We recently connected with Giacomo Knox and have shared our conversation below.

Giacomo, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

Newberry Filmwerks is an homage to everyone who has decided to “quit quitting”. I started the company after several massive financial errors in my life and career, which forced me to move to rural South Carolina. Where I live most jobs are labor-related, and the life expectancy is well below the national average. The town is also bereft of enough entertainment offerings to keep the residents stimulated, which also says far less for the artistic endeavors. At Newberry Filmwerks, I aim to create content based on and located in Newberry County which showcases the natural beauty of the area, which will encourage residents to make the best of life. I am to inspire other artists to produce works, patronize other artists and local businesses. I also hope to draw more content developers to the area including major studios, which will in turn increase city revenue.

Giacomo, 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?

It started when my mother first sat me in front of the TV to keep me occupied while she tended to my little sister and my soon to be absent father. I distinctly remember shows like Laugh-In, Sesame Street, and The Electric Company, and movies including Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein”. My attraction to the moving image and my childhood depression from my parent’s divorce inspired my writing short stories and poetry from the age of 7 and onward. I attended Seton Hall University at first seeking a career in writing. The metaphorical acting bug bit me, and I rapidly absorbed acting, directing, producing and filmmaking classes, finishing with a degree in English. My studies were interrupted by a 6 month deployment in Operation Desert Storm with the Marine Corps Reserve, my writing however, would not be deterred. In 1993 I headed West, and within months was working as a background actor on shows such as 90210: The College Years, and movies including Double Dragon and Forrest Gump. Knowing I would be stuck behind the scenes, I developed plans to move forward; writing screenplays and networking as much as possible. Success finally arrived with “A Week with My Father” – a reunion Reality TV pilot where I reconnected with my father after 33 years apart. The show won multiple awards including a development contract with a major distribution company. As “Hollywood goes”, negotiations for “AWWMF” fell through, leaving my show and my investment to nil. I left Hollywood bankrupt, older, but still dreaming of creating. Despite warnings from friends and fellow worshipers, I developed Newberry Filmwerks as a methodology to continue my creative ambitions. This time, I GET to call the shots.

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

Despite serving in the Marines, I never felt that I had the capacity for leadership. I was content with a “background role” for so long, that I became accustomed to being led. As I aged and found that my superiors were younger than I was, the natural resentment factor kicked in. I was no longer going to allow myself to be ordered around while doing something that I didn’t want to do for work. This pivot was to develop my production company where I could control the content, timing, set my own hours, and reject any project I felt would harm my branding.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

The hardest thing about starting any small business is MONEY. As a veteran I hoped that I’d have an easier time obtaining funding. Alas, it took three long years and lots of personal investment to even get to the point of applying for the funding that I needed. The culmination of this struggle was a $30,000 SBA loan through a local small business charity, which I quickly used to finance production costs.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.newberryfilmwerks.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewberryFilmwerks
• Youtube: Newberry Filmwerks