We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Edward Gusts a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Edward thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been one of the most interesting investments you’ve made – and did you win or lose? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

I’m going to tell you about a trend of bad investments I’ve made, because it seems that the lesson only sticks for a few years before I get tempted to make it again.

Happily, I now catch myself earlier; but I still do it far too often.

My bad investment choice is found in shortcuts.

Every once in a while, I find myself making consistent progress. However; the progress is not as fast as I like. (I make films, they take time to make.)

So, I look around and think “Hey, if I did X to earn extra money, I could make films faster and hire people to take care of the stuff I don’t like”.

So, I start doing whatever this task is, it turns out that it takes far more effort and time than it appeared, and when I return to my actual work; I’m rusty and my computer did an update so now I’ve actually taken steps backward.

Now, I believe in progress. If people weren’t looking for easier ways to do things, film would still be cut by hand and indie filmmaking would not exist.

BUT, It is really important to make sure that your action is still headed toward your goal, and not a weird form of procrastination.

Yes, it would be easier for me to make whatever movies I want if I had a multi million dollar trust fund. However; it is counter productive for me to spend years trying to make money elsewhere to fund my films instead of spending those years MAKING FILMS.

My first film was funded by money I made as an actor, for others I just scraped and saved. This is true for many artists.

But I have yet to hear of one artist who turned their back on the arts, got into real estate or hedge funds, and then returned to the arts with their newfound riches.

To paraphrase Neil Gaiman, Your goal is a mountain in the distance, and with every “opportunity” it’s good to see if it moves you closer or further away from that mountain.

Go after what you want. Optimize your process if necessary. But don’t spend so much time optimizing or trying to figure out an easier way, that you stop heading toward your goal.

Edward, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Edward Gusts. I run The Magpie Film Company. I make movies, write, paint, and occasionally play music.

I started my career as an actor. I then had an opportunity to produce my own film (Stained) with some friends and fell in love with the filmmaking process.

(Maybe obsessed is a better word. I spend way too much time yelling at my computer for it to be love.)

Personally, I feel that there is a scarcity of small honest films. Remakes and CGI blockbusters; while fun, rarely impact the audience the way original indie films can.

My company aims to bring true, raw performances to all audiences. Currently, the medium is film; but there are plans to expand into music and other media. Our work is not homogenized or focused grouped. It is original, often weird, and intimate.

Our flagship feature SELF HARM has an intended release date of October 18, 2024.

I hope that it impacts you.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Buy from artists. Buy from your artist friends. Don’t ask your artist friends to work for free.

If you love a local band, don’t download their song of Spotify; they’ll never see the revenue. Buy directly from them. Buy from their website or buy their merch at a live performance.

If you love someone’s art on Instagram, check their links to buy a print.

People have this thing where they discount local artists, and friends’ art because they know them. People will spend thousands on a painting by a stranger, but wont spend 20 bucks at a local art fair.

If you like someone’s art and you can afford it, buy it.

And for god’s sake DON’T use plagiaristic sites that use “AI” to steal and homogenize artist’s work.

It will never replace real art, but it may put real artists out of business.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Watch “Make Good Art”. Neil Gaiman did a commencement speech where he gave advice to artists. In terms of an artistic philosophy, I can think of nothing better.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.magpiefilmco.com
• Instagram: @edwardgusts
• Youtube: The Magpie Film Company @themagpiefilmcompany1954

Image Credits

Headshot By Robert Kazandjian. All other photos by The Magpie Film Company for the film SELF HARM. Shots 1-3 are of Edward Gusts, Shot 4 is RickWilliamson, and 5 Gerard Griesbaum.