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

Hi Tony, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Because of tax incentives in the state of CA. Also I wanted to collaborate with other creatives and felt that the interconnection and idea exchanges are the foundations for creativity. Hoping to create this ethos for the experienced and younger aspiring creators.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Currently I have been living in Los Angeles for almost 20 yrs. As a small town kid from North Carolina, I never would have imagined me working and living so far away from home. But when I graduated college, I had an instinct to seek more than what I was surrounded by and knew I wanted to work in TV/Film Production/ Post. I applied for any job outside of my region knowing that It would give me more exposure than what I had at home. I had a few internship offers but ultimately decided on moving west to work at UCLA in athletics supporting video operations. It’s here I met my mentor of 6 years Ken Norris who taught me how to be a good professional but also a student of life. This job set the foundation for my skills to come and really helped me gain an understanding of other industry that I would soon flock to. Being away from family was not easy at all and being by yourself in a big city. However, I did really want to succeed at what I was doing and would climb any mountain to get there. I overcame mostly all these challenges with support from others. Wether it was just communicating my feelings or asking to tap into their own network for advice. People I have learned are generally open to helping others, especially if they are like minded professionally. I would recommend surrounding yourself with those types of folks. I would like the world to know that you should always trust your instinct and learn to take leaps of faith, People fail or come up short all the time and learning from those experiences help develop your character personally and professionally.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First thing I like to do with people who first come to the city of Angels is show them how big this place is. I usually jump on the 10 late at night and drive them pass downtown LA, Hollywood, and then take Mulholland Drive west towards the coast. Our city’s light and the regions topography is so unique and diverse that its has kept me in entertained even 20 yrs later. After this drive, I would go by Tito’s Tacos because the only thing better than a Tito’s Taco is two Tito’s Taco. I would then go on a hike that has a great vista of LA county. Not only can we get some exercise but we can have some great views as well. After that, I would head up the coast on PCH and drive north to show them the rugged coastline. We would then find a spot to post up on the beach and spend the day there. Following up the evening with a beer and some food at Neptune’s Net.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Theres a lot of folks that have help me a long the way but I think the genesis of this is key. My mother was a single mom of three and always supported my creativity. No matter how far stretched it seemed, she always encouraged my curiosity. That ultimately lead me into photography, then video, then video editing etc.

Website: www.bluewaterpost.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salvadorgentile/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-gentile-20aa254/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anthony.gentile.376/

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