This FDU Grad Went From Magic Tricks to Hollywood Horror

Anthony Masi’s journey is anything but traditional.A graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University with a background in creative writing, Anthony began his career as a professional magician before finding his way into the world of horror filmmaking.In this episode of FDU Coming Home, Anthony reflects on the people and experiences that shaped his path — including the influence of Harvey Flaxman, his close friendship with Mark Sapara, and the creative foundation he built at FDU.Now a film producer, Anthony has worked on projects such as Halloween: 25 Years of Terror and the 2025 reboot of Silent Night, Deadly Night, bringing iconic horror stories to new audiences. This conversation explores:Reinventing yourself creativelyTurning passion into professionBuilding a career in film productionThe role of mentorship and collaborationWhy your path doesn’t have to be linear to be successfulWhether you’re a student, creative, or professional looking for your next move, Anthony’s story is a reminder that the unconventional path can lead exactly where you’re meant to go.⏱️Chapters⏱️00:00 Intro00:45 Welcome Anthony Masi02:10 IMDB Credits03:15 Name on the Big Screen04:15 Going to be a Magician05:45 Doing it because you want to do it07:30 The move to Los Angeles09:00 Getting over insecurity11:44 Movies that inspired14:00 The effort of making a movie16:00 Make what you can on a budget19:00 First Horror Documentary22:00 The Impact of Harvey Flaxman27:00 The Motivation for a Change28:45 The Impact of Halloween35:00 Film Editing today39:00 The Magic Castle LA42:00 Friday the 13th Documentary45:30 The Found Footage Horror Movement47:30 The Shift in Hollywood Filmmaking51:00 How do you get your foot in the door?53:45 Horror Games?55:00 Board Games Movement58:00 Love what you do.1:00:00 Experience on set - Networking1:02:00 Film Festivals1:05:00 Wrap Up1:06:00 Final thoughts for Creators1:07:00 Farewell@FDU_Arts on Instagram