Meet Andy Costa | Film Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Andy Costa and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andy, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
In the US 98% of business are small business. Americans have an entrepreneurial spirit. And I was bit by the business bug. I wanted to be free, and be the boss of my own destiny. I want to follow my dreams and work hard to create my legacy. I did not wanted to follow someone else’s dreams or build someone else’s legacy.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
But the “freedom” that one’s pursue when being in business is quickly dismissed by the overwhelming aspects of running this very business. No one tell you that when in business you not only have to do what you are great at, but you also have to become at least decent in a variety of avenues such as billing, legal, marketing, sales, operations and on, and on, and on. As a creative person my dream was to make films that impact people. Films that make them re-think possibilities and inspire positive change. And this is all glamorous BUT (I don’t like big butts) unfortunately this is a small percentage of the filmmaking business. I once heard a filmmaker say that you spend 2% of your time making films and 98% of your time “building” the film. And in building financing is a giant part of it. As it is marketing, sales and legal. And unless you are extremely lucky (yes talent has very little to do with it) you will have to become at a minimum decent in all the other disciplines that are absolutely required to run the business of filmmaking BEFORE you can even do your first film. Don’t get me wrong a bunch of independent filmmakers (indie) sell their house and make a film, maybe to prove that you don’t have to have all the other disciplines held together in order to make a film. BUT the reality is all those films inevitably end up in oblivion with a full monetary loss. I have lost count of how many indie filmmakers have made a film that no one (including family and close friends) have ever heard of. And the same goes for book authors, comedians and any sort of art form. Now you may be thinking: well I want to open a bakery and it is completely different from making a film. You are wrong. To open a small business and become successful at it you have to be at least decent in marketing, sales, customer service, etc. Let me ask you this, would you buy a cake from someone that delivers the order late, is not consistent in quality and gives you attitude when asked? Of course not. It can be the absolute best cake in the world, but if your clients are not respected, if you don’t develop the business as a whole you will fail (Which makes me think of the soup Nazi from Seinfeld). On the other hand, if you either partner with people who can deliver the pillars of business or you develop them yourself is just a matter of time for you to become extremely successful at what you do.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Jennifer Sheehan is an amazing entrepreneur who showed me the value of hard work and the importance of trusting in God. You can learn more about Jennifer here https://thejennifersheehanshow.com/

Website: www.andycostafilms.com

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