Daily Inspiration: Meet Abby Tozer

Today we’d like to introduce you to Abby Tozer

Abby, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
We never meant to start a production company– or at least, we never thought it would come this far. A2C was almost inevitable. Now 10 short films, many commercials and film festivals later, at the precipice of shooting our first original feature, it’s time to reflect on how we built this company from the ground up and grew A2C into what you know it as today– besides the quippy reels you look forward to on Instagram.

Let’s start at the beginning. I (Abby Tozer the A in A2C) moved to LA in the fall of 2021. I graduated from Berkeley in 2020 in the height of the pandemic. I moved to LA hot and heavy, having spent the previous nine months cooped up with my family quarantined in Texas while attempting to come to terms with my transition from a career in Neuroscience to Acting– turns out they’re not similar industries. The moment I touched ground in LA, I knew acting wouldn’t be the only road in entertainment for me. The scientist in me craved more autonomy. I needed to know what was going on in my projects. I couldn’t wait for auditions and never hear from them again. I wanted to produce and project manage, I just didn’t know it yet. Enter Connor.

I met Connor through a mutual friend in my acting class (CRASH acting) and pitched him the idea for our first short “Positive” – which turned into a gala and fundraising event for the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, raising over $2500 for young women pursuing Opera. The film explored the true story of my younger sister and I who were quarantined during the pandemic and how we secretly changed her college applications to pursue her passion of vocal performance in Opera. She is currently a Senior in Operatic performance at the USC Thornton School of Music. But back to the point.

Connor and I realized that film could be a form of activism, and raising money could make real societal change. We played with the idea of starting a non-profit, but realized that to make a real difference we needed to start a production company and pair each project we made with a non-profit that aligned with the mission of that project.
Voila, A2C was born.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Abby – It’s never a smooth road, but that’s what makes it fun. At the beginning, the hardest part was figuring out what to do, where to go. It felt like we took endless meetings with the most random people and had the same ten conversations over and over. The further we’ve gotten along, the better we’ve gotten at figuring out how to use our time meaningfully, but also knowing that every person you meet has something to offer and every conversation can offer something to you. This is a business of collaboration and if you stay open-minded to that while staying humble enough to ask for what you need, you will get so much further.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Abby – As we’ve grown as a company, I’ve grown into a more writer/director role while still learning as a producer. Coming from an acting background, it still feels strange to identify as a screenwriter. But now that I’ve written so much, it definitely feels like a more natural title. The same goes with directing. It’s something that I never knew I would love so much until I tried. It felt so unapproachable and big, but I realize now that the director is just the person whose idea it is. I have ideas ALL the time and actually having the title and means to conceptualize that idea makes it way easier. Then I don’t have to explain it to anyone else. At this point, I think I’m most proud of the partnership I have with Connor and the level of creativity I’m still able to retain with the amount of output we have. I’m so grateful and can’t wait to see where this next phase of the company takes us as I step into my feature directorial debut.

Connor – I originally moved to LA to be a screenwriter, but my background is primarily in on set production. I cut my teeth working up through the AD department in feature films and television in Los Angeles, and eventually fell in with some indie production companies like the Duplass Brothers. After years of being around physical production for larger companies, I found that coordinating, producing, and running shows was a skillset that gave me a lot more agency in terms of having the knowledge base for getting projects made. Something I’m proud of that Abby and I have cultivated so thoroughly with our company is our ability to get projects over the finish line. I think a lot of artists that start projects with the best intentions can end up spinning their tires and struggling to get things finished. As a company, we’ve been able to help a lot of the filmmakers in our community figure out the missing pieces standing between them and a finished film and it’s so rewarding.

What matters most to you?
Abby – Ultimately, for me it’s all about truthfully expressing how you see the world while surrounding yourself with the people, food and glorious places you love the most. If people happen to see your films, that’s a beautiful bonus. Everything else can go, truly.

Connor – My biggest motive in life is to put more kindness out into the world with everything I do. Life is already filled with so much struggle, but everyday is a new opportunity to change someone’s life for the better. I work every day to be the person that others can rely on. My dad was a hockey player and he instilled this idea in me that one of the best things you can do is be a good teammate to the ones that need it.

Pricing:

• Full Script Breakdowns – $8/page (minimum 10 page script)
• Pitch deck creation – Email for a quote
• Project consultation – 15 min free

Contact Info:

• Website: https://a2centertainment.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a2c_entertainment
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/a2centertainment
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzRxxGcLuFgvcbs-443kqDA
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?companies=co0992709

Image Credits
Getty Images – Derek White
Samantha Henderson
Dan Riordan