Biography

Justin Ervin is an award-winning writer, director, and cinematographer working across scripted and non-scripted film. His cinematography has appeared on Netflix, PBS, HBO, and Hulu, including work as director of photography on the Netflix original documentary Is That Black Enough for You?!?, which earned an Emmy nomination and two NAACP Image Award nominations. He also served as DP on 761st: The Original Black Panthers, executive produced by and starring Morgan Freeman for History Channel, and on the award-winning short Dear Ernie, which won eleven awards across the festival circuit.

Ervin holds an MFA in Social Documentary Filmmaking from the School of Visual Arts in New York and a BFA in Video Production from Columbus College of Art & Design, and he has completed master courses through the American Society of Cinematographers. Knowing firsthand the importance of arts education, Ervin developed Look & Live, a content studio devoted to teaching aspiring filmmakers the craft that built his career.

Ervin is preparing for the 2026 release of his latest directorial work, PowerNomics: Based on the Life & Work of Dr. Claud Anderson, an important documentary about Black economic self-sufficiency, executive produced by Charlamagne Tha God. He is a devoted husband and very active father of three children.
- IMDb mini biography by: Sophie Ash