Alumni Spotlight: Levin Chaskey '02

Written by Ross School | Oct 9, 2022 6:35:00 PM

Levin Chaskey is an entrepreneur, filmmaker, and producer who graduated in the second-ever Ross School class, the Class of 2002. He founded his business Charlotte Star Room located in Charlotte, North Carolina, a commercial video and music production studio, with his wife, Alexis Jo—both of whom are Sag Harbor locals. Levin studied at Ross School for the entirety of his high school education before heading off to the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, to obtain his undergraduate degree in communications.

Levin's love for filmmaking was obvious during his time at Ross, and he reflects on how Ross equipped its students not only with state-of-the-art filmmaking equipment but also with fundamental knowledge, the freedom of self-expression, and the confidence necessary for success. He said, "Mrs. Ross being a documentary filmmaker was always something I was incredibly grateful for...Working with excellent cameras and a full AVID suite was an incredible advantage at the time, back around 1999/2000, before professional filmmaking gear and software became so much more accessible."

When asked about how Ross School helped prepare him for adult life, he explained that Ross' unique approach to education really helped cater to his educational needs as a visual learner who likes to approach a project or challenge from multiple angles. " The Spiral Curriculum, interconnected disciplines, as well as a focus on the arts...was all ideal for me." He also acknowledged that studying a curriculum that focused on innovation and globalization right at the start of the twenty-first century was an incredible advantage not only in his career but simply in navigating life with exponentially advancing technology.

For Ross students interested in pursuing their dreams, Levin advises to "go all-in on your passions, look for inspiration within the ups and downs that naturally come with life and creativity." Taking the time to find your passions and genuinely exploring them is an integral part of this process as well. He encourages students interested in pursuing video production and content creation to "try all aspects of filmmaking/production and determine which roles stand out while building the familiarity for all interconnected focuses."

Sharing his passion and drive with his business and life partner makes operating their business together an exciting passion project. "My day-to-day role includes everything from working with our amazing clients and on-camera subjects to strategizing and producing creative projects to getting behind the camera myself," Levin explained about his daily responsibilities in his business. "We handle everything from creative concept to completion, from strategy through content creation to execution. We specialize in brand storytelling and creating dynamic, authentic content to bring our client's goals to life."

Levin is looking forward to the many exciting opportunities to come in 2023. Charlotte Star Room is launching a new integrated content marketing service that will focus on conceptualizing, strategizing, producing, and distributing short-form social media content for both current and new partners. On top of that exciting new endeavor, Levin is also helping manage the career of his "97 years-young grandmother," local artist Connie Fox. She is preparing a solo exhibition in 2023, for which Levin says she has been painting every day in her art studio in East Hampton. While managing Connie's career, Levin is excited to partner with Ross School alum Tripoli Patterson of Tripoli Gallery located near campus in Wainscott.

Charlotte Star Room has a long list of clients and partners with whom they work, many of which fall into the healthcare and energy industries. They create media and content for digital marketing and social media platforms. Their versatility and range of content are impressive, having created music videos for family vloggers with millions of views on YouTube to informational commercials for products. Click below to view one of their most recent advertisements: CapTech PinPoint Challenge.

Ross School has had the pleasure of seeing so many talented alumni pursue creative endeavors, and Levin is no exception. The Ross community is excited to see what Levin, Alexis Jo, and Charlotte Star Room create in the future!

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