We recently connected with Nico Lavachek and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Nico, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
It’s difficult to pinpoint how I discovered my purpose. As a kid, I’d spend all day watching “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” and every time it would end, I’d rewind the VHS and start over. I knew throughout my childhood that I wanted to be a filmmaker and tell stories like Tim Burton. In one of my high school English classes, we’d rotate presenting short stories to the class and I’d always look forward to my presentation day. Writing stories and figuring out fresh, creative ways to entertain my classmates was the best part of it. I’d bring in props or turn the story into one that requires audience participation. I’ve dedicated my life to creating stories that are different, and offer something new that audiences will want to be a part of and not just sit through. You commonly hear that movies are “an escape” people seek to temporarily free themselves from their stresses. I want to offer that escape for audiences.
My great grandfather, John P. Fulton, won three Academy Awards for his special effects on “The Ten Commandments”, “The Bridges at Toko Ri”, and “Wonder Man”. I remember holding one of his Oscars for the first time and realizing that I was born to continue the Fulton legacy. Out of all of my cousins and siblings, I was the only one who got ‘Fulton’ as a middle name, which I saw as a sign. In 2021, I accepted the Visual Effects Society Hall of Fame award on his behalf, speaking to an auditorium full of the most legendary visual effects artists in history. I can’t describe the feeling in words, it was one of the best nights of my life and it is the biggest honor of my life. My family’s legacy is what keeps me pushing when I’m low and served as a theme in my feature film “The Chemists.” I wanted to expand the feelings I’ve had about my purpose into film and combine it with topics that fascinated me, like the art of acting, something I knew little about at the time I wrote the script. Out of all the movies I’ve made, “The Chemists” is the one I am most proud of.
I never question what my purpose is because every time I finish a film, I am immediately hungry to start the next one to implement all that I learned on the previous project. Bringing a story off the page and to the screen is the closest thing we have to magic. Nothing else makes me happier than making movies!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My friend, Mason Bosworth, and I are launching a production company this year called “Corbyn Cross Picture Company.” We plan on creating teams to produce all different kinds of media from features to web series to music videos. We’ve known each other since the early years of high school and have always shared that burning desire to make movies. We have been helping each other work on films since 2014, so after a decade, we decided to make an official company that will bring our ideas to the screen. Mason’s work ethic and passion for filmmaking has been such a gift to me, so this move was a no-brainer for me.
We want to tell stories that aren’t bolted down into a certain genre. Our brand is dedicated to telling a wide range of stories using a wide range of modes and styles. Doing something different from the last project has been my main priority as a filmmaker. I am always learning what I’m drawn to because my interests have changed over time.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Passion is the foundational quality that is at the bottom of every artist, and sharing your passion is a great way to meet people with similar interests. Connecting with others is how you build teams that become friends or even family. Without a team, a film is impossible.
Patience has been the most challenging quality to develop. I used to think that after college, everything would fall into place but I’ve learned that if you want the life you’ve been dreaming about, you have to make it yourself. A degree alone doesn’t make everything happen for you. I have to be patient and meet new people, make new content, and work hard until it happens.
Practice is critical. Experimenting, acknowledging what works and what doesn’t, trusting your gut and following instinct, as well as not being discouraged when your gut/instincts don’t pan out as you thought they would. Putting in long hours on set and knowing that it may all just end up being for experience and not for the “gold” is a horribly tough pill to swallow but it’s necessary to accept.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
My parents were not just supportive of the path I wanted to take, they were enthusiastic about it. They’d ask “why not?” instead of “why?” They’ve been at every screening and know all about the difficulties I faced creating each film. I couldn’t have asked for a better duo to support me. I know they’re reading this – I LOVE YOU!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nf.lav/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nico-lavachek-0b528b21b/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa45JHeQFvTW9Jm6eo-MKeQ
