Today, I have the pleasure to interview Edward Kostakis. I got to know Eddie a year ago, when I did an internship at his company Xizmo Media in Brooklyn, NY.
Xizmo Media is a full-service cinematography and drone imaging company that films for live television broadcasts and major motion picture films using drones with cameras. I learned the basics of remote-control operation with a focus on the mechanics and engineering of these devices. It was one of the coolest experiences of my life, as we got to film on top of the Empire State Building and on the set of The View.
So, I'm excited to be able to ask Eddie some questions about his experiences in this field of work.
Eddie, thank you so much for your time. Can you start by introducing yourself and telling us a little about your career path?
I am a full-time drone pilot and Head of Aerial Operations at Xizmo Media. When I got out of high school, I wanted to become a commercial pilot. I attended an aviation college out on Long Island, but was not able to complete the course for a variety of reasons, but mainly because of money and the political atmosphere at the time, as 9/11 had just happened. I decided to switch my major to video production after having taken a class in Queens College under Prof. Susan MacMillan. Her enthusiasm and passion in teaching the basics of filming and live TV was infectious. I got hooked and never looked back.
That's a big change! You now head a successful company, Xizmo Media. Can you tell us how you started this business?
Xizmo Media started when I met Pablo Barrera in Queens College; my then friend and now business partner. We had a few classes together through the Media Studies program at Queens College and saw that we were very complementary and worked well together. While attending college, I had also joined the Marine Corps. Part of what Pablo and I liked to do together was to volunteer at a homeless shelter downtown in the city, called the Bowery Mission. We would go there every Thanksgiving and Christmas to help in the kitchen or give out toys that I was able to get from the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program. By that time, Pablo and I had already set up Xizmo Media as a general production company, but we weren't really getting any work as there are a million production companies in New York and the competition is very heavy. Moreover, we didn't have any real-world experience. One Thanksgiving, while volunteering at the Bowery Mission, a gentleman told us he was setting up a non-profit organization and wanted the emblem of his company to be a picture of the torch of the Statue of Liberty. He told us that he had searched everywhere to find someone to take this picture, but there were only two ways to get it done. One was using a helicopter, but that was too expensive, and the other was hiring a company out of New Jersey that had a remote-controlled helicopter and a camera attached to it. After telling us this, he said "You should do that! You guys need to get into that!". And, well...here we are!
Wow...crazy how a simple conversation like that can change the course of one's life! You are also a private pilot, so what made you decide to pursue a career as a drone pilot instead?
Piloting airplanes and helicopters is a lot of fun and it will never get old for me. I love it more than anything! But there is a different kind of freedom and purpose in flying when I get on the remote control of a drone. The type of shots that I can get are bound only by my creativity and imagination, as a drone allows you to do almost anything. The manned aircraft flying world is bound by so many rules (and rightfully so!); it must be done within certain limits and parameters. I'll always have the mindset of an aviator, but my heart will always be creative.
Drone technology is relatively new, but it is becoming increasingly important in different fields. Some people may ask if being a drone pilot is part of the career fields within aviation or if it is considered a completely different line of work. What is your take on that?
Being a drone pilot is most definitely a career field within aviation with its own category. I would also argue that it is probably one of the most lucrative fields within the aviation industry. Today, there are more drones registered to fly than there are manned aircrafts. Some studies have shown that the drone industry will be a $60 billion industry by 2025. I have a commercial drone pilot that works for my company who used to be a commercial airline captain. Ever since he got into drones, he stopped flying with airlines because he likes doing this more. Drones are most definitely not done carving out their space in the aviation industry. These props just started spinning and they are barely idling. Wait til we start getting some real lift!
Was your background as a private pilot relevant or helpful at all for your work as a drone pilot?
Having a background as a private pilot does help in some ways, but it is not necessary. For example, understanding weather, the importance of wind direction, and having the mentality of efficiency and safety, can go a long way - especially when dealing with television networks. With that said, what can also go a long way is $15,000-$20,000 that you could use to buy equipment for your new business instead of private pilot classes. You also have to weigh out the potential hazards of 'being the one who should know everything'. For example, if I do something with my drone that the FAA has a rule against and I was not aware of it, they can suspend my private pilot license for a certain amount of time, meaning I can no longer fly a plane because of what I did with my drone.
I know you do lots of amazing projects at Xizmo, but what is it that you like most about your job?
No two shots are ever the same. There is always a new challenge, some new creative ideas that come to life or even new regulations that need to be dealt with. I have been fortunate enough to travel all around the world and be paid to film with my drone, which is something I love to do. This job is a constant uphill battle in many ways, and if you know anything about me, you know I like a good challenge. This job challenges me on many different levels on a daily basis.
What skills and knowledge have been most important for your career?
The most important thing is dedication and structure. If you dedicate yourself to fly as much as possible and constantly seek self-improvement, you already have the key to success. Success doesn't happen overnight. There are a lot of things that come before that. If you fly every day, chances are that you will crash your drone, and that's OK! Understanding why you crashed and learning from the experience makes you a better pilot moving forward. Unfortunately, often people give up and no longer want to fly after a crash. As for the filming side, it helps to have a background and understanding of cameras and frame composition.
What is the coolest project you have ever worked on?
I've been able to travel to some of the most incredible places on earth, like Antartica and Africa and work on some truly amazing projects. However, as a New Yorker, my favorite project was filming for the museum on Liberty Island. The museum has three separate rooms with a screen in each one, depicting the history and construction of the Statue of Liberty. My team was asked to get aerials of the Statue of Liberty, which are shown on two of those screens and are viewed by thousands of visitors from all over the world. My business partner and I are both sons of immigrants who came to this country looking for opportunity and a better life, so being asked to work on that project was truly an honor.
That's incredible! It's always so inspiring to be around you and listen to your stories. Thank you very much for sharing these experiences with us!
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Incredible!