Rising Stars: Meet Robert La Mantia

Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert La Mantia.

Hi Robert, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Robert LaMantia, but I go by Rob or RJ. And I am a freelance content creator and filmmaker by trade. A content creator creates photos, videos, graphics, and/or written copy to help market goods or services for almost anyone, including businesses, non-profits, individuals, or governments.

I grew up in a small town outside Philadelphia, PA, called Kennett Square, known as the mushroom capital of the world. I made numerous short films with my middle and high school friends, and we got so into it we even won a local film festival! I went to college at Full Sail University in Orlando, FL, and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Film. Full Sail was a great place to learn the logistical and technical sides of production, skills that I utilize to this day.

After graduation, I moved to Los Angeles, CA. In LA, I found a specialty in creating content for different businesses and brands. I also wore many different hats on all kinds of movies, TV, and commercial sets. Lately, I’ve been dividing my time between Scottsdale, AZ, and Ocala, FL. With occasional trips to LA, New York, and Philly. I’ve been a steadily working content creator for the last seven years.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road. I had to deal with the crazy fallout of COVID completely clearing my calendar for four months, booking clients at the beginning of my career with nothing to show was challenging, and I have the ongoing challenge of learning to give myself a break. However, the biggest challenge was building the foundation of my skills.

Content Creation is nearly every art form thrown into one (photography, videography, writing, acting, graphic design, editing, to name a few) with the added challenge of understanding the entirely separate fields of sales, marketing, and advertising. I went from creating art for the sake of art to creating art that sells products and services.

It took a couple of years to shift my mentality. However, the maverick filmmaker inside me feels this was the best kind of a blessing in disguise. In this mentality shift, it has only helped me evolve as an artist because I have fundamentally enhanced my understanding of how people think and feel. I believe that everything happens for a reason as long as you’re open to life’s changes.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Thank you so much, that means a lot to me. Like most other creatives, I wear many more hats than previous generations of filmmakers, videographers, or photographers. I have vast amounts of production experience, but so do a lot of others. My passion for learning and love for telling stories sets me apart.

My passion for learning has enabled me to create content for numerous different companies and personalities, speaking the audience’s language by always taking note of the brand’s core values. At the same time, my love for telling stories drives me to keep the content fresh and engaging while focusing on delivering the message. I have monetized my art by finding the most authentic parts of a brand and showcasing them in an educational but entertaining fashion.

I don’t believe having my experiences hurts, though. I have seventeen years of directing, videography, and editing with an additional nine years of cinematography, audio mixing, and photography, with seven years of content writing and content marketing. These many years of diverse experience enable me to create premium on-brand content with a quick turnaround.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite childhood memory isn’t so much one time, but all the times I’d go to the beach with my family.

Since before I was born, my family has been going to Stone Harbor, NJ. It wasn’t every year, but many summers would be spent with my parents, brothers, cousins, friends, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. We’d cook burgers, laugh together, go to the arcade, and watch all kinds of movies after a long day in the ocean.

Last August, we got to go for the first time in a while and saw many people I hadn’t seen in person for many years because of COVID. I got a nice burst of nostalgia alongside many fantastic new memories too.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.robertlamantia.com
• Other: https://vimeo.com/628833530