and your readers.
It’s one thing to believe in yourself, but it’s another when others believe in you too.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.potchkiaudiochronicles.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_dude_abides58/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedudeabides58
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/dudeabides58
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyVOfU2oiRI&t=55s
