Bobby Leigh is a 12-time Award-winning Filmmaker and also has over twenty years in the Music and Entertainment Business. he has produced, managed and/or toured with such major Rock-N-Roll multi-platinum legends as AEROSMITH, GUNS-N-ROSES, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, 4 NON BLONDES, KISS, LYNYRD SKYNYRD, QUIET RIOT, NIGHT RANGER, SKID ROW, JOAN JETT, PETER HIMMELMAN, THE SPECIALS, SOCIAL DISTORTION, THE OFFSPRING, and STAIND.
Bobby continues to offer clients and select artists his services as personal and tour management with his company MOkSHA Music and Model Management a division of MOKSHA Films and Entertainment, including his newest recording artist “WaWa BABY” and “DieAna.” Bobby also still enjoys the Recording Studio where he often works as a record producer for many recording labels. Leigh produced the records of Nepalese and Indian artist “Dr. KARMA.” Along with his partner and Los Angeles based Co-Producer and Recording Engineer PATRICK BURKHOLDER, the two record and produce local Los Angeles and Hollywood artists and are looking to expand their services to Europe and Great Britain.
What does it take to make it in Hollywood?
Thank you Jules, this is a huge honor for me to speak with you. What does it take to make it in Hollywood? That’s a complex question.
To make it anywhere, Hollywood, London, or Paris, it takes talent, extreme determination, desire to make a difference, to be seen. For me, and I don’t think I’ve made it yet, but I knew as a child that I needed to break the mold. I was different. I wasn’t going to be a scientist, a doctor or a lawyer. Even before my Mum gave me my first guitar at 10, which I taught myself, I dreamed about getting out and away of the grip from my physicist and creative controlling father. I had the desire and the drive and my dream. I also knew that no one was going to accidentally discover me and whisk me away and make me a star. If I wanted to do something, only I could do it. I was responsible for my own success and my future. So I practiced. I got good. I analyzed where I was, what I needed to do and how to do it.
I tell my artists that it takes not only talent, but it also takes work. We can’t do it alone. It takes a team. It also takes humility. For me I had success in the music industry. I thought because I had a lot of money and everyone wanted me at the time that I had made it…I so had not. I had four houses in four countries. I had toured with some of the biggest artists in the world. I produced three MTV, VMA’s (Video Music Awards shows).
I let my ego get in the way of my marriage, my life and most importantly myself. After 9/11 I re-evaluated my life. I went back to my childhood and analyzed what I really want to be when I grow up. When I was six I wanted to be an actor like Robert Redford. I made the decision that what I really wanted was to be an actor. So, like I did before, I made a game plan and implemented it. I went to acting school. Not a class a week; I took an extensive two-year program that was five-days a week and on the weekends I made my own movies.
It’s also about getting a break and luck; don’t get me wrong. Being at the right place at the right time with the right person. But after you get that break it takes a plethora of hard work for it to pay off. I could not just be good, I have to be great and not just in music or film but in life. To me, giving back is my way of being great.
You have appeared in notable television and feature films including, “The Flight Attendant” for HBO , “Midnight Mass” for Netflix, “London Fields,” “Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” to name a few. Share your perspective on your craft. Was there a role that stretched your acting abilities?
When you first start, you watch- you do. I saw every movie I made. For me, and I think a lot of actors, that changes after a while. The first time one of my films had a theatrical release at a movie theatre I was so excited. I got all dolled up, picked up my best girl and we went to the theatre on a Saturday night. I looked like I was going to the Oscars. I bought our two tickets. I could not wait for her to see me up there on the big screen…
(Pause)
There we were – her, me and four other people in the 250-seat theatre. I was so embarrassed. But I also hated myself on screen. Since then, unless I absolutely have to, I try and avoid seeing myself on screen. I look at acting like being in class and my coach, Lena, critiquing me or like a big kid just playing in the yard. I’m more into the moment of the scene. When they say cut, I move on to the next.
I think the one role that was the most difficult or really stretched me was my first Network show. I was still in class and I booked a TouchStone show on ABC called “That Was Then, This is Now”. It was difficult because I didn’t have a dressing room, I had no direction, I only met the director during my scene. I didn’t know what to do, what action to pick, all I knew was someone told me that he liked my tattoos. I met my co-star Andrea Bowman only minutes before the scene, then the AD told me I would be reading with a Stand In. She was kinda chubby and short and I was supposed to be in love with her and want her. It just wasn’t there. The choices I made for the scene weren’t right either. The Director still didn’t give me any direction. I think we did the scene maybe four or five times. Then out of the blue, I thought maybe I should change my action. When I was in class, my acting coach Lena made me do what I thought was the stupidest comedic monologue that I absolutely hated with a passion. I used that same action and we did one take. Everybody broke out laughing, the Director came over and gave me some tips and pointers, and then Andrea came back and said, “I don’t need a Stand In”. Just like that. We did a few more takes and moved on to my close ups. All of a sudden we were done within the hour. Just like that – shit changed.
“The Flight Attendant” and “Midnight Mass” were cool. But they didn’t really stretch my abilities. That’s because I show up on time, I know my lines, made my choices. But what I do is always go back to my childhood. I play. I play like I’m with the neighborhood boys on a Saturday afternoon. Playing cowboys and Indians. Today I am an Indian warrior. But, tomorrow, I’m going to be a policeman and the day after, I think I’ll be a music manager.
