Ali Afshar, ESX: Race Cars & Feel-Good Movies

Passion to Power for Creatives Hollywood iNSIDER Michelle Zeitlin, MORE ZAP Productions & Management

Ali Afshar is the founder of ESX Entertainment. He races hot rods, he has been an actor, and he has built a sound stage in a barn in his home town, Petaluma, near Napa Valley where his company shot "California Christmas," in production during the Covid quarantines. Ali has built a company with a select and close group of friends who have all become busy producers, composers, directors and DPs. He has cast friends too- one woman he met as a waitress and now she stars in their newest Netflix romantic comedy. Many of his crew and team have met their romantic partners too- marriages have taken place on their studio lot up North. "All our movies are American Dream Movies," says Ali. One of his financiers, the CEO of Lucas Oil, coined the phrase "Shed a tear, but leave with a smile." That's ESX's mantra and MO, but Ali says their movies are more PG than G, with more edge. Ali's company offices are on the Warner Bros. lot and he's produced movies that have been licensed by Netflix and HBO Max, and he's also in development of a TV series that he says is like Yellowstone with a Latin bent, "Casa Grande." Ali is originally from Iran, and his mother passed when he was young. So his main advice to this podcast, Passion to Power listeners, is "don't wait," do what you love and don't do it for money...the money will come. Sounds like the mantra for Passion to Power. Still racing and collecting "muscle cars," and making movies and doing the occasional acting role keeps Ali very busy. He is grateful and his team seems to work like a well-oiled machine- he ought to know. For more on Ali Afshar and ESX Entertainment, visit their website: http://www.esxproductions.com Michelle Zeitlin is a talent & literary manager, show creator and catalyst to creative conversation. If you are interested in being on the podcast, please send a request to our team to [e-mail] If you are interested in learning more about our people and projects, or booking Michelle for a workshop or coaching session, or media session, please reach out via www.morezap.com or www.passion-power.com