BIO
Xavier Burgin is an Emmy-nominated writer/director from USC Cinema. He directed AMC Networks’ Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror. He wrote the Lifetime film, Give Me Back My Daughter. He’s a staff writer on the Starz wrestling drama, Heels. He’s the dubbing director for Netflix’s sumo show, Sanctuary. He directed Adult Swim’s Juneteenth Holiday Special and the Emmy-winning BET series, Giants. Xavier’s written for the WWE, CryptTV, Amazon, Discovery, and Paramount.
Xavier grew up in Mississippi. The TV would switch between football, wrestling, movies, video games, and anime. He’d ride off into the countryside on his bike, then return home to watch Toonami before Bible study. Xavier’s love for storytelling grew from his fascination with religious myths about gods, demons, and mortals. His younger self wondered if these stories could exist. Now, he writes them.
Xavier wrote Give Me Back My Daughter, a social drama for Lifetime TV.
He developed Sankova, a sci-fi comedy, with Justin Simien’s Culture Machine at Paramount.
He’s a staff writer on Season 2 of Heels, a southern wrestling drama created by Starz. The series recently came to Netflix.
He wrote a horror feature for CryptTV and the WWE.
Xavier’s documentary feature film, Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror, expounds on the untold history of Black Americans in the genre. It premiered on horror streamer, Shudder.
He directed the English dub of Sanctuary, a Netflix sports drama about sumo wrestling.
He earned a Daytime Emmy nomination for his directorial work on the BET show, Giants.
He directed Juneteenth With Open Mike Eagle, an Adult Swim Special about the national holiday’s history.
Xavier’s USC Cinema short, Olde E, was a 43rd Student Academy Award semifinalist and Ryan Murphy’s Half Fest Directing Program selection.
His thesis film, On Time, premiered on HBO and was chosen for SAG-AFTRA’s short film showcase.
He shadowed on multiple TV series, including: American Horror Story, The Ms. Pat Show, and Sacrifice.
Xavier has participated in numerous industry programs, including: Starz Take The Lead Writing Program, Rideback Rise Fellowship, Paramount’s Viewfinder Program, Netflix’s Dubbing Initiative, The Sundance Labs, HBO’s Short Film Showcase, Berlinale Talents, and The Commercial Directors Diversity Program. His collaborations also include D.C. Comics, Lenovo, LOL Network, and Stage 3 Productions.
RESUME
LIFETIME – Give Me Back My Daughter, Feature Writer
CRYPT TV & WWE – Horror Feature Writer
NETFLIX – Sanctuary Season 1, English Dubbing Director
PARAMOUNT – Sankova, Pilot Writer
STARZ – Heels Season 2, Staff Writer
AMAZON STUDIOS – Horror Feature Writer
ADULT SWIM – Juneteenth w/Open Mike Eagle, Director
DISCOVERY CHANNEL – Docuseries, Horror Writer
AMC NETWORKS & SHUDDER – Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror, Director
BET – Giants Season 2, Director (Ep. 204 & 207) – Daytime Emmy Nomination, Outstanding Directing in a Series
PROGRAMS & FELLOWSHIPS —
Starz Series Bible Development Program – TV Series “Proliferation of a Chameleon’s Sin”
Starz Take The Lead Writing Program – Spartacus Spec Pilot “The Serpent’s Reward”
Rideback Rise Fellowship – Feature Screenplay “On Time”
Sundance New Voices Lab – Comedy Pilot “Late Registration”
Ryan Murphy’s Half Fest Directing Program – “Olde E”
Commercial Director Diversity Program
Berlinale Talents
AWARDS —
Final Draft Big Break 2024 Sci-fi/Fantasy Finalist – Feature
Screenplay “Give Me Back My Body From The Eternal Knot of Infinity”
Final Draft Big Break 2023 Diversity Winner – Feature Screenplay “On Time”
Academy Nichol Top 50 – Feature Screenplay “On Time”
HBO Short Film Showcase – “On Time”
43rd Student Academy Awards Semifinalist – “Olde E”
Project Greenlight Winner – Commercial “The Get Down”
Screencraft Drama Winner – Feature Screenplay “On Time”
Winner, The Film Empire Diversity Screenplay Competition. Winner, Ivy Film Festival Screenplay Competition. Winner, ISA’s Table Read My Screenplay. Finalist, Audience Awards Social Justice Competition. Finalist, The Industry Next. Semi-Finalist, ABC Disney Directing Program. Semi-Finalist, Sony Diverse Directors Program. Semi-Finalist, ABC Disney Writing Program. Semifinalist, Hayden Films Screenwriting Competition. Selection, Fox Soul TV. Selection, Issa Rae Short Film Sundays.
FESTIVALS —
Toronto International Film Festival. Brooklyn Academy of Music. Black Warrior Film Festival. Day of Black Docs, Overlook Film Festival. Salem Horror Fest. Sitges International Film Festival. American Black Film Festival. SAG AFTRA Short Film Showcase. New Voices in Black Cinema. Los Angeles International Shot Film Festival. Bronzelens Film Festival. Black Harvest Film Festival. Sidewalk Film Festival. Fox Soul TV. Urbanworld Film Festival. BESLA Film Festival