Biography

Xavier Burgin is an Emmy-nominated writer/director from USC Cinema. He's a staff writer on Starz's wrestling drama, Heels. He wrote the Lifetime TV movie, Give Me Back My Daughter (2025). He's written for the WWE, CryptTV, Amazon Studios, The Discovery Channel, and Paramount. He directed AMC Network's Horror Noire, Adult Swim's Juneteenth Holiday Special, and the BET+ series, Giants. Xavier is the dubbing director for Netflix's sumo sports drama, Sanctuary.

Xavier grew up in the deep south where chain-link fences guarded you from the dog snapping at your feet. The TV in his grandparent's house switched between SEC football, wrestling, or Remember The Titans. Xavier would disappear into the evergreen forests of Mississippi until sunset. He'd emerge for Cowboy Bebop, Final Fantasy 7, and Event Horizon-wondering if these tales could co-exist. Now, he creates adventure, legend, and myth--the type of worlds his younger self dreamed about in the rural heat.

Xavier wrote Give Me Back My Daughter, a social drama for Lifetime TV.

He developed Sankova, a sci-fi comedy centering a black utopia ruled by an autocratic A.I. five million years after the collapse of the American empire, with Justin Simien's Culture Machine. The project was acquired by Paramount.

He directed the English Dub version of Sanctuary, a Netflix drama about a young sumo wrestler who rejoins the sumo world in pursuit of fame, riches, and a path to fix his broken family.

He directed AMC Network's Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror, which expounds on the untold history of Black Americans in the genre. The documentary holds a "100% Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The project premiered on horror streamer, Shudder.

Xavier earned a Daytime Emmy nomination for his directorial work on Giants. The show was acquired by Paramount's BET+.

He directed Juneteenth With Open Mike Eagle, an Adult Swim Special about the national holiday's history. The project premiered between The Boondocks & Black Dynamite.

He shadowed director & cinematographer, Michael Goi, on American Horror Story to hone his technical direction. He shadowed show-runner, Jordan E. Cooper, on The Ms. Pat Show to sharpen his sitcom experience. He also shadowed director & executive producer, Mary Lou Belli, on the set of Sacrifice to further his knowledge on stunt coordination, fight scenes, and action sequences.

Xavier's participated in numerous industry programs, including: Starz Series Bible Development Program, Starz Take The Lead Writing Program, Paramount's Viewfinder Program, Netflix's Dubbing Initiative, The Sundance Labs, HBO's Short Film Showcase, Berlinale Talents, The Commercial Directors Diversity Program, and Ryan Murphy's Director Shadow Program.

Xavier's collaborations also include D.C. Comics, Lenovo, LOL Network, and Stage 3 Productions.
- IMDb mini biography by: Xavier B.