Meet Erby Beauvil

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Erby Beauvil a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Erby, 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 comes from faith—deep faith that God is making provisions for my life even when I can’t see the full picture. When I quiet the noise around me, I begin to discern the next step, and the right people seem to show up at the right time.

I also carry the weight—and honor—of my family’s legacy. As an only child between my mom and dad, and the eldest of my father’s children, I’ve long felt called to break generational cycles that no longer serve us and to open new doors. That responsibility has felt overwhelming at times. But lately, I’ve found strength in remembering those who came before me—especially on my mother’s side. My grandparents and uncle were smart, creative, generous, and community-minded people. They ran the most successful business in the town of Desdunes, Haiti, and to this day, people share stories with me about how they were impacted by their kindness. I never had the chance to meet them, but knowing their legacy fuels me. It humbles me. It reminds me that I come from good stock—and inspires me to build on what they started, in my own way.

I also draw resilience from my friends and chosen family. They pour love into me, remind me who I am, and reflect the beauty of growth in their own lives. Whether through art, activism, faith, business, or family, watching them push forward through adversity keeps me grounded and inspired—especially in the moments when I feel discouraged or depressed.

At the core of it all is a vision for my life that I keep returning to. It shifts and matures as I grow, but the heart of it remains the same. Seeing the positive response to the little I’ve done so far reminds me I’m on the right path. I do this for the younger version of me—the one who didn’t know he’d grow up to be an actor, a filmmaker, and a queer Black man carving out a space in a conservative Christian family. It hasn’t been a perfect journey by any means, and I’ve often been hard on myself. But I’m learning to give myself grace. To keep going. To be the adult I needed back then.

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?

I’m a writer, director, actor, and producer—and the founder of my production company Breathe Entertainment, LLC which is a creative hub rooted in the mission of centering the voices and lived experiences of queer, POC, and immigrant communities. These are all intersections I personally navigate, and they deeply inform both my art and my purpose. In a time when our stories are still too often erased, flattened, or misunderstood, I’m committed to creating work that allows people to see us—fully—and to feel our humanity, complexity, and connection.

With Breathe Entertainment, we’re building a body of work that reflects that vision. We recently premiered “Salty”, a short film about a black transwoman working towards vulnerability, intimacy, and emotional risk after heartbreak, at the Newark LGBTQ Film Festival. This story was the recipient of the Sakia Gunn Legacy Filmmaking Fellowship funded by Paramount’s Content For Change. And we are getting ready to release Season 6 of our web series “Talks With Myself” created by the talented Roger Omeus Jr., which continues to explore themes of self-discovery, healing, and identity through deeply personal and often humorous storytelling within the gay community.

In addition to producing and directing, I’m also a working actor. I’m passionate about embodying characters that bring more visibility to our communities—not as stereotypes or sidekicks, but as layered, dynamic human beings. On screen, I want to give life to the kinds of roles I longed to see growing up.

As a screenwriter, my work is equally personal. I’m interested in exploring and examining the parts of myself, my family, and my community that don’t always get the spotlight. Writing has become a space where I wrestle with questions, uncover truths, and give voice to the nuances of who we are.

Looking ahead, I’m so excited to keep expanding Breathe Entertainment’s reach, to build new collaborations, and to keep telling stories that move us. We have so much planned. Whether through film, performance, or the written word, I’m here to create space—for truth, for beauty, and for those of us who deserve to be seen. I truly hope that the work has a positive impact.

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?

Three Most Important Qualities, Skills and/or Areas of Knowledge
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

1. Emotional Resilience
This has been essential—especially as a queer, Black, first-generation Haitian artist navigating an industry that doesn’t always make space for people like me. Woooo, chileeeee! The rejection, the uncertainty, the grind—it can be overwhelming. But learning how to sit with discomfort, bounce back from disappointment, and not let fear define me has been transformative. For folks just starting out, I’d say: build a relationship with yourself that’s rooted in truth and compassion. Therapy, spiritual grounding, journaling, and surrounding myself with people who remind me who I am have helped me stay the course.

2. Vision and Clarity of Purpose
Having a clear sense of why I do what I do has kept me going—especially when the path is uncertain. My mission to uplift the stories of queer, Black, and/or immigrant communities isn’t just personal, it’s spiritual. It gives my work direction and depth. For anyone starting out: take time to reflect on your purpose beyond the spotlight or external success. What do you want people to feel or take away from your work? Let that guide your choices.

3. Collaboration and Relationship-Building
No dream gets realized in isolation. My community—chosen family, collaborators, mentors—has been everything. Learning how to nurture genuine connections, communicate clearly, and remain open to feedback has shaped my growth. If you’re early in your journey, prioritize building relationships rooted in trust and mutual respect. The industry can be transactional, but leading with integrity and curiosity will carry you further than any shortcut.

Ultimately, your journey is uniquely yours. Be patient, stay open, and never underestimate the power of your voice.

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—we’re always looking to collaborate and build with others. At Breathe Entertainment, we welcome fellow creatives—writers, directors, actors, editors, producers, designers—especially those who are passionate about centering queer, POC, immigrant, and marginalized voices. But beyond just artists, we’re also looking for patrons, sponsors, donors, and investors who believe in the power of independent storytelling and want to help us grow.

For a long time, I’ve operated from a “make it happen by any means” mindset. I didn’t wait for permission to create. I’ve worked with a committed, talented team of collaborators, making short films and web series independently—mostly guerrilla-style—with heart, grit, and limited resources. But it’s time to level up. We want to produce feature films and TV series that can reach wider audiences and create more opportunities for others. Funding and access to more sustainable infrastructure are our biggest obstacles right now.

We want to continue building something that lasts. Something that uplifts. Something that offers new pathways for underrepresented artists to tell their stories with depth, care, and visibility. If that mission speaks to you, we’d love to connect.

You can reach out to us directly via onebreatheentertainment@gmail.com. Let’s make something powerful—together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.breatheentproductions.com/
• Instagram: @breatheentproductions & @the_erbybeauvil
• Facebook: @ErbyBeauvil
• Linkedin: @ErbyBeauvil
• Twitter: @erbybeauvil
• Youtube: Breathe Entertainment Productions
• Other: Patreon: Breathe Entertainment Productions

Image Credits

Photographers: Roger Omeus Jr. , Mike Scanlan, and Laila Hoff