Meet Adam Cushman: Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Adam Cushman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Adam, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
As filmmakers, we try to find ways to earn a living as we build our own projects. Day jobs, office jobs, delivery gigs, whatever pays the bills. None of those jobs are our real job. And there’s peace of mind in knowing that. That there’s an exit point. That this is all just temporary. Before creating Film 14, a company that produces trailers and videos for the publishing industry, I worked as a private investigator, a law clerk, file clerk, flower delivery guy, runner, personal assistant, ESL instructor, English composition professor, and creative writing instructor. In my spare time I wrote screenplays, directed short films, and networked. The idea for Film 14 hit me by accident. A friend had asked me to direct a book trailer for him. I didn’t know what that was at the time, but as I suspected they were unexplored and underdeveloped to put it kindly. Afterwards, my feeling was that all authors need this, that this could get younger audiences reading, that we have a chance to create a new form, and that this is also a way for filmmakers to make money filmmaking rather than sitting in a cubicle or behind the wheel as they wait for their lives to begin.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The real joy in this niche industry is that the form keeps evolving. We’re always coming up with new ways to adapt books and novels into trailers, short films, and webisodes. I can’t tell you how many people I talk to who say they’ve never heard of book trailers. Same time, authors, and nearly all the big publishers, they’ve been using them for years. So it’s interesting that it remains a novelty and an established marketing tool at the same time. The nature of what we’re doing allows for everyone to keep reinventing and it’s fun yet also humbling to know that while we’re several years in, we’re still just getting started.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The Fish Taco joint on Hillhurst. La Poubelle on Franklin. Hiking in Topanga. Box Canyon. Live music. I really miss live music, man..

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My grandparents

Website: http://www.film-14.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/film.14/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-cushman-b4b74246
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Film14Trailers
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/film14trailers
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/film14

Image Credits
Jake Olsen Paul Theodoroff