Today we’d like to introduce you to Andre Savage.
Hi Andre, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was raised in Detroit, Michigan. Writing was a big part of my childhood and early teens. It was something that always came natural for me. I wrote lots of short stories and I can remember several occasions where teachers would question if I wrote something because it was too “advanced” for my age. From there, I started writing poetry and music as well.
I was around thirteen when I first experimented with a camcorder. I spent a lot of time at my grandmother’s house growing up so to pass the time, I filmed short skits and recorded music in the basement with one of my cousins. I didn’t realize it at the time but that basement was the breeding ground for my creativity and where my passion for filmmaking first developed.
Coming up, I’d always been an athlete too. When high school came, I started to take sports a lot more seriously. At the time, being a professional athlete seemed like the only way I could truly better my situation and take care of my family. I stopped writing and filming altogether and laser-focused on physical training and competing.
It wasn’t until my first year of college when I took a film class for fun and rediscovered my passion for storytelling and cinema. From that point forward, my concentration in school was Film & TV. I learned about things like shot composition and the psychology of framing. I started screenwriting, directing, and editing my own films. Then, to tie it all together, I learned about the entertainment industry as a business.
Shortly after graduation, I moved to Los Angeles, California to be close to the center of the entertainment industry. I worked some odds and ends jobs to pay the bills until I landed my first gig as a production assistant on a TV sitcom.
From there, I spent nearly a decade working behind the scenes in the Hollywood film and television industry. From sets to writers’ rooms, to corporate offices, I took on a number of different roles at production companies, networks, and studios. Most of my accrued experience has been in development and production on the TV side of things. I’ve worked primarily in scripted TV but I did a few years in unscripted too.
It was working on the corporate side of entertainment though as an executive assistant where I really started to crave having more creative input and becoming my own boss. While working my office job, I started my own comedy blog where I routinely wrote stories from my life and gave advice based on my experiences as an introvert – someone who gains energy from their alone time and inner world of ideas and experiences as opposed to gathering their energy through large-scale social interactions.
From there, while still working my job, I took my first crack at entrepreneurship by starting my own entertainment networking company. I brought on a few friends to help and started regularly hosting networking mixers around Los Angeles for young professionals working in the entertainment industry. It quickly grew to the point that anywhere from 100-150 people would show up to my events to connect with like-minded individuals and discover employment opportunities in the industry.
Around that time too is when I met my wife who was a social media influencer. At the time, I never pictured myself doing anything social media related but she showed me how to post on a few of the apps and that’s when I really hit the ground running. Right away, I could see the potential of social media. I had also noticed the line starting to blur between new media and traditional media. So I started posting content daily in a variety of niches – initially without showing my face. In a short time span, I grew a few pages well over 100K followers – each having a strong brand and community tied to it.
When I decided to start putting my face on camera, that’s when opportunities really started to open up through social media. I started doing a lot of brand collaborations and partnerships. My main page became one where I posted relatable videos about life as an introvert. When I first started, there weren’t many pages posting introvert content. And the ones who were, most of them were equating introversion with shyness, depression, anxiety, or mental illness. I knew those weren’t the same things and I often saw a similar narrative about introverts being shown on mainstream media. I knew that didn’t speak to my experience as an introvert. I had a different story to tell.
That’s why I started making empowering content for introverts – not because one personality type is better than another but because there was an educational gap, a lack of representation, and a dire need to show introverts out there just how awesome they are. I wanted to show them how to use their natural tendencies and traits to their advantage. Yes, I’ve had a lot of different experiences. But everything I’ve worked on in the past has prepared me for the entrepreneurial journey that I’m on today of running my own digital TV network.
What’s gotten me here today is not just limiting myself to one thing. When I first started working in the entertainment industry, the advice I consistently received from elders was that you can only break into the industry and find real success by focusing on one thing. I took that advice to heart and spent so many years completely invested into becoming a screenwriter and only that. I knew I had other talents too but I didn’t want to come across as being all over the place. Over time though, when I stopped using my other talents, I started to forget that I had them.
It took me working more industry jobs to realize that I was naturally contributing not just as a writer but with other valuable aspects of a production as well. As I tried more things like producing, I was reminded that I could do more things and excel at them. From that point on, I stopped putting myself in a box. There is some truth to hyper-focusing on one thing so that you can become a master at it but at the same time, it’s good to know how to do the jobs of other people as well so you can communicate to them in a way that’s relatable. I was also noticing a shift happening in the entertainment industry where creatives were starting to wear multiple hats. More directors were starting to write and produce. Actors were forming their own production companies. Social media influencers were landing their own TV shows.
Where I stand today, my success has come from being my own biggest promoter. There’s so many avenues now for creatives to show what they can do without taking a traditional route. A lot of opportunities I’ve had today probably wouldn’t have happened if I had only stuck to writing and never tried on camera work. Now, I write. I direct. I produce. And I have my own business. I believe the more skills you can accumulate from work experience and the more talents you have to share with the world, the more valuable you become as a creative.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I could write a whole book about all the struggles I’ve been through but I’ll save that for another day.
One of my biggest struggles initially was being an introvert in the entertainment industry. It’s an industry that often predicates itself on being seen and being heard.
But I’ve always been the kind of person who thinks before he speaks. I tend to prefer my alone time or the company of a few close friends over being in crowds. And while I can hold a conversation with anyone, I often feel drained after engaging in small talk for too long.
Because networking is so important in my field, I used to attend a lot of industry events to connect with people. But more often than not, the networking events I went to felt more like speed dating where people quickly bounced around from person to person hoping to gain something without taking the time to actually get to know each other. I usually left those events with a stack of business cards in my hand and having made no meaningful connections.
