We recently connected with Edmund Masi and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Edmund, thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

This wild idea about having music/film/broadcast production company functioning as an educational nonprofit came to me in a dream.

I woke up on January 19, 2019 with a blueprint in my head. I am a session/touring drummer and have owned a music production company in San Francisco, but this was a different model entirely. We are creating our own programming and doing our part to restore integrity to the entertainment business.

We are completely independent, and our staff/volunteers are a godsend. Leaving California and making St. Louis, Missouri home was in the cards. This is the most creative environment I’ve come across in the U.S. The people are second to none & there is a real energy to what we are bringing to the Westport Plaza area.

So, in February, 2023, we organized as a 501(c)(3), and we are setting up OJT and scholarships to underserved individuals in St. Louis, Veterans and Individuals living with disabilities. I have been funding Painted Porch Studios, Inc. since the idea came to me, and I will do my best to find the right donors, pillars of our Community and grant opportunities to fully implement all we have to offer!

Edmund, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

The first of its kind, Painted Porch Studios, Inc. is a non-profit media arts production and employment training company located in St. Louis, Missouri. Our goal is to provide a wide range of services to the music, film and broadcast industries, including music and sound design, script development, pre-production, production, post-production, and distribution.

Our focus is on educating and training adult-aged individuals in underserved communities, our veteran population and individuals with disabilities, with a commitment to maintaining a diverse and inclusive work environment.

We aim to serve individuals and organizations interested in supporting and promoting the work of underserved communities, including non-profit organizations and community advocacy groups. In addition, we will also target mainstream audiences who are interested in consuming meaningful and impactful content.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

My parents were professors and the best teachers at home to me and my 5 siblings. We lost our Mom to Leukemia when I was 13. She was strong and creative. I honor her and my Dad by putting what they taught me to work.

I am 100% service to others. I’ve never needed anything to keep me busy and happy. The reward is in the results. I served in the United States Navy and Air Force, and this opened my eyes to the human condition. As bad as I may have been suffering, there were those who had it worse. So, I dedicated time to the Red Cross’ Disaster Team & advocating for the less fortunate. It just feels good. Period.

I own a distillery in California, and a medical condition called Ménière’s disease took me out of the physical day to day there. Vertigo can be challenging, but you cannot just sit and grow moss. In January of 2019, my dream (whatever its origin) redirected my focus to doing what I do best & Painted Porch Studios was born.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Yes. The aforementioned pivot came with a leap of faith from the distilling industry to the entertainment industry. Along with this came a move from the only place I’ve lived for most of my life to a new place. But I found much more than I ever expected in the good people of St. Louis! Gratitude galore!

Life is a blessing and a unique story of each of us. Every single day counts!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.painted-porch.org
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/painted_porch_stl?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paintedporchstl/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@Painted_Porch

Image Credits
Edmund Masi’s image credit: Christopher Iandolo