Today we’d like to introduce you to Paul Levatino
Hi Paul, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Telling stories is what I’m most passionate about. I’m a creative producer that blends artistic vision with smart business strategies. What sets me apart is my ability to connect artists, creatives and companies in a truly collaborative way. Over the past 27 years, I’ve honed my skills in storytelling through everything from event production to filmmaking and content creation. It’s all about finding that balance between creativity and results to make something truly special that also benefits the artists and the companies behind them.
My journey began as a rock drummer in Dallas’ entertainment district, Deep Ellum, where I immersed myself in the local music scene. This early experience and my role managing an interior design studio sparked my interest in business and led me to pursue a business degree from UNT. I quickly found my place in the music and entertainment world, spotting opportunities where others didn’t and turning startups into thriving ventures that helped fuel my career.
What drives me is the ability to connect the dots for my clients—from strategy to execution—to bring their ideas to life that resonate and deliver tangible results. My work with high-profile clients like Erykah Badu, Trammell S. Crow, Doyle Bramhall II, N’Dambi, and Suzy Batiz, and major brands such as Red Bull, Moet Hennessey, H&M, and W Hotels reflects my deep understanding of both creative and business dynamics between different types of industries. Whether I’m leading a team, producing a documentary, crafting a brand activation, or running a campaign, my approach is always about collaboration, creativity, and mutual success.
My search for important stories led me to achieve a directorial debut with the music documentary Bastards of Soul, which captures the rise of the East Dallas band and its unexpected frontman. The film has screened at six film festivals nationwide since its World Premiere at the Sun Valley Film Festival in February 2024, winning two Audience Awards for Best Documentary Feature and earning a nomination for Excellence in Feature Filmmaking. As we continue its festival tour, the film is receiving rave reviews for its intimate access to the creative process and thoughtful storytelling about legacy and the pursuit of dreams. It all started with my desire to tell the remarkable story of my friend, and Bastards of Soul frontman, Chadwick Murray.
Additional info you could include?
My first big break came at Crystal Clear Sound, but it wasn’t handed to me. I was initially turned down for a job, as they weren’t hiring at the time. Instead of giving up, I developed a cross-marketing program that brought together their recording studios, CD manufacturing, music distribution, merchandising, and artist management subsidiaries. It created value for the company, and they hired me to bring it to life. That role became the foundation for my career and my devotion to collaboration, which led to co-founding my own media company where we handled publicity and merchandising for the Sugar Water Festival, a 20-city music tour featuring Queen Latifah, Jill Scott, and Erykah Badu. I’ve since produced special events featuring talents like Prince, Dave Chappelle, Janelle Monáe, Mark Ronson, and Questlove. I have also led production for hundreds of brand activations, experiential experiences, concerts, festivals, and conferences worldwide.
A significant chapter of my career was my decade-long role as General Manager at Badu World/Control FreaQ Records, where I collaborated with multi-platinum-selling artist and actress Erykah Badu. I managed marketing and project management for her Universal/Motown releases, supervised five world tours in over 39 countries, and was a producer on the acclaimed music video “Honey,” which earned a GRAMMY® nomination. This role ignited my passion for video and film production.
In 2020, I played a pivotal role in launching EarthxTV for filmmaker Michael Cain and Real Estate Developer and Environmentalist Trammell S. Crow. As the Senior Vice President of Creative and Production, I worked with environmental leaders like Jane Goodall, Robert Redford, Princess Marie-Esméralda of Belgium, and Prince Albert II of Monaco to grow the platform into a global TV network seeking to create positive impact for our planet.
Most recently, while supporting Suzy Batiz, one of America’s 80 richest self-made women (Forbes), I led creative production for her three brands—~Pourri, Supernatural, and AliveOS—managing brand activations, commercials, photoshoots, and digital campaigns. I secured three Hermes Awards for the ~Pourri Flip the Funk Campaign, which I Executive Produced. As Program Manager for the Stay Funky, Get Fresh Campaign and SXSW 2024 Brand Activation, we exceeded company goals with 650 million total audience reach and rave reviews in Rolling Stone and Event Marketer.
Throughout my career, I’ve resisted being boxed into any pre-defined roll or job description. When someone asks me what I do for a living, I respond, “What do you need done? I’ll make it happen!”
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My journey has been anything but smooth. Numerous challenges have marked the road, each pushing me to grow and adapt. I’ve won and lost jobs and clients when they wanted to limit the possibilities of our collaboration. In the competitive entertainment industry, I often had to create my own opportunities, such as convincing companies to carve out roles for me or transforming small ventures into successes. Working with high-profile artists and brands brought immense pressure and stress, forcing me to balance creative vision with business demands. Ultimately, these experiences have shaped my approach to leadership and creativity, making the successes all the more rewarding. Sometimes it’s all about fitting (sometimes difficult) personalities together to tell the same story.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I focus on producing events, films, and creative content that not only grab attention but also deliver real business results. Anyone can pull together a bunch of performers to perform. Or come up with a jingle to sell a product. What I’ve learned to do is to pull together all the various players to produce memorable experiences that also create income for the artists and the companies behind them. It’s about blending creativity with strategy to achieve something truly remarkable.
As my client and friend Suzy Batiz would say, “my genius” is blending strategic thinking, deep insights, and flawless execution to turn ideas into reality. So, what really sets me apart is my ability to unite diverse teams and leverage an international network of talent and partners to create content and experiences that are truly collaborative in their execution and their benefits.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Risk-taking has been a cornerstone of my career, not just in the projects I choose but also in recognizing when it’s time to move on and embrace new opportunities. The biggest challenges are understanding when something has run its course and allowing yourself the freedom to start something new. I believe in the power of positive thinking and the law of attraction; by opening myself to opportunities and speaking my desires into existence, I attract prosperity and abundance.
One significant risk was deciding to develop, produce, and direct my first documentary feature, Bastards Of Soul. Initially, I hadn’t planned on telling the story of the band’s final days, but when the opportunity arose to immortalize these bandmates, I seized it. This project pushed me into new territory as both the director and the driving force behind the entire production. As I navigate the complexities of film distribution and sales, I’m already gearing up for my next music story, based right here in Dallas, Texas.
Another major risk was proposing the idea of launching an environmental TV network during the onset of COVID-19. Faced with lockdowns, layoffs, and the cancellation of a physical conference, expo, and film festival, our team pivoted by launching a virtual streaming platform called EarthxTV, which has since grown into an international TV network committed to providing entertaining content that also promotes conservation and sustainability.
I also took a bold step by helping execute the controversial “Window Seat” music video for Erykah Badu, shot in Dealey Plaza, and which included Erykah disrobing in public during the afternoon workday. The project easily could have created a huge backlash, but it became a defining moment in Erykah’s and my career, showing that strategic risks can lead to powerful, impactful work heard around the globe.
For me, risk is about stepping into the unknown with confidence, knowing that something valuable will emerge, even if the outcome isn’t what was initially envisioned.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.plpresents.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulytheknife
- Other: https://vimeo.com/plpresents