That’s when I made the decision to start networking on my terms. Like when I was hosting mixers, I structured them in a way that was laid-back and allowed people to connect in a way that was authentic instead of forced. It was funny because there were times when people would have a whole conversation with me and rave about how great the event was – having no idea that I was the host.
Because of my quiet nature, I’m often underestimated and not seen as someone who can be a leader. But I continue to defy that narrative. After finding success with social media too, that’s when I realized that I have a talent for building large communities of like-minded people. I think I’ve consistently been able to emerge as a leader because my focus has never been on what I say but more so, on what I do.
Another thing that hasn’t been easy during my journey is that I’ve often been the only African American male in a lot of environments that I’ve been to or worked at in my industry. Being in this position can socially alienate you at times and cause you to overthink things. Also, being Black, I’ve noticed that I don’t usually have the same access and opportunities as my peers. While all of those things can be frustrating, I never dwell on it. If anything, those experiences have only motivated me and made me more resilient over the years.
My biggest struggle now is this path of entrepreneurship that I’ve chosen. In the past when I had started my own blog and ran my own networking company, I was still working my regular job. The job was consuming so much of my time that I couldn’t fully commit to the business. I also wasn’t ready at the time to take that leap of faith. I felt more secure with my recurring paycheck. I ultimately decided to let those businesses go. But today, I don’t see those as failures, I see those as learning experiences.
Now I’m ready to take on that challenge. Entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone and that’s okay. It’s actually more work than a traditional 9-5 because you’re always working on ways to find new leads and keep the business growing. There’s no guidebook. You have to create opportunities where there aren’t any. I’ve always been someone with big ideas but that doesn’t do much for you. The execution is the tough part.
The biggest struggle for me is when you know exactly what you want to do, why it’s necessary to do, and the right way to go about doing it – but you just don’t have the resources and financing that you need to execute your vision.
So yes, it’s been a bumpy road but that won’t ever stop me from driving forward.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I started my own video streaming service called LowKey TV. It’s the first-ever TV network for introverts. LowKey TV is a place for introverts and quiet folks to see themselves as lead characters in TV series, movies, and other forms of engaging content in a variety of genres (i.e. comedy, horror, action, drama, sci-fi, etc.). It’s a way to empower introverts while upending negative stereotypes and misinformation we often see associated with introversion in the media.
First and foremost, our mission at LowKey TV is to entertain. But it doesn’t stop there. We’re simultaneously building a home – a tight-knit community online where introverts can recharge, be authentic to themselves, and communicate with their peers in a way that fosters deep connections.
There’s an educational component that comes with this platform as well. By seeing and analyzing characters they can relate to on screen, introverts will gain more insight into their distinctive personality traits while learning how to navigate through complex social situations. And for those folks watching who fall on the other end of the personality spectrum, they can use what they learn about introversion to enrich their relationships – whether that be with an introverted family member, coworker, or significant other.
It’s funny because my specialty has always been working behind the scenes – writing, directing, and producing films. But over the past few years, after making thousands of videos and pushing myself creatively, I’ve grown accustomed to being in front of the camera too. It’s become an outlet for me to step outside of my serious demeanor and embrace being an entertainer.
Quite often, people stumble across one of my videos online and will say to me, “hey, it’s the introvert guy!” I think it’s cool to be recognized in that way because it means the brand I’m building is memorable. I want people to know though that being an introvert for me is simply having the foundational understanding of my nature which helps me to lean into my strengths and better maneuver in a society that celebrates extroversion. By no means though, does that summarize who I am. I’m much more than just that. When it comes to my creative prowess and entrepreneurial spirit, I feel like I’m just scratching the surface of what I can do.
What I’m most proud about with this brand of empowering introverts is that in such a short time span, I’ve already made a positive impact on so many individuals. I’ve received countless messages from people telling me how I’ve inspired them or helped them reach a deeper love and understanding of introversion. That’s the ultimate reward for me – knowing that I’m making a difference in this world.
I want people to know that LowKey TV is for anyone and everyone to watch that understands our mission. This business is about bringing people together and telling good stories. While some of my own films do appear on LowKey TV, we’re working with lots of filmmakers and content creators to showcase their work here and provide a means for them to be paid. Just make sure to check out the guidelines on our website so that you know how to send in your film submissions.
I want my readers to know that the time is now for introverts to come together. We have a phrase in the introvert community that’s risen to prominence over the years: introverts unite. Those words are easy to say but the only way we’re going to see real change is through action. I’m fighting to do something that’s never been done before with LowKey TV. Starting a streaming network in itself is a big feat but trying to change a narrative that’s been normalized for so long feels even bigger.
So we’re going to need all the support we can get. Every subscription to LowKey TV matters and helps us move one step closer towards our goals. We even have a free trial so you can get the lay of the land first. My focus right now is on building our catalog of films so that you can always find something to watch that suits your tastes. If you’re reading this right now, I encourage you to sign up today and join our growing family of subscribers.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory is reading books of every genre to the wee hours of the night. I remember routinely pretending to be asleep or hiding books under my pillow when my parents came to check if I was asleep. I’d only get a few hours of rest and have school the next morning but I didn’t care.
It was those early years where stories started to formulate in my head and my creativity really flourished. As an adult, I’ve learned that it’s easy to start overthinking things and let society influence our thoughts on what we can and can’t do.
So now, I try to embrace my inner child by being spontaneous, instinctive, having fun, and not always following the rules. My best ideas and success moments have never come from studying or adhering to a structure. My innovation always shows up when I’m just living my life and spending my time doing something I really love.
Contact Info:
- Website: lowkeytv.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lowkeytvnetwork/?igshid=MTA0ZTI1NzA%3D
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lowkeytvnetwork
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/lowkeytvnetwork
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpFbbaUJmHgULnHD2eligdw
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@lowkeyasavage?lang=en
