From Bed-Stuy to Big Brands

 

Grave Shift Studios was founded by Robert E. Holley, a creative whose spark was lit early—just blocks from home in Bedford-Stuyvesant, where storytelling was already in the air.

 

On a hot Labor Day evening in 1988, five-year-old Robert was walking home from the West Indian Day Parade with his parents.

 

As they turned onto Lexington Avenue they stumbled into what looked like chaos:

Spike Lee was filming the now-iconic riot scene outside Sal’s Pizza for Do The Right Thing.

 

Robert didn’t know what filmmaking was—but he knew what he was witnessing mattered.

That moment stayed with him.

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That early spark led Robert to Morehouse College, where he studied Filmmaking and began building what would become Grave Shift Studios.

 

A Studio Forged in the Grind

 

Robert’s editing journey began in high school.

Using two VHS players and pure instinct, he cut scenes together by hand—learning to tell stories without knowing the rules.

 

By his junior year at Morehouse, the vision was serious.

When offered a new car by his parents, Robert asked for a professional camera and editing equipment instead.

 

That choice became the launchpad for what would become Grave Shift Studios.

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It started with party recaps and music videos for up-and-coming artists.

The name “Grave Shift” came from the hours—editing deep into the night while others slept.

 

That work sharpened his instincts for tone, rhythm, and emotion.

 

He later worked on sets for artists such as T.I., Ciara, and Ludacris, and deliver projects for brands including Magic Johnson Enterprises, Shari’s Berries, and the Empire State Building.

 

Built for Story. Backed by Strategy.

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What sets Grave Shift Studios apart is its ability to bridge creativity and commerce.

 

Robert holds an MBA in Media Management and a Master of Science in Entertainment Business, giving him the tools to lead with both vision and precision.

 

Today, Grave Shift partners with brands, agencies, and entrepreneurs who want content that does more than just look good.

 

We craft stories that resonate. Inspire. Perform.

With intentionality—from concept to final cut.