We were lucky to catch up with RJ Lucci recently and have shared our conversation below.

RJ, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

That is a great question because I’ve asked myself over the years what does happiness mean to me. What makes me happy. And the answer I found was that living my truth, being honest with myself and treating others with kindness creates my happiness. As an artist I am the most happy I have ever been. It all came together working on our current TV Pilot ‘The Shipment’.

Back in 2021 my business partner, Ammar Assad, called me and asked me a question. “What do you need to succeed?” My answer surprised him, I said “I need a team of like-minded individuals and an EIN number.” Now many of you reading this are going to have your own opinion on this but hear me out. Finding like minded creatives who can share the same vision as you is not the easiest thing to do. Luckily enough having spent a lot of time in the industry both in NY and in LA we were able to create a group of creatives who are just as courageous and somewhat insane as I am. Now, let’s talk about the EIN number, you may be asking just like Ammar, WTF?? Well, let’s be honest, without an EIN we cannot sign a SAG Agreement, get insurance, rent equipment along with many other utilities to create a good product. So, within a week of that conversation we created an LLC, got our EIN number and Blue Station Wagon Productions was born.

Here is where the happiness comes in. Right after creating our company in the summer of 2021 during my morning meditation I had an idea for a scene. What if two criminals found out about a shipment of botox that is coming into LA and they want to steal this stuff. The idea turned into a 3 page scene that was going to be used specifically for my acting reel. Day 1, we shoot the scene. A small crew, insurance, equipment and a SAG agreement and The Shipment was born. The day of filming was great but it was the end of that week where I found what true happiness as an artist and creative can be. Giving opportunities to others.

I realized after that day that I am not alone, I for one, realized that I am not the only one who thought waiting around for “the industry” to dictate how my career and life will be orchestrated was not what I wanted to do any longer. But what filled me with gratitude was receiving messages from the cast and crew of when we are doing it again? So, the scene turned into a Pilot and after 4 days of shooting that took place over 4 months due to scheduling conflicts The Shipment was created. To create work, creating relationships, and finishing a product with a team and most importantly having those individuals that were on set have fun and do what they love was the greatest gift I have ever received. That’s when I realized what happiness means to me. Giving.

And do I wonder what it would be like to have a regular job? No, never. One of my early jobs was a bank teller. I would do $80,000-$100,000 a day in transactions making $110 a day. That job lasted 6 days because I realized I am not built for a regular job. Every day must be different, if not I create change.

RJ, 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?

I have to start with my days as a teenager when I worked 2 jobs in High School. One at a butcher shop in Brooklyn Heights and the other a bookie with one of my best friends dad. So, yes, I was the stereotypical Italian kid from Brooklyn. Working these two jobs taught me early on to work for what I want, stay disciplined and be kind to people.

It wasn’t until 2004 when I was on set for a TV show Ed when I found that I wanted to explore acting. I was working with the Auto Film Club, a company that supplied picture vehicles to productions. At the time I helped coordinate vehicles for shows and films like “How To Lose a Guy In 10 Days”, “School of Rock”, “Stay” and many more. But it was this cold Tuesday morning in New Jersey that the acting fuse was lit. I delivered a black Lincoln Town Car to set that morning and while having a coffee by crafty, Barbara Kastner, the Prop Master of the production, came over to me and asked if I wanted to be the driver for the scene. Never being in front of the camera I was extremely hesitant. But, Barbara had a very convincing argument, she forced me to do it and I have to thank her for pushing me. So after being fitted for a suit I jump into the drivers seat and within two minutes there is a camera in my face. Not having any idea what to do a beautiful blonde woman walks over to me and introduces herself. “Hi, Im Julie, whats your name?” I reluctantly replied with “Hi, Im RJ.” “Nice to meet you RJ, has anyone ever told you that you look good on camera?” I was stunned, the beautiful Julie Bowen from Happy Gilmore was talking to me. “I have never been on camera.” I replied. “Well, it’s something to think about cause the camera likes you.” She then walked away and left me with a grin from ear to ear. I let this sink in for a couple of weeks and then decided to take part time classes at the School for Film and Television and I fell in love with craft. So much that 5 years later I enrolled in the 2 year program at the now New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts and decided to get the formal training to work as an actor.

After many years auditioning and getting extremely close to a life changing booking, a move to LA I started Blue Station Wagon Productions with one of my childhood friends who shares the same hunger for growth. We started this company to create stories that are fun and entertaining but more importantly to create opportunity. This business can lift us and tear us down in a blink of an eye but it doesn’t have to be that way. Why not put your destiny in our own hands. Our first major project, ‘The Shipment’, is a TV Pilot that I created following two New York criminals, running from a sticky situation, who find themselves in California where they may have found the next big score in the form of a face drug. ‘The Shipment’ is now making its way around in the festival circuit having its world Premiere in Dances With Films Film Festival July 1st at the famous TCL Chinese Theater. We have been accepted into other festivals as well but I can’t announce at this time. But readers can follow on Instagram or sign up for our newsletter to keep up all things Blue Station Wagon Productions.

Makers of Stories. Curators of Entertainment.™ is our slogan, modo and we hold that dear to our hearts. We want to entertain, we want those who watch our attend one of our giant events to have a memorable experience and release from their daily thoughts. We want to include everyone, for everywhere to feel heard, to be seen and for us to give. Thats our vision, thats my vision. I have acquired many attributes in my short time on this earth and why not use them in a positive and fun way.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The biggest lesson I had to learn is that it is more difficult to go at success alone than with a team. As an actor starting off if feels very lonely. The family thinks your crazy, your friends have started their careers and are now buying homes, having families and here I am doing an Off-Broadway play for $70 a show. Don’t get me wrong, I wont change it for anything and maybe thats where the crazy part comes in. But I found from producing that going at it alone isn’t much fun. A good actor friend of mine always talk about this and how lonely it must be to have full success but no one to share it with. Along those lines asking for help has been a crucial part of my journey. Many people are afraid to ask questions or for help because they feel they may get a no or rejected but realize that every no gets you closer to a yes. And honestly, people want to help. People want to see you succeed, so don’t hold back the questions nor the asking for help. I had to learn over years of being afraid to ask so ask away!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist and creative is seeing people happy in what they love to do. As artists and creatives we sometimes do not get the opportunity to do what we love on a. daily basis. When we create a film, show or event, to see the crew and casts faces while they are on set and doing there thing gives me joy. Also, when its pay day and I am able to pay them knowing that years ago we were all doing it for slush puppies and potato chips.

One other story where I felt fully rewarded was when I played Little Tuna in an Off-Broadway revival of Stephen Ally Guirgis’ ‘Den of Thieves’. My cousin Frank came to see the show and after the show he said to me, “Arge, I totally forgot that was you up there.” I grinned from ear to ear knowing that in that moment I made the right decision to become an artists. Frank is now an executive producer on ‘The Shipment’.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bluestationwagonproductions.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rjlucci/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rjlucci/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rjlucci/
• Other: Vimeo – https://vimeo.com/bswproductions

Image Credits
@gloriagruber_photography, @bluestationwagonproductions, @Brianantezana, @Josepena, @gianinnimoreira