Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Anthony Cupo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Anthony, thanks for joining us today. Alright – so having the idea is one thing, but going from idea to execution is where countless people drop the ball. Can you talk to us about your journey from idea to execution?
Stacie Passon is a brilliant creative partner, and I had the pleasure of working with her for many years on impactful promos and marketing campaigns for Warner Music Group. During that time, I launched my own boutique post-production house in Lower Manhattan, which quickly gained traction. As we grew more successful, I found myself becoming more selective with outside projects—when you hit a certain stride, you naturally want to stay focused and avoid distractions.
Around that time, Stacie experienced a life event that sparked the idea for a film. She called me up and said, “Aunt, I’ve got an idea for a movie.” Now, in this business, you hear that a lot. Most people float a concept but never truly commit to developing it. So, as bad as it sounds, I gave her the response I usually reserve for creatives who aren’t ready to follow through: “Don’t tell me about it—write it down.” It’s a polite way of brushing someone off, knowing the idea probably won’t go anywhere.
But Stacie? She took it to heart. A month later—this was in April—she handed me a fully fleshed-out first draft of her script. And it was fantastic. The characters were distinct, their motivations sincere, and from a production standpoint, it was a budget-friendly project that still packed a punch.
I called her right away and said, “We need to make this now.” By October, we were rolling cameras.
We quickly pulled together a talented creative team—cinematographers, makeup artists, costume designers, set decorators—and even convinced Rose Troche to come on board as a producer. Stacie had a strong vision. She just needed help gathering the right pieces to bring it to life. That combination of drive and clarity took us all the way to the Sundance Film Festival the following year.
Great ideas don’t manifest on their own. You have to move. You have to act. Otherwise, they remain just that—ideas. That film became Concussion, which officially launched in 2013. To this day, I see it as a benchmark—proof of what happens when a powerful concept meets exceptional execution.
Anthony, 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?
Sure! My name is Anthony Cupo, and I’m the Creative Director at 1SourceVideo, a top-tier distributor of video and cinema gear. I’m also the founder of Cupo Creative, a marketing agency that helps brands craft clear, authentic, and visually compelling content that actually connects with audiences.
My journey into this industry began with a love for storytelling—first as a writer, then as a content creator and producer. I’ve always been fascinated by how stories can inspire action and build real emotional bridges between products and people. Over the years, I’ve worked in creative agencies, live events, corporate marketing, and now lead a production team that consistently delivers over 25 high-quality videos a month for some of the biggest names in the industry, like Blackmagic Design, Kinefinity, Vaxis, and many more.
While I genuinely enjoy my day job, I’m also passionate about storytelling in a different form: film. I recently produced *Magic Hour*, a darkly comedic, romantic thriller about love, loss, and survival on the eve of the apocalypse. The film is now streaming on Amazon: [Magic Hour on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Hour-Alain-Matz/dp/B0DQ6PWSGV). It was an incredibly rewarding experience that pushed me to grow creatively and collaborate with a team of amazing talents to bring a truly unique vision to life. I’m deeply proud of what we accomplished.
At both 1SourceVideo and Cupo Creative, the work I do is about helping others tell their story—whether that’s a brand introducing a game-changing new product or a filmmaker trying to reach a wider audience. Our services span digital marketing, video production, webinar execution, branding, and more. I help companies solve one of the toughest marketing challenges: making something technical or niche feel personal, approachable, and necessary.
What sets me apart is my ability to blend creative storytelling with business strategy. I’m not just thinking about what looks good—I’m thinking about what works, what converts, and what resonates. I take pride in being a partner who listens, adapts, and delivers with integrity.
If there’s one thing I’d want potential clients, followers, or collaborators to know, it’s this: I care deeply about doing work that matters. Whether it’s producing a feature film, launching a new product campaign, or building a digital brand from the ground up, my goal is always the same—create something meaningful that leaves a lasting impression.
Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?
