We recently connected with Andrew Cicciari and have shared our conversation below.

Andrew, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

A project that I am super stoked on is a short documentary I directed called “Van Gotti”. It follows the story of artist, Tyler Morgan (aka Van Gotti), and going through the creative process, dealing with creative block, and ultimately painting start to finish. This has been an idea that has been in the works for the past year and this project has really come a long way since then. It started last year when I realized I wanted to start making my documentary portfolio present in my creative career. But I needed a subject. I had no idea what the documentary was going to be about, all I knew is I wanted to make it. I stumbled across Tyler’s instagram account one day and was just moved by his art. The abstract paint, the uniqueness, the creativeness just blew me away.. We had a couple mutals so I sent him a message: “yo dude your work is super sick! wanted to see if maybe you want to be apart of a project?” a couple weeks later we got lunch and I began to talk through what exactly I had in mind. I asked him some of the interview questions I came up with for the documentary (the fun part about documentaries is that you have no idea what the story is until it unfolds right infront of you). Tyler just has such a way with his words, and the way he answered every question I asked, I knew that this project was going to be a lot more powerful then I thought. Tyler paints his testimony. Every painting is a reflection of his relationship with God. Green light. Over the next couple of months, we worked out of a studio right above a coffee shop he used to work at (shoutout Nambah Coffee). My only direction for him was to pretend I was not there and to just go. He did his thing, and I did mine. He did his art, I did mine. The final film being put out to the public is nothing but God. The way he moved in this project and made everything align is incredible. And now we get to take this film to premiere at Warner Bros later this month. God is so good.

Andrew, 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 Andrew Cicciari and I am a freelance cinematographer and creative director, aspiring documentary film maker specializing in the extreme sports industry. I grew up in Connecticut but moved out to Los Angeles to pursue this dream. Since moving to LA I have been blessed with working with companies such as Red Bull Media House, Catch Surf, Woodward Tahoe, Island Beer, Gatorade, Segway, etc. I have a strong passion for story telling and think that everyone has a story to tell. I am also inspired by professional athletes, constantly pushing the boundaries of what humans can do. Taking those two things and showing them in a visual medium is such a beautiful thing. Having audiences resonate with the story and art of film is all that I could ask for. Thats how I define success in art. Does it make people feel something? If my visual medium can relate and resonate with an audience with a compelling story mixed with my style and flow, then I am the most successful man on earth. And I have been honored to not only be doing that for clients, creators, athletes, etc. but doing it for myself. I think that being an artist you have to balance between people pleasing and staying true to yourself. I dont think it is selfish to create for yourself. It is how I express myself as a human, and how I want to share myself with the world. That is how I define success in my work.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Tell the coolest stories. My ultimate goal is to tell the coolest stories. I want to be the guy sitting around the camp fire telling the best stories. The stories about how humans succeed, how they fail, how they rise up to the challenge, how they break down when no one is watching, how humans push the boundaries of what is possible. Story telling is essential to the visual medium. Without it you just have content. Artist dont burn out making art, they burn out making content. Short and long form content are just stories people are telling. And I want to be a great story teller. And at the same time people be able to recognize my stories. I want people to be able to tell its my story based on my flow, my style, my ability to edit, my camera work, my colors, etc. Knowing where I want to be as a story teller is what drives my journey as a creative.

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

Go to that small event, that small art gallery, that film festival, those music venues. I am most often inspired by other creative art mediums. Music?? I am always looking for new beats, new rhythms, new flow for projects. Art?? Composition and where the subject is and the textures. Other films?? I should not even have to explain this one. There is inspiration constantly around you. Tap into it. You never know who you will meet, what art you might resonate with, that new underground song you just discovered. You are getting inspiration while supporting other artists. Thats a thriving ecosystem if you ask me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://andrewcicciari.wixsite.com/andrewcicciari/clients
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewcicciari/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-cicciari-04b273231/

Image Credits

I am the photographer of all these images. The one taken of me by Drei Gesmundo