Meet CARL VERNA

We were lucky to catch up with CARL VERNA recently and have shared our conversation below.

CARL, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
My optimism is my superpower. It’s my “knower” my North Star. My optimism is what propels me forward to my goals while I am being challenged to reach them. Growing up I saw my Mother sail through tough times with a buoyant almost effortless grace that made a huge impact on my character.

I decided to join the NAVY when I was 17 years old and many in my circle prophesized doom and gloom for me. I just simply saw it as an opportunity for adventure with a paycheck and money for college, while serving my country.

I’m a Dessert Storm Veteran and my experiences serving my country for 7 years gave a dreamer like me a solid work ethic and discipline. My optimism saw me through the challenges of being the first Black RADAR work center supervisor on my aircraft carrier through to Film School, getting donuts and coffee for the Saturday Night Live Film Unit, and later being challenged by superstar director Hype William’s insanely brilliant concepts as an Assistant Director.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I can so relate when I read or hear someone say, “I have the best job in the world.” As an independent filmmaker I get to create from my imagination put it on a screen and get paid for it. As a University lecturer at Full Sail University I get to inspire future generations of filmmakers by sharing my knowledge of my passion for motion picture filmmaking and entertainment production.

Though I’m known for being the 1st Assistant Director on legendary music videos for Mary J. Blige, Maria Carey, Busta Rhymes, and Cheryl Crow to name a few, I’ve carved out a unique position as an Executive Producer in unscripted reality television production, commercials and feature films. My team has just finished shooting several episodes of “Welcome to the Dollhouse” an unscripted reality doc. about the lives of gorgeous Transsexual models. We’ve also shot episodes of “Black Royalty Family”, a show about a Black nuclear family achieving at a high level in the city of Atlanta.

We’ve recently started a music division and are developing our artists Riley Resa and Lavendiah who just collaborated on a song and video entitled “Give It All 2 Me” that’s blowing up on YOUTUBE and SPOTIFY.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
My advice to my students and folks who are early in their journeys is very simple. Be the best at one thing, elevate in that style, and graduate to whatever else that takes you to. Putting in the work is real putting in 10,000 hours is real. There are no shortcuts.

Many in today’s world have almost too many opportunities which can feel overwhelming and stifle someone from making the right choices. Then “each one teach one”. Give back as soon as possible. Giving more than you receive will open a myriad assortment of doors.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
Spike Lee wrote a companion book to his production of the film “Do The Right Thing”. That was the first time someone who looks like me and from my hood in Brooklyn explained filmmaking in a very pedestrian way that demystified the process. Interestingly enough that’s how I learned RADAR gear in the NAVY by breaking things down to the smallest components making them bite-sized and palatable before tackling the next process.

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