We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Anthea Piscarik. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Anthea below.
Anthea, appreciate you joining us today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?
Most individuals desire to be remembered for some good quality or significant accomplishment that defines who they are or what they believe in. As a former grant writer for a nonprofit agency, I’m fortunate to leave a legacy of quality, affordable senior housing, homeless shelters, and permanent supportive housing projects throughout the City of Wilmington, Delaware. And I owe my success and resulting legacy to the many partners who made these “bricks and mortar” projects viable thanks to successful fundraising and grants from private and public supporters, My satisfaction is knowing that safe and secure housing is offered to homeless and very low-income families and individuals for decades to come!. But, there’s a different type of legacy that calls upon me now. As a creative, I’ve always wanted to make a difference in someone’s life whether by inspiring to achieve a goal or, most importantly, not giving up on a dreaml. I’ve had enough experience in that realm to be a prime example. Many of my personal achievements, whether publishing a work of fiction or, more recently, producing a short film, involved continual perseverance, patience, and prayer. Both of my websites www.antheatpiscarik.com and www.saintmartinproductions.com have the same tagline: Stories for a Better World. I hope those words define my legacy, as a news reporter, screenwriter, author, and producer. Stories can change the world, and I want my words to create a positive and lasting impact. My legacy? Anthea, a storyteller who inspired, informed, and offered glimmers of faith, hope, and love!
Anthea, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
In 2011, I formed Saint Martin Productions LLC, to raise money for a documentary. The project, entitled “Source of Light,” retold the story about a blind couple raising their own sighted twins. I needed a business entity for a Kickstarter campaign. I had secured a volunteer Director of Photography (DP) and set a goal of $8,000 for the project. At the time, Kickstarter mandated that a submission garnered all the anticipated funds via pledges. Otherwise, the campaign is deemed unsuccessful. My DP produced a polished ad for Kickstarter and pledges came forth, but not at the total budget amount I’d set. Undaunted, we filmed the family for a couple of years in hopes of capturing their story. Then my DP got married, started a family, built his own videographer business, and the commitment to “Source of Light” competed with family and work obligations. Meanwhile, a screenwriting colleague and I shopped the story for reality TV. At various points in time, we had three producers signed on, one with a highly successful reality TV series. But the networks deemed our story either “too sad” or “too soft.” So be it! In the interim, I kept Saint Martin Productions LLC going which turned out to be a plus! I expanded its mission to include other creative projects, mainly my works of fiction. When my first novel was published by a small press, I kept all of the finances completely separate from my personal account thanks to Saint Martin Productions LLC which had its own checking account and credit card. And when my publisher merged with a larger agency, the new owner didn’t honor my former publisher’s contract for five novels in a series. I decided to self-publish the second novel, “The Years In Between” through Saint Martin Productions LLC instead of seeking out and waiting to find another publisher. Now my business is a multi-media organization that exists as a separate entity for any of my creative works. And there’s more to the story. In 2024, I met with an editor regarding my documentary. The project name now harkens back to my original title of “Unseen American Dream.” My goal is to enter the finished short film in festivals by year end. And my long-term business goal is to continue film projects once I’ve proven to myself that I can make it happen! Stay tuned!
