Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony Hunter.
Anthony Hunter
Hi Anthony, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am Anthony J. ‘The Wolf’ Hunter. A first-born son, a loving brother, a creative, and a farm-boy. I currently work in private equity, and I operate as a creative business consultant. One day, I will be a husband and a father, and the measure of my character and my life will be judged on my many future children, grandchildren, and the people we’ve impacted in this world.
As a kid moving between College Park and Camp Creek, I had dreams of being a genius Astronaut and NBA All-Star Actor. Let’s just say I wanted to do it all, and I wanted to do it big. It was never about money (that would always come); it was about being the best. They don’t call me ‘Wolf’ for nothing. I bare my fangs and bite down on what I’m working on until I feel I’ve achieved my goal of being the best.
Being a Black male student-athlete-artist from College Park growing up in Sarasota, FL, a wealthy, old, white art community, I found myself isolated from many of my peers. I moved around at critical points in my life. The consistent aspects of my life were my mother, my art, and my drive to be the best at anything.
I struggled to connect deeply with my peers due to our differing lifestyles and upbringings. I always preferred to discuss family matters and matters of the heart – subjects that touched on existentialism. I wanted to draw out the gifts in others because I was always figuring out how I could do the same for myself. I focused on studying, drawing, and writing stories rather than partying and socializing. I got invited to maybe one or two parties in high school. I grew up with a circumstance that forced me to make the time I spent with others a time to celebrate them, especially after I realized too few people were interested in what I had to say. I couldn’t share about my awakening experiences in Africa, Central America, or Asia because even the mention was ‘bragging.’ I understood at 13 that I really was not all that important to others, and I didn’t want anyone else to feel the same.
In middle school, I made a career change after several injuries in Taekwondo just before making the U.S.A. Junior Olympic Team. I decided I would play basketball because the NBA paid more, and I really wanted to win the dunk contest. I made another career change in high school after finding my passion for film. I decided to become a film producer and started Dark Moon Entertainment, LLC. with the help of my super music producer mentor, Etienne ‘EJ’ Porter of Drummer Boy Productions.
During this chapter, I spent time learning about running a company from EJ. I started shooting music videos and short films. I even filmed my cousin’s wedding for pretty much free – I charged so little. One of my peers and my creative writing teacher collaborated to start a film club, and they wanted me to be the president because I had shot a short film already with the New York Film Academy at Disney. I immersed myself into the film world. I barely slept. It was a total shift in my lifestyle and attention.
As time went on, I focused more on business and networking to be in proximity with bigger guns. I started acting in student films at Ringling College and even acted in ‘Surviving Lunch,’ a movie tackling the subject of bullying and school shootings that can be found on Amazon Prime. My dream school was the University of Southern California, where the film Greats came from. I… did not get in. I did not get into Ringling’s Computer Animation program either. My rule was that if I didn’t get into those programs, I would study business somewhere else. So, I went back home to Atlanta to study Finance at Morehouse College.
There, I met other creatives, like Kimarley Henry, Waladi Ali, Cedric Beal, Michael ‘Sol’ Cortez, and many others. My aforementioned brothers and I collaborated and coached one another on our businesses and lives. I spent what I consider big money getting into entrepreneurial communities, like David Shand’s Morning Meet-Up and the Circle of CEOs. I spent a tireless number of hours listening to business and personal development books and podcasts. I worked on UniTalent Show, a television series produced in Tanzania. Eventually, I joined the Independent Film and Music Collaborative (IFM Collab) post graduation to get closer to the film world again. I have other projects, but you get the point. I figured out at some point that I liked learning and teaching and creating strategies with others more than I like creating in isolation. So, that’s exactly what I did.
Now, I have a private Mastermind group, I mentor budding entrepreneurs, manage and broker private equity deals, and help run the family businesses in travel and tourism.
This was not a journey I did alone, though I spent most of my life building without my peers. I have my mom to thank as my greatest supporter, spending tens of thousands and hundreds of dollars for me to get educated at a wonderful HBCU, all the different business and art camps, along with all the international excursions that broadened my view of the world. She started a non-profit, Mission Machangulo, to support a village in Mozambique. It has been one of the most significant parts of my life connecting with the Machangulo community.
My mother invested in my decisions and my interests. Even when we did not agree, I decided on my own path, and she sided with me. Love and support from family go a long way. Finding one person to call family and build with is instrumental, even when it’s not your blood. Finding a circle – a small circle – of aspiring, curious, and driven people will do more for anyone than you could know. I spent my whole life on soft skills. I do not know how to code. I’m not a great animator. I’m not the best mathematician. I’m definitely not an astronaut. But I have ample time in my life to learn and master all that I have wanted to in my life. I have a network that can work for me and afford me almost any opportunity.
The story of being the best stopped when I realized that I could support others in being their best selves, and I just wanted to be the best coach, the best friend, the best son, the best brother, and one day I’ll be the best husband and the best father. I can be the best me. Meeting people and helping them make their lives better or helping them solve a problem is how I make things happen. All of that and much, much more is how I got to where I am today.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Growing up, I recognized my greatest threat to myself was either myself or something truly out of my control. I had anger management issues growing up, and it stemmed from a torn relationship I had my with my extended family and living in the USA as a Black boy. My therapist says that I have ADHD, which is a contributing factor. I would have bouts of depression and self-loathing came and went throughout my life. My extended family was often struggling, and my mom was the only one holding everything together. I grew up doing what came naturally to me and just dug deeper to get better, but when I got too good at something, I moved onto something else that I was gifted in but still needed to work to become better.
Being in therapy now, I have been working a lot on feeling at home with myself and being more consistent and easy. I felt rejected for most of my life, and nothing was good enough. I realized that I reflect judgment on others living in a judged life. I had to realize that people are not judging me or breaking me down. People see their image and the image of their loved ones or tormentors when they look at others. They see a reflection of themselves. Some things they believe in and some things they doubt strongly. You have to pick your battles and stay true to yourself; otherwise, people will have you questioning your character to a severe degree. Not everybody I know made it past 16 or 18 just dealing with depression. Many did not make it because of the people who influenced them. I think I got lucky. But I had a lot of support.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I would tell you about my business, but I got into business for the art and my fellow artists. I am not the best artist. I never published any of my books. I never publicize my greatest works because I deem them insufficient. I haven’t produced my own features because I don’t have the experience to make them as brilliant as I would like. Yeah, I am a real overthinker and very insecure in my creative life. But when you see the detail I’ve put in, people won’t know what hit them. I’m exploring art investing, portfolio management, and creative financing deals right now. If you didn’t know that business was creative then you’ve been lied to or you have been lying to yourself. I don’t believe in starving artists unless they need that condition to drive their creativity. Stay hungry if you want to be. But I have a bigger goal of making the African and Diasporic Art Markets the primary market of the world as I believe it should be. The world is built on Africa, and I travel and study my Motherland; I can assure you that you will see my hand in some of the greatest works the world has ever seen. I can’t share too much, but much of it will be in animation and film, along with the comics and even cities and theme parks. Just wait. The time will come. What separates me from other artists is that I help creators find their voices and styles. The master of none. I’m fine with it. I’m having fun becoming the “Kingmaker” and not just “Wolf.”
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
If you want to make a living being an artist, you either have to start a business that sells a product or be managed by someone like me who will make the money for you. It’s not evil, and it’s not a scam. Do yourself a favor and stop listening to the mess that keeps you struggling, that is, if you are struggling. You are capable of all things, so use your creative mind and make the world you want. Be willing to do what you haven’t thought of or agreed to before.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
E Spencer Ig: @svnflwrchild Waladi Ali Ig: @Ida_Law
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