One of the best parts about NAB is being able to meet our customers which is how we met Anthony Seratelli, the Founder and Creator of Jersey Filmmaker. His projects include all different types of productions from commercials, to corporate videos, to web content, music videos, and more, with his extensive client list including Fanatics, Doritos, and Walmart, just to name a few. Take a look below to learn the interesting way he got into filmmaking, where his career is now, and how his Core SWX gear is beneficial to his productions.
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you started your career as a filmmaker.
My name is Anthony Seratelli and I am the owner/creator of Jersey Filmmaker, a NY/NJ based content creation & production company. Filmmaking started as a passion of mine during my 10 year professional baseball career. While playing for multiple teams (Kansas City Royals, New York Mets & Saitama Seibu Lions) I developed a growing love for storytelling. Over those baseball years, I involved my teammates, family, friends and whomever else I could find to create comedic sketches to expand my knowledge on everything from cinematography, editing, vfx compositing, to sound design & more. It also taught me how to use social media to create a brand and build a fan base. It was a difficult balance while on a path to the big leagues, but it was an amazing learning process.
Knowing this would be my next career, I started my production company while still playing. It was originally named ARS*1 Productions (which was my initials plus my college baseball number and sounded like the hip-hop group KRS-One, but no one caught on :/ ). Now being retired from the game, my efforts have completely shifted to the other side of the camera.
I started Jersey Filmmaker with one primary goal in mind… Tell awesome stories that look really freaking cool!! But also, to do whatever I can to connect with the filmmaking community so we can grow, learn from each other and collaborate to make even cooler and more awesome videos!!
2. What is your primary focus for productions?
I would like my primary focus for productions to be in narrative filmmaking, however, I don’t enjoy the creative restrictions of large budget productions so I am always working on independent projects from short films, to feature length films and documentaries, while I handle client work doing corporate videos, commercials, web content, music videos…pretty much anything that comes my way.
On top of that, I host a filmmaking show on my YouTube channel, “Jersey Filmmaker”, where I talk about everything filmmaking from gear reviews, to camera comparisons, vfx breakdowns, bts, and lots more!
I also co-host a filmmaking podcast called the “iFilmmaker Podcast”, which you can find on iTunes, Soundcloud, Google play and YouTube as well.
3. If you had to choose one project as most memorable so far, which one would it be and why?
I am currently working on a project that I would already consider my most memorable. As the executive producer and editor of a feature length buddy comedy called “Double Belgian”, the editing process has been unlike any other experience I’ve had so far. Having to collaborate on the post-production process with the director, assistant editors, colorist, composer, sound, having screenings, reshoots…it’s just been an amazing experience to have so many different talents get their hands on one project to make and mold it into one great piece!
Generally, through my company, it will be 2-4 people max (including the client) that get involved in post. So this experience has been different and lots of fun for me.
4. What Core SWX gear do you use and how is it beneficial to your productions?
I own a bunch of Core SWX Hypercores that I use to power all kinds of gear! I slap them on my RED cameras, they round out my rig for the Sony FS7 & FS5 by powering both the camera and external monitor and recorder, I throw them on LED light panels and power them for what seems like forever!! They really are an integral part of my setup and get used on a daily basis.
5. Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
10 years from now I see myself (hopefully) with an expanded business that has become more of a media company offering things beyond just pre, pro and post production. I also hope to see my social media reach, primary through YouTube and Instagram, grow tremendously so I can continue to connect and work with other filmmakers so to always be making and creating cool stuff!!
Stay connected with Jersey Filmmaker by following his social media pages: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and also check out his website.