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Honestly, the timing couldn’t be better for a question on resilience. Creatively speaking, resilience underscores most if not all of my endeavors! I’ve been a writer all of my adult life–news reporter, playwright, screenwriter, grant writer, and author of short stories and novels. I’ve attended dozens of pitch sessions in Los Angeles for my spec movie scripts. I’ve had two screenplays optioned with all the hopes they’d be produced. I’ve entered a handful of screenwriting contests with one script being a finalist and another a semifinalist. My ventures into the film industry are similar to the dangling carrot syndrome. I’ve had just enough minor success to keep chasing elusive dreams! Overall, my journey feels like one step forward and ten back. I’ve repeatedly stated that my middle initial “T” stands not only for Theresa but for TENACIOUS!! In 2024, I’m experiencing how resilience pays off. Two film projects are finally seeing the light of day. The first, a documentary, is about a blind couple raising their own sighted twins. I heard about Kris Heist and Gary Pizzolo, the married couple, from my twin Maria. When I started developing the project, Sean and Kelly, the twins, were two years old. I recall the first time I knocked on the Pizzolo family’s front door. Gary, a Bronxite Italian, said, “Hi, we have a policy around here. You wake ‘em, you take ‘em!” Gary, a natural comedian, was funny to the core. Kris, an athlete, joined the U.S. swim team for the 1992 Paralympics in Barcelona, Spain. And I was delighted with the prospect of sharing their story with the world!. I’ve lost count of potential editors who’ve entered and exited the project. Gary and I jokingly said, “these kids will be in college before we ever get this done.” Be careful what you joke about. Sean and Kelly started college in the fall of 2023. Many times, I thought I’d given up. Months, even a few years went by without any movement. Work obligations pressed upon me. When I switched from a documentary to reality TV project, three different producers couldn’t get beyond network gatekeepers. But my resilience wouldn’t allow me to fold. I prayed; I mean REALLY prayed for guidance. And this year, I found a filmmaker who shared my passion for the story. Oh, I’ve been through filmmakers that bailed on the project. I approached a student interested in working on it for a summer project. All of these efforts were to no avail. But now, this year, the project will be completed after 18 years in the making. It’s a different story now. It’s a better story. now that the kids, as young adults, they can reflect upon their formative years. The second project’s success borders on miraculous! A few years back I partnered with a record producer to develop a bio pic based on Ella Fitzgerald. He knew Ella personally and worked with Ella’s son, Ray Brown, Jr.. In 2015, I met the record producer in Los Angeles. He shook my hand, looked me in the eyes and said, “You’re the one!” I couldn’t believe that a bio pic hadn’t been made about Ella. He’d mentioned several scripts didn’t meet the approval of family members. And then the producer died in March 2019, and I lost a shepherd who believed wholeheartedly in my approach to Ella’s life. The project looked like it wouldn’t move forward, but I couldn’t give up. I approached a fellow colleague of Act One: Writing for Hollywood, the program I participated in 1999. My colleague had an award-winning short and an episodic television on her director’s resume. We trudged forward and nothing seemed to be opening up. And then the 2023 writers’ and directors’ strikes brought the industry to a grinding halt. This year, my colleague asked if I’d be interested in writing a short script version of the feature to enter into a contest called Proof of Concept. I worked very quickly to get the script ready for submission. THE UNBELIEVABLY GOOD NEWS??? Ella was selected for funding a short film with intent for a feature down the road. There were eight projects awarded out of 1,200 submissions. My advice to anyone in the arts? Don’t give up! Persevere because you never know where your journey will take you!
How did you build your audience on social media?
Building an audience is never-ending. Some days, I think I spend too much time posting on social media. But it’s the only way to maintain a presence. I’ve posted a few reels walking through the aisle of a library, one with the caption, “Read, Read, Read,” I pulled out a book from a shelf and smiled at the camera. The post had over 2,000 views. I realize that’s miniscule in the realm of “going viral.” But if one person bought my novel from seeing a Facebook ad, live video, or reel, then it’s worth it. I’m also a huge advocate of podcast interviews when and if appropriate. My interviews, focused on my books and journey as a writer, are now available on YouTube. Unlike, a time-limited ad, the videos can be watched repeatedly. Of course, a website is essential. I once discovered a neighborhood bakery that made wonderful pies and cakes that I sampled at an urban civic association meeting. But, alas, the baker/owner had no social media presence, so I couldn’t learn anything further about her operation let alone order her products. Of course, that’s rare because most businesses have ether a website, Facebook account, or some kind of social media presence with contact info and reviews. If you’re just starting out, here’s my advice: (1) Build a website page if you haven’t already done so. It doesn’t needs lots of bells and whistles. Sometimes a simple style is better, but make sure it’s attractive and easy to scroll through on a smartphone or tablet. (2) Post something daily. Yes, I know, how annoying, right? But, it’s the only way to stay in front of people. As a writer, I know I should have a monthly newsletter. Meanwhile, I write and post three monthly blogs, one on Goodreads and the other two on my websites. I post links to my blogs on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, when appropriate. (3) Use hashtags for all of your posts, if and when it’s pertinent. Do you travel? Add some posts! Create an interesting reel and post it! Add music and hashtags to multiply potential viewers! (4) Sign up for podcast interviews! There’s a range of topics in the podcast world. Trust you’ll find the one that allows you to tell your story. (5) Like and follow other business owners or individuals who’ve shared your information and join like-minded networks and groups. Be kind and supportive. You’ll be rewarded down the road!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://saintmartinproductions.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apiscarik/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anthea.piscarik
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthea-piscarik-0a38a116/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Atpflower
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=anthea+piscarik
- Other: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14409676.Anthea_T_Piscarikhttps://www.facebook.com/atpflower/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561989201267
https://www.facebook.com/unearthingchristmas/
https://www.antheatpiscarik.com/
