Xavier Burgin is an Emmy-nominated writer/director from USC Cinema. He wrote on Starz’s wrestling drama, Heels. He’s written for the WWE, CryptTV, Amazon Studios, The Discovery Channel, and Paramount. He directed AMC Network’s Horror Noire, Adult Swim’s Juneteenth Holiday Special, and the BET series, Giants. Xavier is the dubbing director for Netflix’s sumo sports drama, Sanctuary.
Xavier grew up down south in Mississippi. Grandma’s TV would switch between SEC football, wrestling, movies, anime, and Playstation games. He’d ride off into the countryside on his bike for the day, then return home to watch Toonami before Bible study. Xavier’s love for storytelling grew from his fascination with religious myths. He loves the intersection between gods, angels, demons, and mortals. As a child, he wondered if these fantastical stories could exist. Now, he chooses to be the hand that writes them.
Xavier developed Sankova, a sci-fi comedy, with Justin Simien’s Culture Machine at Paramount. He wrote a horror feature for CryptTV and the WWE. He directed the English Dub of Sanctuary, a Netflix sports drama about a young sumo wrestler. Xavier’s film, Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror, expounds on the untold history of Black Americans in the genre. The documentary premiered on horror streamer, Shudder. Xavier 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 shadowed on the TV series American Horror Story, The Ms. Pat Show, and Sacrifice. He’s 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, The Commercial Directors Diversity Program, and Ryan Murphy’s Director Shadow Program. Xavier’s collaborations also include D.C. Comics, Lenovo, LOL Network, and Stage 3 Productions.
RESUME
CRYPT TV/WWE – Horror Feature Writer
NETFLIX – Sanctuary Season 1, Dubbing Director
STARZ – Heels Season 2, Staff Writer
AMAZON STUDIOS – Horror Feature Writer
ADULT SWIM – Juneteenth w/Open Mike Eagle, Director
DISCOVERY CHANNEL – Doc Horror Writer
AMC NETWORK – Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror, Director
STARZ Take The Lead Writing Program
Final Draft Big Break Category Winner
Rideback Rise Fellow
2019 DAYTIME EMMY NOMINATION – Outstanding Directing in a Series
Berlinale Talents
Academy Nichol Screenwriting Competition Top 50
Sundance New Voices Lab
Ryan Murphy’s Half Initiative
Commercial Director Diversity Program
HBO Short Film Showcase
43rd Student Academy Awards Semifinalist
Project Greenlight Commercial Winner
Screencraft Drama Feature Winner
Fox Soul TV
Issa Rae Short Film Sundays
OTHER AWARDS —
Winner, The Film Empire Diversity Screenplay Competition. Winner, Ivy Film Festival Screenplay Competition. Winner, Audience Awards. 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, HaydenFilms Screenwriting Competition.
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