Meet Abdul Chestnut

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Abdul Chestnut. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Abdul below.

Abdul, 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?

My resilience is deeply rooted in my parents — my mother, (the late) Sedina Chestnut, and my father, Alexander Chestnut, Jr. They were my first examples of strength, sacrifice and unwavering faith.

My mother was the backbone of our family — a nurturer, a provider and a warrior in her own right. She taught me compassion, creativity and the importance of pouring into others. My father, my hero, showed me discipline, responsibility and consistency. He was. & still is the kind of man who didn’t have to say much — his actions spoke volumes growing you, and still does to this day.

Watching them overcome their own challenges without ever letting struggle define them taught me that adversity isn’t a stop sign — it’s fuel.

Every time life knocked me down — whether in business, personal trials or navigating the entertainment industry — I could hear my Mom’s’ voice: When you get knocked off the horse – dust your boot straps off and jump right back on it!!!

So, my resilience isn’t something I developed alone — it’s inherited. It’s generational. It’s spiritual. It’s my tribute to them.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I wear many hats — but they all serve one purpose: to build platforms where creativity, culture and opportunity collide. I am the CEO and Executive Producer of AEMG TV, a streaming network and media company that produces and distributes films, documentaries, music, reality content and educational programming. But beyond entertainment, AEMG TV is a bridge — connecting artists, underserved communities and global audiences.

What makes my work exciting is that it’s not just content — it’s impact. We’re not waiting for Hollywood to “let us in.” We’re building our own studios, our own distribution lanes and our own educational systems to train the next generation.

Right now, we are expanding with two major ventures:

1. AEMG TV Academy of the Arts & Eco-Plex (Opening Summer 2026, Atlanta, GA)

This is more than a school — it’s an economic pipeline. We are developing a campus that will serve as:
• A film and television training center
• A production facility
• A business incubator
• A content creator hub

We teach everything from videography and sound engineering to sewing, automotive tech, culinary arts, entrepreneurship, and CDL training. It’s designed for students, creators, working adults, and returning citizens seeking real skills that lead to real income.

2. Content Corner Selfie Museum (Opening February 2026, Stone Mountain, GA)

This is an interactive media space where everyday people, influencers, and brands can create professional-level video and photo content. It also doubles as a venue for birthday shoots, fashion shows, podcast sets, commercials, and workshops.

Whether I’m developing a documentary, mentoring a student or negotiating a distribution deal with platforms like Amazon Prime, Tubi, FilmHub & PASSES, the mission stays consistent:

Entertainment is not just for consumption — it’s a vehicle for education, empowerment and ownership.

I want our communities to know: your story is valuable, your skill is monetizable, and your vision is possible. I’m just doing my part to build the infrastructure to prove it.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back on my journey, the three things that impacted me the most were:

1. Adaptability

The entertainment and business world will change on you overnight — technology shifts, deals fall through, people switch up. The ability to pivot without panicking is one of my greatest advantages. I learned early that success isn’t about having a perfect plan — it’s about being able to adjust when the plan changes.

Advice: Don’t be married to one route. Be married to the mission. Learn fast, move smart and don’t freeze when things curve.

2. Relationship Building

My biggest opportunities didn’t come from applications — they came from people. Some doors open because of credentials. Most open because of character.

Advice: Treat every interaction like a seed. Water it with respect, consistency & value. Don’t network just to get — build relationships to grow.

3. Resourcefulness

In the early years, I didn’t always have the budget — but I always had the vision. We’ve built studio sets out of spare rooms, produced projects on faith and negotiated partnerships before I had the paperwork. Knowing how to make something out of nothing is a superpower.

Advice: Stop waiting for perfect conditions. Use what you have, where you are, with who’s willing. Creativity isn’t about equipment — it’s about execution.

If you master adaptability, relationships and resourcefulness, you’ll always find a way to win — no matter what room you’re in.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Absolutely!!!! Collaboration is at the core of everything I build — but I’m intentional about who I build with. I’m looking to partner with:

• Creators and storytellers who have powerful content but need distribution, production support and/or strategic marketing.

• Educators, trade professionals & industry veterans willing to teach workshops or mentor the next generation through the AEMG TV Academy of the Arts.

• Investors, philanthropists and corporate sponsors who understand that media and education are not just businesses — they are economic engines and cultural lifelines.

• Churches, schools, nonprofits and municipalities looking for programs that reduce crime, create jobs & provide career pathways for youth and adults.

If you believe in ownership, impact, and legacy — we’re already aligned.

How to Connect

The best way to reach me is directly through:
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.AEMGTV.com
• Social Media: @AEMGTV on all major platforms

Let’s build something that outlives us.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

These images belong to me.

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