Meet Roger Alexander: Houston’s Self-Made Celebrity Video Director and Mogul
Esteemed film director Roger Alexander is helping shape hip-hop’s legacy with his creative storytelling and direction for music videos.The ATL-based visual composer is one of the most decorated videography professionals in the contemporary music and film industries out right now. His endless catalog and list of accolades suggests he is only fit for mogul status. In a recent interview, he spoke about his journey, his blueprint, and plans exclusively.
Although Houston can boast of its historical pop cultural heroes such as DJ Screw, Beyoncé, Travis Scott, Megan Thee Stallion, Slim Thug, Paul Wall, UGK, Johnny Dang, and countless other legends – its visual dynamism has yet to be appreciated to its full exaltation.
These artists’ influence on American and global pop culture is unparalleled, and hence why despite the musicians and hypnotic lifestyle of the Southern state, the visual architects are also an integral part of why these stars are able to be visually palatable to the wider divide not from Houston.
Roger Alexander, the founder of visual production house AlphaMale Visuals, may currently be based in the more revered buzzing entertainment scene of Atlanta – associated and sometimes likened to Black Hollywood – but he is H-Town through and through, and the multifaceted creative hyphenate is one of the most crucial brainchild in music and film videography, right now.
In his own words he is “an executive producer, director, and director of photography filming feature films, commercials, and music videos for celebrities in the music and entertainment industry for over 11 years.”
An award winner, avid student of Hip Hop, a cultural shape-shifter, an entrepreneur, and an independent Black man in the fold of media ownership are other crown jewels he chooses to be coy about, but these are some of the winds in his sails.
From directing National TV performances such as Lil Baby & 42 Dugg’s “We Paid” during the 2020 BET Hip Hop Awards in 2020, Moneybagg Yo’s “Time Today & Hard For The Next” medleys during his 2021 Jimmy Fallon Show appearance, accumulating over quarter a billion views on You Tube collectively, recognized as a certified RIAA multi-platinum accredited video director, to assisting A-List acts and labels from Rick Ross, Jeezy, T.I, Jermaine Dupri, DJ Khaled, Davido, RCA, Warner Music Group, it’s fair to say the list of contributions and 10,000 hours of mastery have easily been eclipsed by Roger Alexander, incidentally with assistance from his team of dedicated professionals.
The Come-Up
“My first passion was music” Roger Alexander opens up. “In high school & college I was rapping & signing mixtapes and making beats for fun. At the same time I was creating skits and comedy videos to promote for the events that my fraternity was hosting in college.”
“In the process of creating those videos, I realized my talent in filmmaking.”
After graduating, Roger needed security and a consistent flow of income in order to save money and invest in his new found trade. So, he pivoted into corporate America in Kansas City, did a 9-5 on weekdays, and did his hobby on weekends – for a cap time of five years.
After meditating, the verdict was to leave corporate America and develop a strategy that would allow him to merge passion and talent, and this ended up being shooting music videos for a living.
“I had no formal training for filmmaking,” he said. “The majority of my life was spent playing sports and I actually got my start in my late 20s, compared to other filmmakers who started as kids. Through my determination and relentless work ethic, I used the job I had to save and fund the creation of my own production company which I worked on on the weekends.”
After self-consultation that involved self-trust, against the odds Roger moved to the intimidating city of Atlanta in an inspired move to realize the potential of his dreams, a gamble that turned out to be the life-changing outcome many sought for.
Atlanta proved to be the place he would be introduced to multiple artists and further his networks, acting as launching pad for his career, and staple him as one of the go-to names for multiple high-budget and career-staking celebrities & brands.
Plans For The Future
“My short term goals include financing and producing feature films that I have complete ownership over,” he says.
Besides this, he is a visionary and has objectives including uplifting the Hip Hop community, merging them with the film world seamlessly, and multiple ideas that revolve around integrating Hip Hop & film.
In his short time working in the industry in both corporate and independent settings, in astute “the game is to be given and not charged” fashion, he shares:
“Have a keen eye for cinematography in creating beautiful images, have excellent people & communication skills – making anyone feel comfortable and creating good energy for positive morale, relentless work ethic and determination, staying away from clichés” among a plethora of habits helped him to push himself. If one can read through the fine print of his journey, the golden eggs of success have been laid in there, and he hopes to continue inspiring other creatives just as much as they inspire him.
“Be patient with your progression, it takes several years to plant seeds and benefit from the fruits. Find a mentor who has gone down the path you wish to travel, and provide some type of value to them that would make them want to help you,” he says.
Follow Roger Alexander on Instagram @a_m_visuals.
https://www.instagram.com/a_m_visuals/
You can also check out his website below:
https://www.alphamalevisuals.com/
About the Author
Jameelah "Just Jay" Wilkerson Publisher and CEO of The Hype Magazine. Follow me on Twitter @HypeJustJay
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