03 Apr Brian Forti’s Creative Journey from Television to Live Theater
In the ever-evolving world of entertainment, few individuals have had as diverse and impactful a career as Brian Forti. With over 35 years in the industry and six Emmy Awards to his name, Brian has truly seen and done it all—from directing music videos for Gloria Estefan and Shakira to producing viral content for Jimmy Kimmel, and now creating immersive theatrical experiences at Miami’s luxurious Faena Hotel.
What makes Brian’s journey particularly fascinating is how deeply intertwined it is with the concept of design. As he explained during his conversation on the iDesign Lab podcast, everything in the entertainment world revolves around design: “It’s all creating something new. It goes from what are we going to do? Designing where you’re going to shoot it, how you’re going to shoot it, what they’re going to wear, how you’re going to film it, the lighting, everything—it’s all design.”
Brian’s career began humbly enough with a passion for audio-visual equipment in high school, where he led the AV club and developed a love for photography and filming. This interest led him to study broadcasting at the University of Florida, where he gained hands-on experience directing at the campus PBS station. However, it wasn’t until he co-founded 40 Lane Entertainment in 1986 that his career truly took off, coinciding with the explosion of MTV and the sudden demand for music videos. Miami became a hotspot for these productions, and Brian found himself at the center of this creative revolution.
The pivotal moment came when Emilio Estefan called, seeking someone to document Gloria’s comeback after her accident. This opportunity opened doors to collaborations with global superstars like Paul McCartney, Shakira, and Prince. For Brian, the thrill was in knowing “that our work, the design of our work, would be seen on a global level.” Each project presented new challenges and creative opportunities, from designing elaborate blue-screen music videos in the early ’90s to crafting viral content like the famous “I’m F’ing Matt Damon” video with Sarah Silverman and Matt Damon.
Despite his television success, Brian eventually reached a burnout point, which led him to Sedona, Arizona, for a spiritual reset. This transformative period completely changed his life philosophy. “I realized that we have the ability to create whatever it is we want in our life,” he explains. “The universe has designed this place that we’re in, this consciousness we’re in, to allow you to create whatever you want.”
While meditating in Sedona, Brian had a vision of himself in a theater surrounded by performers. Remarkably, just two weeks later, he received a call about an opportunity to run a theater at the Faena Hotel in Miami. This synchronicity convinced him to pivot his career toward live entertainment, where he’s spent the last decade designing immersive theatrical experiences in an intimate 160-seat venue.
The Faena Theater presents unique design challenges and opportunities. Unlike television, where you design, shoot, edit, and then wait for audience reaction, live theater provides immediate feedback. “That’s the beauty of live entertainment,” Brian notes. “Every night you can change a little bit from the night before and perfect it and then you can see how it works.”
Creating shows for the Faena requires meticulous attention to every design element—from costumes to lighting, sound, choreography, and even ensuring that stagehands blend seamlessly into the performance. The luxury brand demands nothing less than excellence, with owner Alan Faena heavily involved in maintaining the high standards of artistry and elegance that define the Faena experience.
Brian’s story is ultimately about the power of vision and the courage to reinvent oneself. His advice to aspiring creators is simple yet profound: “Believe in yourself. Have the confidence that if you focus and you work hard… your talent will always come out if you believe internally in your heart that that’s what you’re supposed to do.” His journey from television production to theatrical design demonstrates that with passion, perseverance, and a clear vision, we can indeed design the lives we want to lead.
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