Let’s dive into Red PaSH’s version of a super fun mini-series that’s all about celebrating a few cool entrepreneurs! PaSH, our sister magazine is centered around sharing inspiring stories, breaking down stereotypes, and sharing the authentic, behind-the-scenes moments that make entrepreneurs so amazing, we are too. Let’s dive into, “Friendship Sparked The Creation of a Production Company”.
Four Olives Productions is a dynamic and innovative independent film company rooted in the vibrant cultural landscape of Philadelphia. Founded by two lifelong friends from South Philadelphia, Fabian Farina and Mariano Mattei journey began in 2020 with a shared passion for authentic storytelling and a commitment to cinematic excellence. In just a few years, we have produced three full-length feature films, all available on Amazon Prime and other major streaming platforms, alongside nine distinctive short films. This duo has an unwavering dedication to quality and compelling narratives has garnered them over twelve awards across various film festivals, reflecting our ability to resonate with both audiences and critics.More details on them are at: Four Olives Productions – Are you not entertained?
What’s the most unexpected lesson you’ve learned since starting your business?
Mariano: The number of things you should never do outweigh by a long shot the number of
things you should do.
Fabian: Not everyone you work with is looking out for your best interest, and especially in this
business. We have learned to carefully vet people, as there are a lot of scammers out there You
have to be cautious and do your due-diligence, I think the best thing to keep in mind is if it’s too
good to be true (most of the time) it is. Secondly, nothing worth having is easy. If it was,
everyone would do it. Put in the work, study and learn and do not expect someone to hand you
something for nothing.
What’s the craziest idea you’ve ever had for your business that worked?
Mariano: Doing everything ourselves. People thought it would take years to make a film doing
nearly ninety percent of the work ourselves. However, with our work ethic, we are turning out
about a film per year.
Fabian: Early on, we quickly learned our mantra of #nowait – we do not wait for anyone’s
approval or for anyone to help us (that does not mean we don’t give people an opportunity. It
simply means that we don’t “wait” for it). It is an excuse. We make mistakes, but we will never
make an excuse. Given this, we essentially do everything: writing, casting, directing, editing,
coloring, scoring, as well as promoting.
If you could have dinner with any entrepreneur (alive or dead), who would it be, and what would be the first question you’d ask them?
Mariano: Steve Jobs – What kind of acid did you drop when you came up with the idea of the
iMac?
Fabian: Oprah Winfrey – I would just open with a question: tell me how you got here, and how
you overcame all the challenges you faced?, and then just listen.
If your business were a fashion trend, what would it be and why?
Mariano: Italian Gucci Bags, as they are something that is timeless.
Fabian: A nice pair of jeans, since they are comfortable, durable, and can be used in many
situations. Most of all, they are reliable.
How do you keep your creativity flowing when motivation is low?
Mariano: I do not have this issue. You have to leave yourself open to receive ideas. If they are
not coming, then it’s not time. Go for a walk.
Fabian: Most of my motivation comes from personal experience. I feel that I have lived multiple
lifetimes. I formally played sports and martial arts, and competed at a World level. I have been
in the Army, playing drums in a band, and am an actor. Currently, I write and make films.
When I sit down to write a story, I know the beginning and the end. I then fill in how we get from
this point to the next and so on… When something does not immediately come to me, I put it
down for the moment, take a break and come back to it – but my mind is constantly buzzing. If
you lived inside my head, you would probably go insane ��
In a world full of trends, how do you keep your business authentic and true to your
vision?
Mariano: We follow no rules. If we want a sad, but realistic, ending – we will do that. If we need
to kill someone off – usually me – we do it.
Fabian: Do not follow the typical Hollywood cookie-cutter format for films. I am a big proponent
of an ending that the audience never sees coming. I like twists and turns in a film. I like to keep
the audience entertained, but also not insult them with typical, cliche or gratuitous things. If the
audience is discussing and debating aspects of the film on their way home, then we have done
our job.
In this regard, I also like to let the audience do some work. By this, I mean you do not have to
“say” everything in your dialogue. A “look” is sometimes worth a thousand words. Trust that your
audience is smart. Give them credit. It will add so much more depth and complexity to your
work. Most of all, they will be entertained.
Can you share the story behind starting your business, and what inspired you to take the leap?
Mariano: Fabian came to me with a screenplay and I laughed. What do we know about making movies? The next day, he drove over for a table read.
Fabian: I was going through a divorce and feeling a bit sorry for myself, so I sat on my couch
and watched a Rom-Com film. Within the first five minutes of the film, I knew exactly what was
going to happen. Boy meets girl, boy and girl get into an argument, and then boy chases girl
through an airport to stop them from getting on a plane. He realizes that he made a mistake by
letting her go… I then yelled at the TV – BULLSHIT! Instead, I say to myself, I am going to write
a story of what really happens. Three weeks later, I had my first screenplay written [One Night].
It was a romance story with a surprise ending. I have always described it as, if the film “The
Notebook” and “The Sixth Sense” had a baby – it would be One Night.
Can you discuss any partnerships or collaborations that have particularly impacted your Business?
Fabian: We have had multiple collaborations – some were good and some not-so good.
Networking with other filmmakers, actors, writers, and DP’s is never a “bad” thing, even when
things do not go as expected. Every interaction we have had to date (the good and the bad),
has made an impact on the way we do things and has made us better filmmakers. I firmly
believe that because of these interactions, every film we produce is better than the previous one
in terms of production value.
Thank you for reading the latest installment of our mini-series. Please check back often for more fun Q & A’s!
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