Meet Olivia Cuartero-Briggs | Film, TV, and comic book writer, and founder of Storrior Box.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Olivia Cuartero-Briggs and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Olivia, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I am a working dramatic writer now, but when I was starting out as a screenwriter, there weren’t a whole lot of low-cost options for learning the craft, other than just writing or picking up a book. And beyond that, it was extremely difficult to find up-to-date resources on how to build a career as a writer in the entertainment buisiness. So, I decided to go to graduate school. NYU Tisch, to be exact. Today I have that career, but I still have over 200,000 dollars of student debt for a two-year degree. No artist should have to carry that type of financial burden.

And that’s a big reason why I started Storrior Box. I wanted to create an affordable resource for beginning screenwriters, all the way to experienced pros, that would feed their creative soul, keep them inspired and jazzed about the life and career ahead of them, while distilling everything I learned in graduate school and parcing it out, box after box. This box is everything I wish I had back when I started out, and everything I want now that I’m a working professional. I use A LOT of my own products.

The other reason I started this company is because I love to teach, but the demands of my career doesn’t always allow me the time to jump into a classroom. Creating the tutorials and tools for Storrior Box, while designing and sourcing cool writer swag, motivational items, and goodies, allows me to give back in a similar way on a more convenient schedule.

What should our readers know about your business?
Storrior Box is the only subscription box for screenwriters, playwrights, TV, comic book, narrative podcast, and even game writers. Any medium that requires a script and includes dramatic action, Storrior Box is there to help, inspire, and move careers forward. That’s what it’s designed to do. It’s graduate school in a box, along with great career tips and advice, delivered to your door each month, and even includes a community of fellow storriors you can get in touch with through the app.

But the best thing about the boxes to me, is that I get to throw in a bunch of items designed/manufactured/ or purchased at wholesale prices, and by charging only $35.00 per box per month, I get to pass on massive savings to my customers. Each box is worth abotu $100 retail. The more customers I have, the more I can pack into each box, and the more savings I can pass on. That’s just how it works.

Starting any business is inherently challenging, and Storrior Box was/is no different. I started this company completely out of pocket, because I believe so much in the idea and love helping writers. But, of course, I couldn’t have predicted the impact COVID would have on the economy, or what would happen afterwards. A few months back, I had to freeze the subscription service because it was costing more to run than it was generating.

So, obviously, getting the company off the ground has been immensely challenging financially, but so fun creatively that I want to keep it going no matter what. Plus, I have a small core of truly dedicated customers that I would do anything for. They’re awesome and so appreciative that it keeps me going. Some have even written to thank me when their scripts place in competitions, they land a job, or when they have creative breakthroughs. It’s just really, really cool. So, the plan is now to collect as wide a customer base as possible, while designing a whole new slate of themes for a year’s worth of subscription boxes, and then re-open the monthly service, bigger and better than before.

In the meantime, however, the Writer’s Store is open on the website, and I just introduced Build Your Own Box, where folks can select their favorite items from past boxes, as well as their tutorial of choice, and make their own, unique box, still at a discounted price of $39.00. It’s been super popular thus far, and I’m hoping to continue until the big warehouse of stuff I have is gone, and ready for the next slew of writer goodies!

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 Huntington Library garden is a great place to spend the day and write. I’d also recommend The Last Bookstore in downtown LA, as well as Cafe Solar in Hollywood, which has a garden and amazing crepes. If you’re in the valley, Aroma Cafe on Tujunga Blvd has cozy tables by a fireplace, and for Pasadena folks, I absolutely adore The Cellar: A Wine Library. They have fantastic wine, big, leather couches, and when you need a break from writing, you can grab a chess board or a deck of cards and play a game. Their cheese plates are also to die for.

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?
This shoutout is dedicated to dramatic writers. Those quirkey, twisted, beautiful weirdos that can’t help but create a scene, both in their lives and on the page. Without them, I never would have found my calling, and I am honored to be able to support them with Storrior Box, my work, and mentorship.

I’d also like to thank the indominable Emily Grace of The Pickford West Society for all of her support with Storrior Box, and providing such awesome career challenges for our subscribers. All of my amazing friends, family members, and customers who supported the presale campaign, the incredible companies and film festivals that have recognized the Storrior Box mission and partnered with me, and to all of the watchers and readers out there. Dramatic writers can’t do what they love without people to read and watch, so keep loving stories, and we’ll keep telling them!

Website: www.storriorbox.com

Instagram: @storriorbox

Facebook: @storriorbox

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hwWT2-k2_Y