Royce Beckly Adkins is an American filmmaker, director, and producer born January 30, 1989. Best known as the son of comedian Sinbad (David Adkins), he founded Stone Harbor Productions and directed films like “Outcast” (2020) and “The Girl With No Brain” (2018). Unlike many celebrity children, he built an independent career in indie filmmaking, earning awards for screenwriting and film production rather than trading on family connections.
Who Is Royce Beckly Adkins?
You’ve heard the name Sinbad. Maybe you caught him on HBO specials in the 1990s or saw him in sitcoms. But here’s what most people don’t know: his son Royce Beckly Adkins took a completely different path.
Born January 30, 1989, in Los Angeles, Royce chose filmmaking over comedy—and he did it his own way. He’s not the type of celebrity kid who leans on a famous parent’s name. Instead, he studied sound engineering at the Los Angeles Recording School, then earned a bachelor’s degree in Digital Film and Video Production from the Art Institute of California, Hollywood. That combination of technical skill and creative training became his foundation.
Today, Royce runs Stone Harbor Productions, a Los Angeles-based company he founded to produce indie films and digital content. He’s directed short films that won recognition at major competitions, worked as a production assistant for G4 TV, and built a YouTube channel reviewing film technology.
The key difference between Royce and other celebrity children? He invested in mastery first, publicity second.
Breaking Away from the Family Shadow
Growing up as Sinbad’s son came with advantages and constraints. You get industry access. You learn how entertainment works by watching it up close. But you also get constant comparisons—and the temptation to coast on a family name.
Royce witnessed his father navigate comedy for decades. He saw the discipline required, the business pressures, the balance between public persona and private life. But instead of copying that formula, he asked himself: What’s my strength? What’s my voice?
The answer was visual storytelling.
His childhood included appearances on major TV shows—”The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” in 1996, and award shows throughout the 1990s. He could’ve pursued acting. Instead, he studied the technical side: audio engineering, film production, editing, sound design. He positioned himself as a craftsman, not a celebrity.
This strategy proved smart. When your value comes from skill rather than name recognition, you control your career. You pick projects based on artistic merit. You prove yourself through work, not through dad’s contacts.
Education: Technical Foundation Meets Creative Vision
Here’s what separates serious filmmakers from weekend hobbyists: structured education combined with industry exposure.
Royce started with audio engineering. In 2009, he earned his Audio Engineering Certification from the Los Angeles Recording School. Sound design matters—it’s the invisible element that makes a film feel immersive. This foundation shaped how he approached production.
Then came his degree from the Art Institute of California, Hollywood. The program wasn’t just theory. It involved hands-on projects, industry speakers, and real equipment. He learned directing, cinematography, editing, screenwriting—all the disciplines a complete filmmaker needs.
What made this education effective wasn’t the institution alone. It was how Royce used it. He didn’t just attend classes. He interned at G4 TV, covering major events like the Electronic Video Game Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center. He did videography and editing work for fitness brands like The Factory Fit Performance and UpTime Energy. He built a portfolio while still learning.
This combination—formal training plus real-world projects—is why his early work showed maturity beyond his years.
The Films That Define His Career
Royce’s filmography reveals his artistic priorities: character-driven stories, indie production values, and socially conscious themes.
“The Girl With No Brain” (2018) was his first significant project. It’s a short film that explores identity and belonging—themes that resonate because they’re universal. He didn’t make a plot-heavy action film. He made something intimate.
“Outcast” (2020) became his signature work. The film tells the story of an ex-super soldier with chronic asthma fighting to prove his worth. That’s not a blockbuster premise. But it’s a human one. The film was executive-produced by Sinbad through Stone Harbor Productions with a budget of approximately $15,000. Royce wrote it, directed it, and controlled every creative decision.
Think about that budget. $15,000 is nothing in Hollywood terms. Yet Royce made a film that won festival recognition and impressed industry professionals. That’s the real skill—creating quality with constraints.
“L & X of A Single Angelino” (2020) continued his focus on character studies. Rather than chase action or spectacle, Royce explores what it means to be an individual in Los Angeles—a city obsessed with image and status.
His films consistently reflect one philosophy: audiences respond to authenticity. They don’t need expensive effects. They need stories that feel true.
Awards and Industry Recognition
Recognition follows good work. Royce didn’t get invited to major competitions because his father was famous. He got there because his projects earned it.
Third place in the Breyers Ice Cream “Breyers Moments” commercial competition. Nomination for Best Story in the 2013 48 Hour Guerrilla Film Challenge for “Thanks for Sharing.” Semi-finalist in the 2015 Screencraft Sci-Fi Screenplay competition. Finalist in the 2017 My Rode Reel Competition for his short “Lumière.”
These aren’t participation trophies. Film competitions are brutal—thousands of entries, harsh judging. Making finalist rounds means your work beats 95% of submissions. Multiple finalist finishes across different competitions indicate consistency.
What these awards prove: Royce can write compelling stories, direct with precision, and understand visual language. The industry noticed.
Family Life: Balancing Career and Fatherhood
On July 17, 2016, Royce married Bianca Renee. They weren’t a celebrity couple seeking publicity. They were quiet about it—a private ceremony with family and friends.
Bianca is a hairstylist and content creator. They share social media content about family life, but on their terms. No tabloid drama. No manufactured stories. Just a couple building a life together.
They have children—including Jalen Sky Adkins, born February 8, 2020. Royce doesn’t use his kids as content props. He shares selective moments showing he’s a present father who balances film projects with family responsibilities.
His relationship with his father, Sinbad, remains strong. In 2025, Royce and his sister Paige publicly provided updates about their father’s recovery from a stroke. They thanked supporters while requesting privacy—showing maturity and respect for family.
His mother, Meredith Adkins, works as a producer at Stone Harbor Productions. Even within his professional company, family relationships are professional. Everyone has a role. Everyone contributes.
Stone Harbor Productions: Building an Independent Enterprise
You can tell a lot about someone’s ambitions by the business they build. Royce founded Stone Harbor Productions to maintain creative control.
A studio system gives you budget and distribution—but constraints. You answer to executives. You compromise on vision. An independent production company means you control everything: what gets made, how it’s made, who it reaches.
Stone Harbor expanded into Stone Harbor Comics in 2024, debuting titles like “BioPunks” and “The Legend of Althea.” Then came “Outcasts”—his “Outcast” short film adapted into a comic book series.
This cross-platform strategy is modern. A property that works as a film can reach new audiences through comics, podcasts, YouTube series, or graphic novels. Royce understood that early.
He also runs a YouTube channel reviewing film technology. As a filmmaker, he’s a natural tech reviewer—he knows what equipment matters, why it matters, and how to explain it to other creators.
Why Royce’s Story Matters
Celebrity kids who succeed usually fall into two categories: those who ride family coattails (short careers, minimal respect) and those who build legitimate careers separate from their parents (lasting influence, earned authority).
Royce chose the harder path. He got formal training. He made dozens of short films. He entered competitions. He won awards. He built a production company. He has a YouTube presence. He got married quietly. He’s raising kids. He’s creating content.
He didn’t ask the entertainment industry to hand him anything. He asked to earn it.
That’s why his story resonates beyond celebrity gossip. It’s about someone who had every reason to take shortcuts and chose not to. It’s about building a career on skill and discipline instead of name recognition.