Bernardino Tullio Potenza (my grandpa), Federico Fellini, Robert McKee, Syd Field, Antonio Zarro, Frank Sinatra and the guy who wrote The Odyssey and other Greek mythologies
Directors
Federico Fellini, Lucio Fulci, Akira Kurosawa, David Lean, Orson Welles, Frank Capra, Francois Truffaut, Brian De Palma, Francis Ford Coppola, and George Lucas
Professional Affiliations
Augustin Pictures (my production company), Papa Potts Wedding Photos (my dad’s company - but we don’t talk much), and The Air Sweets Corporation.
About me: Bastion Augustin was born Harold Potts on January 14th, 1980 in Manhattan, New York, to Ida and Urbano Potts. Urbano worked as a wedding photographer while Ida had a lucrative career as a florist. While growing up, Harold would often come home from school to his mother’s floral shop and help her with the business while also finding solace in the literary classics his father insisted he should read. However, Harold often dreamt of the day when he would be able to tell stories himself. Harold loved looking at his father’s vintage press camera that was used to take pictures at weddings, and would often fantasize about using it at his father’s side. Then at the age of 12 years old, Harold became his father’s apprentice in his wedding photography business. At 15 years old, he began to notice that his father’s career was going nowhere, and blamed it on the fact that he was still using vintage still cameras. He suggested that they become videographers instead. But Urbano was a purist, and continued to exercise the lost art of vintage still photography. The tension only increased over the years through high school.
Harold quit the business when he attended film school, desiring to study the art of film and video. But without a job his film school career was cut short after only two weeks. Harold and Urbano would continue to argue over their favored formats, until finally Urbano disowned Harold. Harold decided to run away and pursue his destiny. But before he could leave, Ida gave him an 8mm film camera that belonged to Harold’s grandfather, the great Italian filmmaker, Bernardino Tullio Potenza. Learning that his grandfather was a filmmaker, and already aware of his father’s distaste for Bernardino, it all became clear as to why Urbano was so infuriated with film. Harold swore that he would become a successful filmmaker to redeem his family. Harold ran away to South Florida, where most New Yorkers retreat.
In South Florida Harold became successful in freelance videograpy. Once he was able to get in to the various videographer circles, he was able to work many weddings as an assistant and acquired enough money to afford his own camera. Harold soon became restless with the idea of being a videographer his whole life, and finally decided it was time to dust off his grandfathers 8mm camera, and become the filmmaker he was destined to be.
Who I'd like to meet: Odie and Troy: A Filmmaker's Odyssey.
Hello Director Augustin. You may have seen me at the Miami 48 hour film festival. I also starred as an extra blood-bagger in the original film, "Why My Daddy Beat Me." We were disqualified from the film festival due to a natural disaster. Long story short, I was eye-balling you from afar and wanted to get a chance to speak to you, but I was too drunk to walk. Anyway... if you have any auditions coming up... I would love to read for you. I've always been passionate about acting and I was very passionate about "Odey and Troi" please e-mail me and I'll send you a headshot and resume. Thanks so much!!!
