We recently connected with Andrew Såulf and have shared our conversation below.
Andrew, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about how you identified some of your key partners/vendors and how you made those relationships work?
In the middle of the pandemic, I had felt like I had fully exhausted the reach of my network in terms of the type and scale of work that I was landing. As a colorist and finishing artist, you meet less people on each project compared to someone working on-set or on location where at times you are surrounded by hundreds of colleagues. I certainly wasn’t the only one who felt this way, there seemed to be an unspoken feeling across the industry that we had taken for granted the opportunities to network in-person and to even just spend time with people in the same cohort of artistry. Even though many of my newest friends are also my competitors, their friendship is just as valuable, maybe even more so, because we share the experience of a pretty rare career in film and TV.
Directors, Producers, Actors, they all have had agents for literally over a hundred years, but never were there ones for people who work “below the line”, which refers to the separation of production costs between script and story writers, producers, directors, actors, and casting (“above the-line”) and the rest of the crew, or production team. I had searched on Google and asked around for an agent who could expand my network of contacts, and of course at first, there was nothing, but after maybe 6 months, one had appeared.
After about 14 years as a marketing agent at Keslow camera, Andrew Toth formed the Above Below the Line (ABL Agency) in 2021, which is the first agency in the U.S. to specialize in below-the-line crew representation. After a really wonderful coffee meeting and a series of conversations, I became his first colorist to sign to ABL. This was groundbreaking for me to have someone in my corner when working with clients, large ad agencies or production companies. Andrew helped me make key connections with a new circle of clientele that I wouldn’t have been able to connect with otherwise and I am thrilled for the next stage with ABL as I up-skill at NYU to add additional competencies.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m a colorist, finishing artist and post professional working in film, TV and commercials. I started in the industry when I was just 16 years old as a camera operator and after film school and a stint shooting in the Arctic, I moved to Los Angeles in 2015 to specialize in post production. This summer, 2025, I began grad studies at NYU in producing and entertainment business to be able to open up additional opportunities in leading post teams and producing content. I’m a member of the television academy, fully accredited from the colorist society and my new company, Visitant Media, is in full-swing working on some exciting projects.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Empathy drives my interactions and I do my best to be inclusive and collaborative. At the end of the day, my relationships with those I work with are far more important to me than the reputation of the work itself.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
I highly recommend the book from the creators of the project management software Basecamp, called Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson. I read it very early on and it informed my pragmatic and results driven approach to business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.visitantmedia.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visitantmedia/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/visitant/
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4536169/