One of my favorite marketing stories—and honestly one of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken—happened during the lead-up to the 2024 NAB East trade show in New York City. It was our first time hosting a 20×30 booth under the 1SourceVideo banner, and I was responsible for curating the entire experience: booth design, vendor relationships, logistics, digital promotion, you name it. The stakes were high. We were representing over a dozen brands, including heavy hitters like Blackmagic Design, Vaxis, Kinefinity, and Fujinon. And here’s the kicker—we had just 4 weeks to pull it all off.
Normally, companies spend months prepping for NAB. But due to a series of internal changes, I inherited the responsibility late in the game. Instead of playing it safe and just “showing up,” I decided to go all in. I pitched a bold digital campaign built around the idea of *”bringing the brand experience to life,”* not just at the booth, but across every touchpoint—social, video, email, even in-person interactions.
We launched daily countdown posts, behind-the-scenes vendor teasers, and brand-focused highlight reels featuring motion graphics and product deep dives—all created in-house within a two-week sprint. I even had my team pre-film vendor sizzle videos to play on loop at the booth, giving it the feel of a living showroom. On top of that, we used QR codes that led directly to partner pages and real-time NAB specials, maximizing both foot traffic and conversion opportunities.
The risk? Spending that much effort and budget on a tight deadline, with no guarantee that it would all come together. I was stressed, running on adrenaline—and more than a few energy drinks—but there was this fire in me. I *knew* if we nailed it, it would change how people saw 1SourceVideo.
And it did.
Not only did we have one of the most visited booths on the floor, but we also walked away with a record number of scanned leads—150+ quality contacts. Our vendors were thrilled. Some even said it was their best U.S. event showing in years. And the awareness we built online had ripple effects long after the event ended.
That experience reminded me that marketing isn’t about playing it safe. It’s about trusting your gut, knowing your audience, and betting on creative execution. It’s not just what you say—it’s how and *when* you say it.
I walked away exhausted, but more energized than ever. Sometimes, you just have to bet on bold.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
One of the most defining moments of my career came when I was hired by SoHo Experiential to help bring an ambitious immersive installation to life. The goal? Transport viewers to the lush Cognac region of France—without ever leaving their chairs. It was an exciting challenge: we were tasked with creating a fully immersive 3D experience for Rémy Martin, and the stakes couldn’t have been higher.
To pull it off, we flew to Rémy Martin’s headquarters in the Cognac region to capture stereoscopic footage. At the time, James Cameron’s *Avatar* had just reignited the world’s fascination with 3D films, and stereoscopic filmmaking was having a major revival. But the truth is—very few people really knew how to do it well yet. I didn’t either. Not yet, at least.
We used two Sony F35 HD cameras rigged together on a Steadicam, which presented a whole new set of technical hurdles—camera alignment, parallax control, syncing footage—it was a crash course in an entirely new filmmaking discipline. I quickly had to become a student again, deep-diving into stereoscopic editing and mastering everything from convergence adjustments to proper playback settings for a 3D viewing environment.
To make things even more complicated, we had underbid the project. The budget was tight, the timeline even tighter. Our first public showing was scheduled for June… and it was already May. That meant we had just weeks to not only edit the film, but also *build* a theater from scratch in SoHo, New York—complete with proper projection, acoustics, and 3D glasses, which at the time were still a specialty item.
There were many sleepless nights. Literal nights sleeping on the floor. My small team and I were engineering solutions on the fly—wiring tech, testing projection rigs, fine-tuning the theater layout, and ensuring that every detail was perfect for opening night. It was an all-hands-on-deck moment. But I refused to let the pressure break us.
And we pulled it off.
The premiere went off without a hitch. The 3D effect was seamless, the story was immersive, and the audience was transported. Most importantly, the client was thrilled. What started as a potential financial and logistical disaster became a blueprint for how to deliver under pressure, how to adapt quickly, and how to never underestimate the power of relentless learning and leadership.
That experience taught me that resilience isn’t about knowing everything from the start—it’s about having the drive to figure it out, the courage to take responsibility, and the passion to see something extraordinary through to the end.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cupocreative.com
- Instagram: anthony.cupo
- Linkedin: acupo0012
- Twitter: @acupo
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSaGCybpBB_bjMiK2M9XoXQ
