Hailing from Far Rockaway, New York, Rob Levinson is an accomplished independent film director and writer, best known for his short film Outlaw (2017) and his award-winning 9/11 short play Where Were You (2007). His diverse body of work also includes the short scripts A World of Hurt and It’s Showtime Folks—a heartfelt homage to actor Roy Scheider—as well as feature-length screenplays like Closure (2006) and the Holocaust drama An Unspoken Truth (2012). Many of Levinson’s short plays have been staged throughout the Northeastern United States.
Levinson credits his parents for igniting his lifelong passion for film, saying, “I give thanks to my parents for exposing me to the never-ending imagination of film.” He fondly recalls discovering his love for cinema during the mid-1970s, a decade he considers the golden age of visionary filmmaking. Even as a child, he was deeply inspired by the powerful performances of that era, awakening within him a profound sense of creativity and curiosity.
Levinson also acknowledges the significant influence of his older brothers, praising their patience and shared enthusiasm for storytelling. The three would spend countless hours collaborating on live-action silent short films using their parents’ Super 8 camera. Their creativity extended to constructing elaborate sets out of cardboard boxes and staging detailed narratives with G.I. Joe action figures. According to Levinson, these early projects were crafted with meticulous attention to detail, resulting in silent yet compelling stories.
His early creative pursuits naturally led him to the stage. Watching his brother perform in productions like The Man Who Came to Dinner and The Mousetrap inspired Levinson to follow in his footsteps and embrace acting. It wasn’t long before the theatre "bug" bit him as well, fostering a lifelong love for both stage and screen that carried into adulthood.
"They say it’s never too late to start, and I suppose in some way that holds true for me," Levinson reflects. After years of writing short plays and feature-length screenplays, he decided it was time to challenge himself and turn his writing into film. Determined to prove he could bring his stories to life—with the right team—he wrote, produced, and directed Outlaw, a gritty short film about the infamous outlaw Jesse James. With a small crew of three, Levinson impressively filmed 90 scenes over just three days. The rewarding experience culminated in the film’s premiere at the Mystic Film Festival, solidifying his commitment to filmmaking.
That first success marked the beginning of Levinson’s evolving career, blending his love of storytelling with the art of filmmaking—a passion that continues to drive him forward.