Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Gobelet.
Hi Robert, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always believed that stories have the power to inspire, connect people, and leave a lasting impact. That passion for storytelling is what led me into filmmaking.
Over the past decade, I’ve had the opportunity to work on more than 60 films and over 150 commercials, and several television productions in roles ranging from actor and writer to director, producer, cinematographer, editor, and production manager.
Along the way, I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Digital Cinematography from Full Sail University, published multiple books, and founded Gobelet Films, where I focus on developing original feature films, television series, and other creative projects.
Like many independent filmmakers, my journey hasn’t been a straight line. There have been challenges, setbacks, and plenty of moments where I had to learn by doing. Every project has taught me something new, not just about filmmaking, but about leadership, perseverance, and the importance of surrounding yourself with people who believe in the same vision.
Today, I’m continuing to build stories from the ground up, whether that’s writing novels, directing films, creating opportunities for actors, or mentoring others who want to pursue careers in the entertainment industry.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that you don’t have to wait for permission to create. The tools are more accessible than ever, and if you have a story to tell, you can start telling it today.
That’s the philosophy that continues to drive everything I do.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Absolutely not. It has been an uphill battle from the very beginning. Even now, after establishing myself in the film community and achieving things I once only dreamed about, the challenges never really stop. They just change.
I was raised in the hills of Tennessee, country as cornbread. I was more like Huckleberry Finn than anything else, straw hat, one pair of overalls, and barefoot most of the time. We lived in extreme poverty. We hunted, fished, and grew our own food. My mom even made my first pair of shoes by hand so I could go to school.
My father was a Gunnery Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam era. If you’ve ever seen Full Metal Jacket, Gunny Sergeant Hartman wasn’t far off from what life was like growing up. Dad believed life wasn’t fair and that nothing would ever be handed to you. Looking back, that mindset prepared me for the entertainment industry better than I could have imagined.
Growing up poor forced me to become resourceful. We couldn’t afford toys, so we played with rocks and sticks and pretended cardboard boxes were televisions. Ironically, that’s probably where my fascination with movies began. I would watch these larger-than-life stories unfold on screen and dream that maybe one day I’d tell stories like that myself.
School wasn’t easy either. I have severe ADHD, and back then there wasn’t much understanding of it. I was just the poor, weird kid who became an easy target for bullies. That led to plenty of fights and trouble growing up.
After high school I worked in a sawmill for fifteen years. There were seasons where I struggled just to survive, and at one point I even lived out of my car. But every chance I got, I was chasing acting jobs and trying to learn everything I could about filmmaking.
Life had more surprises in store. I got married, had children, and after eleven years my marriage ended. It was one of the hardest seasons of my life, but it also became a turning point that pushed me to fully pursue the dream God had placed in my heart.
Every obstacle in filmmaking seemed to find me, raising money, finding the right cast and crew, making mistakes, producing films that didn’t turn out the way I envisioned, hearing “no” far more often than “yes,” and sometimes sleeping in my car while traveling from one production to another. Every setback became another lesson.
Around 2018, I invested my entire life savings and my 401(k) into producing a feature western. Then COVID hit. Production shut down, and I lost virtually everything I’d invested. Most people probably would have quit.
Instead, I started over….. again.
In 2021, I enrolled at Full Sail University to earn my degree in Digital Cinematography. Ironically, I didn’t even have reliable internet access where I lived. I completed much of my coursework on my phone, through a mobile hotspot, or by sitting in McDonald’s late at night using free Wi-Fi after working all day. On weekends, I was on film sets learning the craft firsthand.
Today, I’ve worked on more than 60 feature films, over 150 commercials, along with television shows, music videos, and countless other productions. I earned my degree, founded my own production company, published books, and am now producing feature films that I’ve written and directed myself.
Has it been difficult? Absolutely.
But every hardship taught me something I couldn’t have learned any other way. I truly believe the obstacles shaped me into the filmmaker I am today. The climb has been long, steep, and relentless, but like climbing Hamburger Hill, reaching the top makes every step worth it. And I’m still climbing.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I wear a lot of hats in the film industry. I’m a writer, director, producer, cinematographer, editor, actor, and author, but above all, I consider myself a storyteller. I love taking an idea that exists only on paper and bringing it to life on screen.
I’m most proud that I built a career in filmmaking without waiting for someone else’s permission. I didn’t move to Hollywood. I didn’t have wealthy investors or industry connections. I came from the hills of Tennessee with a dream, and over the years I built that dream one project at a time.
I’m also proud that I’ve been able to make a full-time living in the independent film industry. There is a common misconception that you have to work for a major studio to have a successful career, but I’ve found that there is an incredible amount of opportunity in independent filmmaking if you’re willing to work hard, adapt, and never stop learning.
What sets me apart is that I understand every stage of the filmmaking process. I’m not just a director or just a cinematographer. I write, direct, produce, shoot, edit, and occasionally act in my own projects. Having worked in virtually every department allows me to see the bigger picture and communicate effectively with everyone on set.
I also believe in creating opportunities instead of waiting for them. If the roles I want don’t exist, I write them. If the movies I want to see aren’t being made, I make them. If I can’t find the right project, I build one from the ground up.
That mindset has allowed me to continue working in an industry that’s constantly changing.
More than anything, I hope my story encourages other people who come from small towns or difficult circumstances. You don’t have to be born in Los Angeles or New York to become a filmmaker. You don’t need millions of dollars to begin. You need determination, a willingness to keep learning, and the courage to keep going after everyone else says it can’t be done.
At the end of the day, I don’t want to be remembered simply for making movies. I want to be remembered as someone who proved that impossible dreams are worth chasing, and who helped open the door for others to chase theirs too.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Without a doubt, perseverance.
Talent is important, but talent alone isn’t enough to build a career. The film industry is full of incredibly talented people who eventually gave up because the road became too difficult. I’ve learned that success has much more to do with showing up every day, adapting to challenges, and refusing to quit.
I’ve had projects fall apart, investments disappear, doors close, and plans completely change. I’ve lost years of work to circumstances outside my control, including COVID shutting down a feature film that I had invested everything into. But every setback forced me to learn, grow, and come back stronger.
Another quality that’s been essential is being teachable. I don’t believe I’ve ever “arrived.” Every production teaches me something new. I’m constantly studying filmmaking, trying new techniques, learning from other filmmakers, and looking for ways to improve. I think the moment you believe you know everything is the moment you stop growing.
Finally, my faith has been the foundation that has carried me through every season. There have been times when I wanted to quit, but I truly believe God placed this passion for storytelling in my heart. That belief has given me the strength to keep moving forward when logic said I should stop.
If there’s one lesson my journey has taught me, it’s this: success isn’t usually one big breakthrough, it’s thousands of small decisions to keep going when quitting would be easier. That’s the quality that has made the biggest difference in my life and career.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rabcgobelet.wixsite.com/robertgobelet
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robertgobelet
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robert.gobelet.7
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-gobelet-897b03124
- Twitter: https://x.com/robert_gobelet
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@robertgobelet1622
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7097263/
