BI: Welcome to Business Innovators Magazine…Please introduce yourself and a brief thumbnail of your background.
OF: Hello, my name is Octavian Finaru, I am a writer, director and film producer, and the founder of ARTAVI International Entertainment. My first published novel is Grigore (2010). Since I started to write, my greatest wish and the purpose of this book was the feature film – the world needs such a movie. I started in cinematography and theater to spread emotional messages through stories in the world, to make a change and to build a legacy. I have published three books and film scripts and he’s going to make his debut in cinemas this year. One of my biggest projects is A: the letter, a 200 pages love-letter published entirely as a book: the first letterbook in the history. I will succeed through myself! is my motto, and I work constantly to create outstanding artistic and social projects in the fields of publishing, cinematography and performing arts.
BI: What would you say is the area of business that you are most passionate about and why?
OF: Definitely, cinematography. I love it because it gives you an infinite of possibilities, directing techniques, ways of presenting your story and, like books, films also reach large masses of the population. I love to innovate and I have so many ideas I and my team are working on fire to implement and to bring them to the audience. It also serves my purpose, to deliver powerful emotional messages and ideas in people’s hearts, to help them beautifully interact and live their life free and fulfilling, the way everyone wants since childhood.
BI: How are you different than your competitors?
OF: I started on my own and founded my company because I saw the industry. I fell in love with the art, but I totally disliked the system, the way it works. Despite my competitors, I put my focus on emotions, in human development, to help my actors, artists, my partners and the members of my crew to accomplish their goals, both personal and professional. Our production is a means to an end: to make ourselves and our audience feel incredibly powerful emotions, to rebuild our souls, minds, and hearts after life’s sad or unhappy moments, eventually succeeding to thank God for everything. This is how I am different: I’m not putting my focus on money but on emotions. My activity is not an industry, is art. If I have to choose between profit and the emotional gain, I choose emotions every time. Don’t get me wrong, I like money, they’re great, they help us do so many beautiful things, but they’re just a consequence of a well-done work, I believe there’s much more in the world truly important. 🙂
BI: Please tell me about any recent business accomplishments that you are most proud of and why?
OF: My last book, A, the longest love-letter in the world. After her departure from his life, he retires in the middle of the ocean, in the only quietly resting place where he could relive their memories. And he writes her everything he has to say… I’m proud of this project because people find themselves in the story. Everyone loved, suffered, dreamed, was happy or disappointed, we all missed someone someday and we all moved on. But what I like more about this project is that people want to know more, they are excited and curious how they really met, why did she leave him, the readers have questions and I have a huge long-term plan for them to discover the story and a really compelling way to reveal the story’s mythology. I already directed and produced a music-video, just A letter, where we can see his memories while he wrote the letter. If you want to know more, stay in touch, we have plenty of surprises for you. 🙂
I also work at a book about courage, inspired by tens of public persons, artists that put together their vision about life, to inspire the young generation to never let go, never give up and always dream. It will be launched this June.
BI: What Leadership qualities in Leaders do you most admire and why?
OF: Creativity. By far. A leader must have a strong vision and the best way to make it a reality is to inspire his people, to be able to describe, present and make this vision known and loved by them. Also, a leader pulls out the best of his team. None of these are enough if there’s no creativity. We, human beings, are the only species able to be creative. And we use it little to none. Creativity is the only way we manage to do things, to find solutions where there are obstacles, to have results in difficult times and to be different. To innovate. ????
BI: What has been a key element of your success?
OF: My vision is at the very foundation of my success so far and it will always be. I am always honest and, in every conversation, in every partnership, I make my intentions known. And people love this. It helps me have good and beautiful relations and collaborations and also helps me have a good night sleep.
BI: What are some of the business projects that you are currently working on that you are excited about and why?
