About Us

Rob Giampapa (aka Mr. G)
Founder | Director | Creator | Relentless Visionary

Rob Giampapa is a force of creative energy—part filmmaker, part educator, part chaos engine—in the best way possible. A U.S. Navy Veteran and lifelong storyteller, Rob brings a rare blend of grit, passion, and purpose to everything he does. He’s built his life around one mission: to help create more creators.

Despite growing up in Virginia during a time when dreams of Hollywood felt galaxies away, Rob’s obsession with film, TV, and storytelling never left him. When digital cameras and editing software finally caught up in the late 2000s, he dove in—headfirst. No film school. Just vision, discipline, and a work ethic forged in uniform.

Rob co-founded Rebel Run Sports, 2Up 2Down Media, and G Cre8tive, all driven by a commitment to amplify overlooked voices—especially youth and athletes in Northern Virginia. He later helped launch Next Up NoVa, a foundation dedicated to empowering student creators through hands-on media education.

In 2019, a single teaching job changed everything. What started as a video production class became a purpose-driven calling, and led to the first version of what would become Studio 508—a program built to serve creative, ambitious students who didn’t fit the traditional mold.

“The students in 508 allowed me to be myself—and showed me my purpose. I’m not here just to teach. I’m here to build spaces where students can become.”

Today, Rob is the founder of G Cre8tive and 2Up 2Down Media, and is working to build Studio 508, a permanent creative hub in Northern Virginia. Designed as both a professional studio and a free after-school program, Studio 508 is an incubator for future filmmakers, photographers, and storytellers—especially those with big dreams and limited access.

He's known to students as Mr. G, to peers as the guy who never stops moving, and to anyone paying attention as one of the most authentic voices in arts and arts education today.

And yes, he still refuses to eat anything with names that don't go together, like “rice pudding.”