June 17, 2026
At Vintage City Offices, Eatery, and Studios, we believe the people creating inside our walls are as much a part of the story as the historic buildings themselves. Our Vintage City Stories series highlights the entrepreneurs, creators, and changemakers who call our Elizabeth, NJ campus home — and André Joseph's story is a perfect fit. For nearly 20 years, André has built films, podcasts, and original media as the founder of AJ Epyx Productions, and he recently opened a physical production home inside Vintage City Studios at 33 West Grand Street.
Having a dedicated film and video production studio in Elizabeth, NJ gives André a home base to write, shoot, edit, and collaborate with other local creatives — the same reason so many filmmakers, photographers, podcasters, and small businesses are choosing Vintage City's creative studio space for rent and office space in NJ in the first place. We sat down with André to talk about nearly two decades of independent filmmaking, the lessons he's learned along the way, and what's next for AJ Epyx Productions now that it has a creative home in Elizabeth.
1. Can you tell us a little about yourself and the story behind your business?
I'm an independent filmmaker, writer, producer, and content creator who has been making films professionally for nearly 20 years. AJ Epyx Productions officially launched in 2008 as a way to create original films and media projects outside the traditional studio system while still telling grounded, character-driven stories. Over the years, the company has grown from independent film production into something much broader. In addition to features and shorts, we now produce podcasts, YouTube content, educational media, business content for social media, and creative services for aspiring filmmakers. Opening a physical space at Vintage City Studios is a major step forward because it gives us a home base to create, collaborate, teach, and continue building opportunities for other creatives in the area.
2. What inspired you to start your business, and how has that original vision evolved over time?
I've always loved storytelling and filmmaking. Growing up, movies weren't just entertainment to me — they were experiences that connected people and sparked conversations. I started creating projects with whatever resources I had available, just a video camera and a dream, and gradually learned every aspect of production through hands-on experience. Originally, the vision was simply to make films independently and prove that high-quality storytelling could come from outside Hollywood. Over time, that vision evolved into building a creative ecosystem. Now the goal is not only to produce films, but also to create a space where producing content and media can have infinite possibilities.
3. What products or services do you offer, and what makes them unique in our local community?
AJ Epyx Productions offers independent film production, podcast production, video editing, media consulting, self-tape recording, content creation, and creative development services. We also produce original programming including the movie discussion shows “Unfinished Business Television” and “Post Credits Lounge.” What makes us unique is that we combine professional filmmaking experience with accessibility. A lot of independent creators and small businesses need media support but don't always have access to large-scale production companies. We're building a creative space where people can develop projects, record content, learn production skills, and collaborate without feeling intimidated by the process.
4. What do you love most about serving customers or clients in this area?
What I love most is the diversity and creativity in this area. New Jersey and the surrounding region are full of talented people with great stories, businesses, and ideas that deserve visibility at a moment when Hollywood creatives are migrating to the Garden State. I enjoy helping people bring those ideas to life, whether that's through video production, podcasting, or creative collaboration. There's also a strong sense of authenticity here. People appreciate hard work and genuine relationships, and that makes building community-based creative projects much more rewarding.
5. What has been one of the biggest lessons you've learned as a business owner?
One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that consistency matters more than perfection. Independent filmmaking and entrepreneurship both come with challenges, setbacks, and periods where things move slower than expected. The key is continuing to build, adapt, and improve over time. I've also learned that relationships are everything. Many opportunities come from collaboration, trust, and simply treating people well over the years.
6. Is there a meaningful customer story, milestone, or moment that reminds you why you do what you do?
One meaningful milestone was our short film Dismissal Time. It was inspired by a bullying incident I experienced in high school where injustice took place. From the time it was made during the pandemic to the various film festival screenings since then, we've used the film as part of conversations surrounding bullying and victimization in our schools. But honestly, one of the biggest moments recently was opening our studio presence at Vintage City. After years of creating projects independently and often without a dedicated space, having a physical creative home feels like a major accomplishment and a new chapter for the company.
