Today we’d like to introduce you to Tony Stolfa.
Hi Tony, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up in Orange, Texas, my career began in local broadcast journalism. I started as a production assistant at the local NBC affiliate and, over the next few years, worked my way up to a multimedia producer role at the nearby FOX affiliate. There, I shot, produced, and edited stories that were recognized by the Press Club of Southeast Texas and picked up by national affiliates. Those early experiences taught me the fundamentals of storytelling and live production and how to solve problems under pressure, skills that opened the door to bigger opportunities in the production industry.
In 2013 I moved to Austin, and soon after I joined the sports‑media start‑up FloSports. As a managing producer and director of photography I traveled to 15 countries across four continents shooting, directing and producing sports documentaries. Those years honed my technical skills and deepened my passion for long‑form storytelling. Outside of work I also started training Brazilian jiu‑jitsu, which has become an important creative outlet. I continue to train and coach at East Austin Jiu Jitsu Parlor.
By 2018 I was ready to branch out. I launched my own company, Stolfa Media, and started directing and shooting branded projects for brands like Meta, Vice, Food Network, Discovery, HGTV and more.
In 2019 I teamed up with former colleague Nick Schenck to create 3rd + Lamar, a production company based in Austin, Texas. We built it because we were at a career crossroads and wanted to “bet on ourselves.” Today, as co‑founder and head of production, I lead a team that produces everything from documentary series and live‑streamed concerts to corporate films and commercials. Regardless of the project I remain committed to telling impactful stories that connect with audiences. You can see our work at 3rdandlamar.com
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Early in my career, the biggest challenge was simply learning. I didn’t go to film school, so most of my education came from being on set, asking questions, making mistakes, and trying to be a little better on every project. Working in broadcast news taught me how to solve problems under pressure because there wasn’t time to wait for the perfect conditions. The job requires you to deliver, every day. Rain or shine, tornadoes or hurricanes, it didn’t matter.
When I moved to Austin, I was essentially starting over. I left behind my professional network and took a chance on a city where I knew very few people. Within a year I was hired at FloSports and had the opportunity to travel the world producing documentaries, which was an incredible experience, but it also meant spending months away from home, living out of suitcases, and learning how to lead productions in constantly changing environments.
The biggest leap came when we started 3rd & Lamar. We launched in early 2020, just months before COVID shut the world down. Overnight, productions were canceled, marketing budgets disappeared, and we had to figure out how to keep a brand-new company alive. Instead of waiting for things to return to normal, we looked for ways to adapt. We produced livestreams for local musicians, developed remote production workflows, and invested in capabilities that would help clients communicate during a time when traditional production wasn’t possible. Those decisions not only helped us survive, but they ended up shaping a big part of our business today.
The other ongoing challenge is entrepreneurship itself. As a filmmaker, you naturally want to focus on creating great work. As a business owner, you also have to think about sales, hiring, finances, operations, and building a company that can thrive without depending on one person. That’s a completely different skill set, and it’s something I’m still learning every day.
Looking back, I’m grateful the road wasn’t smooth. Every obstacle forced me to adapt, improve, and become a better leader. Those experiences taught me that talent matters, but resilience, curiosity, and consistency are what allow you to build something that lasts.
We’ve been impressed with 3rd & Lamar LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We specialize in helping high-growth companies use video to solve business problems. That might mean producing customer stories that help close enterprise deals, product launch videos that simplify complex technology, executive thought leadership, live events, or branded documentaries. Everything we create starts with the question, “What is this video supposed to accomplish?” Once we understand the business objective, we build the creative around that goal.
One thing that sets us apart is our background. Before starting 3rd & Lamar, our leadership team came from television, sports media, digital marketing, and customer acquisition. That combination gives us a different perspective than a traditional production company. We care just as much about how a video performs as we do about how it looks. Beautiful cinematography is important, but it’s only valuable if it helps move the business forward.
We’re also intentionally built to stay hands-on. Even as we’ve grown, our clients work directly with the people leading the company. We believe that creates better communication, better creative decisions, and ultimately a better experience for everyone involved.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud of the trust we’ve earned with our clients, talent, and vendors. We’ve had the opportunity to create work for global companies like Meta, Adobe, athenahealth and LinkedIn. I’m also proud that we’ve been able to build a company culture around craftsmanship. We genuinely love what we do, and we’re constantly looking for ways to improve.
At the end of the day, technology changes, platforms change, and trends come and go, but authentic storytelling will always be one of the most powerful ways for a company to connect with people. That’s the standard we aim to bring to every project we take on.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
This is probably going to sound counterintuitive, but I think too many people go looking for mentors instead of looking for opportunities to be valuable. Hear me out.
Some of the most influential people in my career never officially became my mentors. They were producers, directors, executives, and business owners I admired (or didn’t). Instead of asking them to mentor me, I paid attention to how they worked, showed up prepared, asked thoughtful questions when it was appropriate, and made sure that when we worked together, I made their job easier. Over time, those relationships developed naturally.
I’ve also found that networking works best when it isn’t treated like networking. Some of my closest professional relationships started because we genuinely enjoyed talking about filmmaking, entrepreneurship, or Jiu-Jitsu, not because either of us was trying to get something out of the other person. Entering a networking event with a mindset of “How can I contribute?” will foster relationships that tend to last. You don’t need thousands of connections. A small group of people who know your character, trust your work, and enjoy collaborating with you is incredibly valuable.
Finally, don’t be afraid to put yourself in rooms where you’re the least experienced person. Some of the biggest leaps in my career happened because I accepted projects that stretched my abilities and surrounded myself with people who were better than me.
Your community is your mentor. Your reputation is your greatest networking tool. Deliver great work, be easy to work with, communicate well, and treat people with respect. People remember how you made them feel long after they forget what camera you used or what title you had. In my experience, opportunities tend to follow people others genuinely enjoy working with.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.3rdandlamar.com
- Instagram: @tonystolfa and @3rdandlamar
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3rd-lamar
