Franklin Livingston

Franklin Livingston is a Pakistani-American actor and director who has dedicated himself to telling stories about the psychodynamics of different social classes in the United States. His work illuminates the inner struggles of the American Elite, Middle Class, Immigrants, and the Blue-Collared working-class, revealing universal themes that resonate with diverse audiences. Through his Movies and TV Series, Franklin envisions to inspire reflection on the human condition, exhibiting that everyone faces challenges, no matter their background. He is passionate about reaching a large audience, Franklin’s commitment to his craft and a desire to build up an artistic community has made him create an immersive and collaborative atmosphere on his film sets, that helps young and veteran actors learn and practice various acting techniques, modern styles of performances, emotional and vocal range and choreography and much more that is required by several screenplays.
Franklin Livingston also provides an immersive experience for aspiring actors while understanding their busy schedules. Franklin’s impressive education, which includes Yale University, New York University, London Film School, London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Atlantic Acting School and New York Film Academy, speaks to his dedication to his art and his desire to tell stories that help viewers better understand themselves and each other.

What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?

Good question! I’d say the same as anyone else. The alarm goes off at 5:30am. I immediately hit the snooze button which means I get up around 5:45. And then it’s the bathroom routine and light breakfast followed by my morning workout. Once my mind gets going, I eat a light snack with a cup of tea while watching bits and pieces of various videos. I begin working on my computer around 8:00am taking care of several business-related matters with mini breaks in between while watching news and current affairs videos. I work on scheduling meetings, arranging tasks and events in the morning. Around 12:30 PM – 1 O’clock I break for lunch. During the same time, I peruse social media to catch up on people’s lives and social trends. In the afternoon, I physically go to places for meetings, and official visits, and also spend time reading screenplays, business-related publications, work-related magazines, and books for a couple of hours. Around 5pm I take my tea break with snacks. In the early evening, I either go grocery shopping, maybe take a leisurely walk or go for a drive. My dinner is around 7:00 PM, after which I continue my work, and watch a TV show or something. I go to bed around 11 pm.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I’d say the same as anyone else. Certainly not by sitting around “with the purpose of” I have to come up with an idea now!”. Ideas generate in my mind while people-watching, driving, or meditating or while watching TV. Something that triggers part of my mind and there it is. Besides, it’s not the idea so much. Everyone has thousands of ideas, it’s acting on them that actually counts.

What’s one trend that excites you?

Being physically active. The sad reality is that I neither have time nor the energy to put into various workouts and adventurous activities I’d like to delve in.

What is one habit that helps you be productive?

Keep pushing until the job is done. I believe in order to reach the next level one must be persistent, and patient.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Not to run after an idea of success, because success means different things to different people. In order to focus on your ambition in life, it’s okay to take it in short bursts. You’re not required to prove to anyone but yourself, about your accomplishments. Don’t allow yourself to be forced along the path that you haven’t given a deep thought to and which might devastate you emotionally, spiritually, or physically in your near future.

Tell us something you believe that almost nobody agrees with you on?

The concept that people can change from negative to positive. I believe that humans are born with their true traits inside of them and all it takes is the right circumstances to bring them out to light. This happens in a community and environment that exhibits positive and unconditional love. Otherwise people change for the worse. Everyone has good and evil within them. We have the ability to control that hidden side and prevent it from moving toward evil, and in that process move ourselves in the direction of human perfection.

What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?

Be humble. Don’t fight back. There is no point in arguing with those who disrespect, humiliate or slander you. You can never win and never be able to prove yourself right. You should be true to yourself and your inner conscience.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is one of the most performed plays in America and has been seen by almost every age group and teaches us a great lesson.
First his brothers then sell Joseph into slavery. Then, he is cast in the prison because his master’s wife falsely accuses him of sexual harassment.. When he is released from prison rather than taking revenge, he chooses to remain good and pure and even invites his brother to live with him in Egypt and prosper.

When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?

Several things. Sleep, treat myself to a nice dinner, go to a dance class, watch a movie, go out for a long drive in the woods, travel abroad, and abstain from drinking alcohol and smoking.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?

If you wanna achieve something, do it for the sake of spiritual and conscientious gratification. Starting with a mindset of making lots of money, managing hundreds of people, and hoping to gain attention and respect without earning it has never been my agenda. Unfortunately, this working style has caused people at various times to take advantage of me when I have done my best to be generous and considerate to them.

What is one failure in your career,  how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?

I think it’s both a business and personal failure. It’s an inability to get some people who acknowledge the seriousness of the radical changes our society is going through: Increasing street crime, power abuses by individuals and institutions like the police, school shootings, homelessness, world conflicts, and wars. We are rapidly declining into a morass that may be too difficult to climb out of.

What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?

We need to start at the community level. We gotta get to know our neighbors. Maybe by starting a reading or film-watching group to talk about the stories that relate to us. A monthly pot-luck, a community rallying around a central theme. Eventually, that can lead to a positive change. Hopefully for the betterment of everyone. These groups can rent or build small community centers for local events, such as group counseling, weddings, dances, workout sessions, yoga, and concerts, and share the profit among themselves. Through this, everyone will know that these are their assets and they have to take care of them. Furthermore, as partners, they are to help everyone grow morally, financially, and physically to make their partners stronger. As a community within a wider community, it will influence other communities to work on themselves as well. This might even help prevent riots and angry mindsets among some younger Americans who have been showing their discontent toward our society by using physical anger and destroying infrastructures of various cities they probably believe are not theirs.

What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

Google Docs

Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?

It’s very hard to say. There are several books and podcasts that have helped me grow and are still helping me grow into a better human being.

Key learnings

• Keep pushing until the job is done.
• Community is important, get to know your neighbors
• Be humble. Don’t fight back.