7. How does your business give back to or stay involved in the local community?
We support local creatives by collaborating with actors, filmmakers, musicians, podcasters, and small businesses throughout the region. We also aim to provide educational opportunities through workshops, production demonstrations, and collaborative media projects. Part of the long-term goal for the studio is to create opportunities for younger creatives and aspiring filmmakers to gain hands-on experience in production and storytelling.
8. What should people know before visiting, booking, or working with your business?
People should know that collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. Whether someone is an experienced creator or completely new to media production, we want the environment to feel welcoming, creative, and professional. We're still growing and expanding, which is exciting because people who work with us now are becoming part of the foundation of something that will continue evolving over time.
9. What are your goals for the future, and are there any new offerings, events, or projects coming up?
The immediate goal is continuing to grow the studio into a creative hub for film production, podcasting, workshops, and collaborative events. We're also developing new film and television projects while expanding our online media presence. Additionally, we seek to expand our horizons through special community screenings of our films as well as hosting stage productions in the Elizabeth area. Upcoming projects include our dramatic short film The Right Direction, our first production in the new studio, as well as an animated sci-fi short called Royale Rising, also filmed here. We also continue development on future film productions including our long-in-development Western feature film American Gunslingers.
10. How can VCO members and the community best support your business right now?
The biggest support right now is visibility and collaboration. Following our content, sharing our work, booking studio services, attending events, and connecting us with creators or businesses who may need media production services all make a huge difference. We're also excited to collaborate with fellow Vintage City members and continue building a stronger creative community together.
André's rooms at Vintage City Studios are part of a growing roster of film and photo studio space for rent inside the historic Vintage City campus. The building's vintage architecture, natural light, and character-filled rooms make it a favorite not only for filmmakers and content creators building out a permanent video production studio, but also for location scouts searching for a distinctive, ready-made backdrop for film, television, and photo shoots in Union County. Whether you need a dedicated podcast studio for rent, a flexible photography studio in NJ, or a one-day filming location, Vintage City Studios offers creative professionals a home base in the heart of Elizabeth, NJ.
AJ Epyx Productions is actively producing new work out of Vintage City Studios, including the short film The Right Direction and the animated sci-fi short Royale Rising — both filmed on-site in Elizabeth, NJ. André is also booking studio sessions, self-tape recordings, podcast production, and media consulting for fellow creatives and small businesses in the NY/NJ area.
Website: andremjoseph.com
Email: andre@andremjoseph.com
Phone: 718-986-2536
YouTube: @AJEpyxProductions1
Instagram: @ajepyx
Facebook: facebook.com/andre.joseph.83
TikTok: @aj_epyx
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ajepyx
Service area: Elizabeth, NJ · NY/NJ region · available by appointment and project scheduling.
A Vintage City Stories member spotlight — independent film, podcasting, and creative production from Elizabeth, NJ.
Featured Member: André Joseph, Filmmaker & Founder, AJ Epyx Productions
Location: Vintage City Studios, 33 West Grand Street, Rooms 5 & 6, Elizabeth, NJ — serving the NY/NJ area and beyond
André is one of many creative, mission-driven members who call Vintage City Offices, Eatery, and Studios home. Alongside our flagship office building at 30 Union Street, our Vintage City Studios location at 33 West Grand Street gives filmmakers, photographers, podcasters, and content creators dedicated film and video production studio space for rent in Elizabeth, NJ. Across the Vintage City campus, creative professionals will also find photo studio rentals, podcast and recording studio space, and rooms well suited to location scouting for film and commercial shoots throughout Union County — alongside our traditional coworking space, private office space for rent in NJ, and event venues for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
If you're an artist, filmmaker, photographer, or content creator searching for creative studio space for rent in Elizabeth, NJ, a film production studio, or simply an office space in NJ and a community that supports big ideas the way it has supported André's, we'd love to meet you. Learn more at vintagecityoffices.com, vintagecitystudios.com, and vintagecity.com.
Follow along with the Vintage City Stories series for more member spotlights from our growing community of makers, founders, artists, and changemakers.