2022 has been a whirlwind for you. Tell us about your recent projects.
WOW! Whirlwind is an understatement. Actually, since the pandemic it has been a whirlwind. 2022 has actually been awesome for me both in business since and also personally. I don’t sign just any artist. I don’t sign someone on how much money I’m going to make. I don’t even sign someone if they are already or have potential to be big. I sign an artist on my gut and I trust my heart and how they make me feel when I hear their music or see them act. I love every single artist on our roster. All of them are amazing musical artists, some are talented professional actors. All of them are good and honest people. All of them do what they do for the right reasons.
Having said that, I signed Glenda Benevides. Last year she was a GRAMMY® considered artist. That means she was a runner up. This year she was invited to be a voting member of the Recording Academy, they are the committee that decides who will get nominated. Her numbers and sales are doing quite well. Glenda will most likely have a nomination for next year.
I also recently signed a British singer-songwriter, actor, and model Chloey Rose. This young woman is going to be huge. In the first show she did since I started managing her she was a special guest at Savita Kaye’s; House of iKons, Fashion Week London. She was right in her element. She owned the red-carpet; she ruled on the runway. She was the talk of the town. All this, only two days after the Queen’s death and two days before the Queen’s funeral. Hands down she was the talk of the night. Not since 4 Non Blondes and Linda Perry have I felt this strongly about an artist. Her love for humanity and the joy and love that she gives the world through the sincerity in her voice and the calmness and good that the listener can’t help but feel that tingling in the bones and blood; this is why I think she will be big.
What are you most proud of as an actor?
I’m not sure if I do have any films that I am most proud of. As I said before, I don’t watch my movies. It makes me happy when directors or producers say they were impressed, they liked it or that I nailed it.
I played a Buddhist Sadhu, serial killer once. I’d like to think I didn’t nail that role. But people say I was very convincing as a Buddhist Sadhu.
But I think the most fun I ever had was on Pirates. You know how it is on set. It’s always hurry up and wait. After makeup, it’s usually wait time. All we did was hang out and play guitar, tell jokes and crack up. That was cool. I had already met Depp before because I interviewed as a Tour Manager for Hollywood Vampires. At the time, Duff, Izzy and Matt from Guns ‘n’ Roses were in Vampires. I knew them from Guns tours. I knew Joe from Aerosmith in the 90’s. But, I didn’t know Alice or Johnny. Depp and I got on right away. I don’t think Alice liked me at all. In fact back then I had not been on tour in years, at least that was the reason I was given. But Depp and I stayed in contact over the years. He’s a good, kind and helpful dude. He’s also about giving back and helping people. I like that.
Who would you like to work with?
Well, That’s a good question. I think I might like to work with you Jules. I do. It’s true. You intrigue me. But, I have also always wanted to work with Scarlett Johnsson, Leo DiCaprio, Liv Tyler, Chris Rock of course, and any of the Kardashian’s.
Under the Visualiner Entertainment banner, you served as a producer and also an actor on “The Gift… At Risk” starring Vince Vaughn and Randy Travis, which debuted at the Monaco Film Festival. Also for Visualiner Entertainment, you were a producer on the Award Winning feature film “Stripped Down” starring Ian Ziering (“Beverly Hills 90210” and “Dancing with the Stars,”). What do you enjoy the most about producing films? Do you have any projects in the works for 2023?
Huh. What I love about producing is making the final decision, kinda being in charge. As an actor, you’re sort of way down on the decision or input line. I like having a say in writing, casting, editing, distribution and marketing. I’m not crazy about the hours, but I love it when I have input.
2023? LOL. Well, sort of. I have a friend that is making a movie in 2023. He offered me a part. I asked him about giving Chloey Rose a shot. She’s never made a Hollywood movie. I told you she’s going to do well. Maybe I’ll be a producer on that movie. I can’t say what it is. It’s still unannounced. Coming soon to a theatre near you.
What’s next?
I am one of the four-celebrity judge’s on an international talent show; kinda like “America’s Got Talent” or “Britain’s Pop Idle”. The show has already run for five seasons on TV in India. It’s called “International Indian Icon”. I’ve never done anything like this before. I’m quite chuffed.
Contestant’s audition in every continent, like Great Britain, Europe, Canada or whatever. Then, there is a jury who votes and gives them advice or whatever. Then they have a live in-person run off to select a finalist for that region, like European Indian Icon. I think there are like 12 contestants. Those 12 people are flown to Chicago for the Finalist episode for my episode. It’s sort of weird; I’m not sure how I fit in? Because, I don’t have any Indian heritage. I’m actually British. The other judges are super big Indian artists. Longinus, is a director from “Slum dog Millionaire”, Arko, is a famous Indian musician and DJ, my good friend Mauna Shah who was “Miss Universe Asia” and is credited as “the most beautiful smile in India” and also a very talented high-end fashion model and actress.
I’ve been studying and watching a plethora of America’s Got Talent videos, because I had no idea what a judge does. Simon Cowell, Sofia Vergara, Heidi & Howie have become my mentors. I’m really excited to do something like this, so far outside of my comfort zone.:
MOkSHA Entertainment: https://www.mokshaentertainment.com/home
