Robert Elvin -- Biography

Robert Elvin is a native of Minnesota.  

His early years in the upper Midwest were spent working as a professional woodwind player.  He was the principal clarinetist with the University of Minnesota Orchestra and also appeared with the Minneapolis Civic Orchestra and the MacPhail Wind Ensemble. In addition, he worked in the pit orchestras of stage shows and traveled extensively with Jazz and show bands throughout the United States.  

After moving to San Francisco he became involved in the visual arts and worked as a commercial photographer and teacher of lighting for both still imagery and motion pictures.  

Robert believes that blending the direct involvement of a well educated director with the organic quality inherent in smaller unit productions is the key to strong narrative. He is also interested in film theory and exploring the concept of the film as short story in his work. The Savant is his first film, and is based on these ideas.  

Mr. Elvin holds degrees from the University of Minnesota in social anthropology and the San Francisco Art Institute in photography.