We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Derrick Acosta. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Derrick below.
Derrick, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
Keeping the creativity alive is similar to keeping a goldfish alive. You must feed it… but not too much! Because, as even a lowly common school child knows… Goldfish can grow to an enormous size! So often, these goldfish, they grow far to big for their tanks. These glassy hydro-habitats, which started out so hospitable, so idyllic, quickly become watery torture chambers for these over-grown fish. Like a medieval iron maiden… (Holding a giant tortured Goldfish in it.) If your ideas grow to big, they can become unwieldy. You can become over encumbered. Yes, feeding the creativity can be a double edged sword. You must nourish your mind, find inspiration but always be weary that you do not become stagnant and rigid. Believing your own hubris can immobilize your creativity. I like to remember the old Hollywood adage: “Good artists borrow, Great artists steal!” Indeed, I look to my hero’s and see what worked for them, and then YOINK! I take it for my own.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My business is my life. Filmmaking my salvation, making YouTube videos is my nourishment.
I’ve done it all and worked with the best. I gave the Keynote speech at PAX 2021, a convention with over 50,000 attendees. I’ve worked one on one with the president of Nintendo, directing a video where he wrestled over a glass of water. I’ve performed on Television, on Stage on Radio, and self distributed thousands of Blu-rays.
But that don’t make me special. I’m just an average Joe. I still have hard times just like anybody out there. I understand stand hard times.
You don’t know what hard times are, daddy. Hard times are when the textile workers around this country are out of work, they got 4 or 5 kids and can’t pay their wages, can’t buy their food. Hard times are when the autoworkers are out of work, and they tell ’em to go home.
Hard times are when a man has worked at a job for 30 years – 30 years – and they give him a watch, kick him in the butt, and say, ‘Hey, a computer took your place, daddy.’ That’s hard times!
I’ve wined and dined with kings and queens. I’ve slept in the alley’s eating pork and beans.
I admit, I don’t look like the actors of the day are supposed to look. My belly’s just a little big, my heinie’s just a little big, but, brother, I am bad.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
It’s really very simple. It comes down to the 3 I’s
Intensity
Integrity
Intelligence
If you live by those works, you will enjoy all the perks of life.
How would you describe your ideal client?
I’m looking for people who can work. I’m looking for people who can go. Not just your average Jobber. I’m talking someone who has gas in the tank. They’re going get in the ring and put on a 5 star match. By golly, there going get Dave Melzter to rate them 7 stars. A real main eventer. Someone who wants to seize belt. They will climb any ladder, go through any table. Take any chair shot. They have the champion mentality.
Contact Info:
- Website: DerrickAcosta.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/deadrickacosta
- Twitter: Twitter.com/goosetoffoh
- Youtube: YouTube.com/mega64
Image Credits
West Smith Derrick Acosta
