We were lucky to catch up with Paul Santoli recently and have shared our conversation below.
Paul, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?
2 Corinthians 5:7 – For we walk by faith, not by sight.
I think that every human being is a testimony to their faith in God. I see the world as a stage and I really strive to live the right way while I’m here.
Every project I have ever done, I never had “enough” money or had everything I thought I “needed”. You never have every single thing you think you need. There is always a reason to talk yourself out of it. With my first movie “Because of Mika,” I had $16,000 in my right pocket on the first day of filming. On paper I knew the math didn’t add up, but at a certain point, you just need to trust God and begin. And I tell you, the miracles on set between all of the people that showed up, the favors, the weather, God protecting everyone; he parted the Red Sea for us with this movie. Yeah, it was difficult, but I was never alone. This movie is his work. And the wins it recieved are a testimony to him.
I think it takes hard work to be successful, along with a positive attitude and consistency, but I do believe that faith is the most important trait of being successful, because if you don’t believe in your vision, then it will not work. You must imagine the final product before you begin the journey. And the people that work with you must see that you truly believe.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Awesome, so my name is Paul Santoli. I am an Actor, a Director, A Producer, and a Writer. I grew up in Massapequa, Long Island and as soon as I saw the TV show Seinfeld, my trajectory of life changed. I knew I wanted to work in comedy. I just thought what a cool job! Waking up, working on a set, the job was to make comedy….make people laugh. Just so cool. It was like a hit of dopamine when I made someone laugh. Also life is just better with comedy.
I grew up watching comedic geniuses like Robin Williams, Jim Carrey, and Adam Sandler and I just wanted to be apart of it. So I started doing stand up comedy and then making my own sketches with my buddies in high school and college and it began to grow.
I went to Mercy College in Dobb’s Ferry, NY to study Marketing and then I also went to The Stella Adler Studio of Acting in NYC. When I graduated both schools at the same time, I had to make a decision – door to door sales, or become an actor.
DOOR TO DOOR! Just kidding. I went back to my pizzeria, delivered pizza’s and continued to study acting. I moved to LA 2 years later.
In LA, I just floored it. I attacked any project that would have me. “Hey we can pay you with a subway sandwich” Me “Done!….no mayo.” In the first year I pretty much worked on 20-25 projects, student films, shorts, web series, and extra work on movies. I also got a manager and read for a couple big movies which was awesome too. A sitcom I shoulda got! And I read for a Disney movie.
Then Covid hit, and I was back home. I really used Covid to 1- spend time with my family which was awesome but 2-study online. Every day I was studying masterclasses or reading something. That way, when the world turned back on I was ready to go.
January 2021 – after pitching an idea to my friend – I had my first movie script and never looked back. We wrote it (Cooper Tomlinson-the other writer), then just over the next 2 years, I continued to build it. and now it’s on Amazon Prime “Because of Mika.”
So now I am currently working on my 2nd movie “We Want the Virus” – another comedy similar to Dumb and Dumber and we plan to shoot in the next few months in Los Angeles.
I’m most proud of the quality of the scripts we bring to life at my production company – a 516 Productions (@a516productions).
I always felt movies can help people, heal them, and entertain them, and that has always been the mission at my production company. The scripts are the foundation of the movie. They must be great!
I am always looking to work with people making good quality movies with meaning and value.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
There is no safety net and there is no guarantee on anything in show business. But again, you must have faith and I do believe that the lifestyle of having your back against the wall really helps you learn about yourself and what you are capable of. Half the reason I moved to LA was to put myself to the test.
To anyone that reads this. Life is short. Attack the dream, you can do it. Write down the steps on how to get to your goal and just begin.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
Stay healthy. Mentally, physically and spiritually. And be the best team player. Lead by example, Tom Brady won championships with a countless amount of new teammates. He made it work. He understood his teammates and the task at hand. One play at a time. Don’t think too far ahead. He trained the hardest he could. He was reliable, on time, and focused.
Play chess. Think differently.
I strive to make sure my actors, and teammates trust me, that I will be on time, prepared, and ready for anything. I take care of my body and guard my soul with what I let into it. I also am wise on the people I hangout with.
When you make a movie, you are with a family and you are hands in on an idea that is bigger then all of you.
This next movie I’m making has no huge A listers or huge sets. But what it does have is great people, who are ready to trust me and acclimate to change, and who love the script. That’s why this movie is gonna work. We all trust each other and are willing to roll our dice on it. And that is what’s so cool to me. That’s living.
Follow @a516productions to meet the team.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gofundme.com/f/PaulSantoli
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulsantoli/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paulie.doughnuts/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-santoli-634a2780/
- Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/a516productions/?hl=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3jWgZLdK2F5Jg6ojk7_ckw
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/Because-Mika-Paul-Santoli/dp/B0CPB3WR4G
Image Credits
1st Photo – Shia LaBeouf and Paul Santoli at Slauson Rec. Theater School.
2nd Photo – Paul Santoli and Melissa Schwarz at Paramount Pictures.
3rd Photo – Left to right – @timmollen69, @paulsantoli, @chriskalhoon. Robinhood Investment Commercial. Directed by @losangeles_luke
4th Photo – On set for Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Commercial – El Segundo, CA
5th Photo – Los Angeles Premiere for “Because of Mika” – @filmfestla
Credits Left to right – @isaacalexanderv, @Daniel_stiiilo_gualajara, @paulsantoli, @Cooper_tomlinson, @sterlinglpope, @tylerwalden
6th photo – The movie poster – Because of Mika
7th Photo – Team workout with @movewithmomo
8th – Me and my mom, Maria, Plainedge High School graduation.