Fervent Four: Being Colorful in Business

Being Colorful in Business

Aug 10, 2023

This week hosts Tim Ryan and Zack Miller sit down with Carl Cleanthes, Founder of Epic Made. Epic Made is a digital art and animation studio with expert strategists, artists, and storytellers who help brands tell powerful and engaging stories. With expertise in visual storytelling, fantasy pop-culture, and detailed world-building, Epic Made has collaborated with some of the biggest entertainment brands such as SYFY, Nickelodeon, and TNT. Watch this week’s episode to hear about Carl’s journey, making art, working with big-time brands, and much more!

Show notes:

(0:00) Introducing Carl Cleanthes

(5:35) Rebranding a business

(9:53) The power of community + random collisions

(11:33) Imposter syndrome + Carl’s Hat

(21:55) Memorializing his Father’s Legacy

(28:40) Landing big clients

(33:33) Taking risk + setting goals

(38:25) Carl’s opinion on AI

(49:11) How does a creative make money?

(51:43) Finding validation

(54:19) Impacting the community + Conclusion

About Carl Cleanthes & Epic Made:

Carl Cleanthes is a lifelong artist and Entrepreneur. He started his creative studio Epic Made in 2006, which has been the core focus of his career. Epic Made is based out of Hampton Roads (Norfolk), Virginia. Over the past 15+ years, the team has created award-winning animation, illustration, and design for hundreds of beloved brands including SyFY, Nickelodeon, USA Network, WWE, TNT, and others. Epic Made is a digital art and animation studio that understands the magic behind powerful creative assets for the advertising and entertainment worlds. They work directly with entertainment brands and networks as well as partner with advertising and marketing agencies to produce creative for campaigns, commercials, and socials

He is Epic Made’s “fearless leader and the smiling face of the company. Carl’s energy and charisma is infused into every element of the business, from the first handshake to the final deliverable. He has dedicated his life to building a guild of driven artists and passionate content creators who value their craft as much as he values his business and has a genuine pride for the work that is produced”.

Learn more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cleanthes/ & https://www.epic-made.com/team

About the hosts:

Tim Ryan is an angel investor and the Executive Director of Innovate Hampton Roads, an organization dedicated to connecting entrepreneurs with resources in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Tim also serves as the Director of REaKTOR, a space for technology-based startups to start and grow.

Zack Miller is a serial entrepreneur and author of Anomaly, a guide on differentiating yourself and your business from the crowd.

Enjoy the show? Watch the Fervent Four Show LIVE every Thursday at 11 AM.

Live: https://www.startwheel.org/live/

Watch past episodes: https://www.startwheel.org/fervent-four-show/

Listen to past episodes: https://fathom.fm/podcast/fervent-four

The Fervent Four Show:

Did you know that only 4% of businesses hit $1M in revenue? Tim Ryan and Zack Miller are the creators of The Fervent Four Show, designed to help you get there. Check them out Live every Thursday at 11 AM.

Social Media:

Carl Cleanthes

https://www.epic-made.com/

Instagram: @epicmade: https://www.instagram.com/epicmade/

X: @getepicmade: https://twitter.com/getepicmade

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/epicmade/ & https://www.linkedin.com/in/cleanthes/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EpicMade/

Tim Ryan

https://www.startwheel.org

X (personal): @ryantnt (https://twitter.com/ryantnt)

X: @Innovate757 (https://twitter.com/Innovate757)

Instagram: @InnovateHamptonRoads: https://www.instagram.com/innovatehamptonroads/