Today we’d like to introduce you to Drew Dusterhoff.
Drew, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
In the simplest way to state it, it took envisioning a dream from a very young age. I always knew that this is what I wanted to do. I inherently knew that “acting” & more broadly, film-making is what I’m great at among other things.
Over the years, I learned that pursuing a career as fickle and risky as a Hollywood actor would require more of me than I ever thought. Talent alone will put the icing on the cake. Personality is a major selling point. Never giving up is an absolute recognition. But to truly be successful in a business such as “Hollywood,” you have to possess a steady source of capital. Getting that in place is another story. You have to be aware that you need to be constantly investing in yourself and your career.
Now, here in Los Angeles, I have managed to land a job as an actor/model for a men’s magazine, build substantial and fruitful Hollywood relationships, and grow a significant fan-base on Instagram to bring to my TV & film career. Because of the steps, I took in my late teens & the early twenties, establishing the foundation for a steady source of capital has allowed me to progress to where I’m at in my career today.
Has it been a smooth road?
Smooth! Ha. Let me emphasize, pursuing a career in Hollywood is hard AF! You constantly have to be on top of your game and adapting to the Hollywood landscape. That’s how your brand adapts and grows along with the industry.
Depending on how you define struggle, there will always be room for life to happen. You may just lose a key investor for instance which can have a ripple effect. There are times when you go through a mental struggle where you ask yourself, “I want this career so bad, that you begin to question your sanity.”
There are times of doubt, and for the people who have a belief in faith would call that the devil whispering negativity in your ear. It is not easy! And it for sure does not happen overnight. You just have to push through whatever life throws your way, bounce back, and keep it moving.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Divine Entertainment story. Tell us more about the business.
As an actor, I am in control of my own brand and also function as CEO of my own company, Divine Entertainment, I provide my “talent for acting” in the form of a “loan-out service primarily. There are several goals for the company over the next decade.
In recent years, Divine Entertainment has developed a focus to create a production sector. This key development will allow me to produce, and write movies that I can then star in. There are tons of great stories percolating upstairs in “headquarters,” and I intend to tell them. It also provides a steady stream of work over the course of my career.
Who knows, at some point when I’m an old man, and forced to retire as an actor, I could be more involved in producing movies — just kidding. I’ll probably be acting till the day I hit the grave. But nonetheless, the goal is to make movies with individuals and companies that share similar beliefs, ideas, core values, imagination, etc.
And foster new relationships that will manifest strongly in the years to come. As far as specialty, if anything, we can talk about genre. That would be more along the lines of drama films. A strong, receptive feedback along with honesty and integrity makes what I bring differently. All while fostering a strong relationship with the fans.
Where do you see your industry going over the next 5-10 years? Any big shifts, changes, trends, etc?
Hollywood is constantly changing and transgressing with the times. Right now, the reach available using social media is insurmountable. With Instagram being a popular platform utilized by Hollywood, it has become easier in a sense you get your projects viewed and watched by your fans.
Over the next 5-10 years, social media use will continue to grow and digital or “new media” will be exactly what it states. Traditional media such as network & cable TV will never go away. The movie theater will also continue to thrive. The goals for myself and the company include having a hand in both traditional and new media to be at the forefront of all things current and relevant.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.drewdusterhoff.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @drewdusterhoff
- Facebook: @mrdrewdusterhoff
- Twitter: @drew_dusterhoff
Image Credit:
Mario Garciduenas
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