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

DREW, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I was very young! About four years old. I knew at that age, I had been bitten. And the next year, I was already pursuing my ambitions. My parents thought I was just being a kid. And yet, here we are. It did take me a long time to get here, though. I grew up in a military family. We moved around a lot, but it was for the most part, what one would call “normal.” The journey ultimately led me to where I am today. Sometimes, I still find myself feeling like my life out here in Los Angeles is just a dream. I have grown considerably in the last year, let alone the past five. I’ve learned so much about the industry as a working, business that is very much a machine. This knowledge reassures my insane confidence in my abilities to continue my artistic endeavors and build my career. I have met and worked with many fantastic people since moving to Los Angeles. Some who have become close friends. Hollywood is a community. And you have to build yours.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Sure. I was born in North Carolina. I have three younger siblings. And was raised in a loving family who spent lots of time together. Growing up living in different countries around the world gave me lots of perspective. First and foremost, my heart belongs to being an artist that tells stories on the big screen. I love movies! All day. Everyday. No shade to my television people. Back to my family for a second. Together, we used to watch so many movies! The time when you come together. Pop three bags of popcorn with a bunch of unhealthy snacks, and watch a good movie with your family. If it turns out to not be a good movie! Welp, at least you got to spend time with your family. It fills me with excitement to think about a imaginary world that I could exist in. Not as who I am in this world, but rather an extension of who I am. It’s fun! And with my untethered imagination, being a creative fulfills my purpose in life. Recently, we began development on my production company’s first full length feature that I wrote an original screenplay for and will star in. Which provides me an opportunity to get to work with some fantastic people. A director with an amazing vision who is very hands on and cares about the safety and well being of the crew. A highly motived and professional special effects studio. And a producer and cinematographer who happens to be a close friend. So much to share but also very tight lipped on that project. It’s a fantastic, frightening, original story with lots of thrills. The film puts on display some cool and interesting ideas that I can’t wait to show the world. It also couldn’t be more relevant to the times. A good film, in my opinion, has a lesson to take away. And my hope is that all my films inspire the people who watch them in the right ways. By motivating a change within their soul. Or drives an individual to pursue their dreams. Whatever it is. I want to inspire them!

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I enjoy being an inspiration for others to look up to and emulate. There is too much doubt in the world. As a society, we are told from a young age that “people get lucky” or “they won the lottery” when mentioning successful people. If we reframed that from “what if it doesn’t work out” into, “what if it does work out!” What if you can accomplish your dreams as long as you stay consistent and believe in yourself? And if I can show others that your goals can be accomplished through perseverance and endless pursuit, it only makes sense that the most feasible outcome for those inspired would be, that they can do it too! There are tons of stories that need to be told through an authentic and truthful lens that are being left aside. Ultimately through lack of representation, there are people in the world that aren’t being heard. Some of it has to do with the decision makers in Hollywood not understanding a story told through a lens different from what they know. Most, if not all projects getting greenlit comes down to “what people know works” or a formula or sorts and “will it make money.” There are other factors to consider, but profitability is first and foremost. Relationships and nepotism aside, Hollwood is very profit driven. And if you have an executive of a studio who doesn’t greenlight a project because they dont understand it. Because it’s a story they are unfamiliar with. Because the lead is someone other than caucasion, they think it won’t be marketable to America. I would say it’s the equivalent of literally shooting yourself in the foot. Recent box office data shows that the audience isnt too concerned about who the cast is. Of course having a legacy movie star with a large audience on your cast will attract eyeballs. But what the audience of today really wants are new, original movies! With a known cast or not, it the movie is good, people will watch it and talk about it to their respective communities. When all you’re going off of is past box office performance and “what you know works” you just lost an opportunity to give someone a voice. And potentially have a box office success! Otherwise, It could very well come down to access. Maybe they don’t have the resources to get their story out there. Perhaps they don’t know what to do. This is my objective. I can give them a voice through the stories I tell on the big screen. I’m ready to see more stories with people who represent America, but may not be traditionally attractive or follow the eurocentric model of beauty. One more thing. Ultimately, through my work, my hope is that my stories I tell resonate with those who watch them on a level that touches them to the core. In a way allows me to bring them closer to God. Whether it’s my story or the performance itself, the goal is the same. Whoever God is for them, that’s important to me to bring them closer to the divine.

Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

I see them as a collectors item. If they have value or are highly sought after, it only adds to the vanity. Kind of like Pokémon cards. But Pokémon cards were way more fun to have. I personally am more traditional in the sense that I like legacy, old fashioned assets. Think real estate, stocks, and my favorite, gold! Gold being more of a vanity collection for me. Because its my favorite metal. But always do your own research before investing.

Contact Info:

• Website: divineproductionsla.com
• Instagram: mrdrewdusterhoff
• Facebook: mrdrewdusterhoff
• Tiktok @drewdusterhoff

Image Credits
Mario Garciduenas