An Inspired Chat with Mircea Goia of Chandler

We recently had the chance to connect with Mircea Goia and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Mircea, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I am most proud of my changing careers (I’ve done it more than once) and sometimes that is not seen right away. Because changing a career doesn’t happen overnight, it requires months or even years of learning. You know what they say, overnight success which takes 20 years :).

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Mircea Goia and I was born/raised in Romania, Eastern Europe. I came to US almost 20 years ago (legally – it seems that nowadays I have to mention that!) and I became a citizen 12 years ago.
I work in film and specifically in visual effects for film/TV/commercials. I just finished filming a horror feature film named “The Licked Hand” (after a known American urban legend) last month here in the Phoenix area, together with friends. For this film I am not only an investor but also provide the visual effects for it as well as behind the scenes photography (because one of my passions is also photography). Now we are in post production with it and hopefully at the end of the year to come out on the market with it.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My English teacher back in Romania saw my potential before I saw it myself.
It was at the beginning of the high school (first year) and in our country to get into high school, especially in highly rated classes (at that time) you have to give an exam (written). But my regular teacher tried to discourage me to do it because, at that time, mainly only people from “good” families were going there in those highly rated classes and I would be out of place if I’d go (I was poor and my family was basically nobodies).
But my English teacher knew my potential because I was very good at English (I started learning English at the age of 8 – we routinely learned foreign languages in school). And I was very good at other disciplines. Only at Math I sucked.
And my English teacher encouraged me to apply so I did. I gave that written exam and to the surprise of my regular teacher I got in! The only boy in my class to do it.
That gave me a boost of self confidence and I learned not to listen much to naysayers. And later on in life I had other naysayers trying to stop me of doing other things.

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
I had an disorganized family…a step father, alcoholic and violent and who used to beat me in my childhood. Until I grew up and I returned the “favor”. My mother was loving but weak and couldn’t do anything to protect me. And I was the oldest among my siblings so I was the first to get beaten.
That taught me to make everything possible not to become like him…and I pretty much succeeded. Not sure if I healed 100% but I can certainly say I didn’t become like him.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes, the public version of me is pretty much the real me. Of course, I don’t share everything online (my private life) because I know that could pose a danger too. It’s not everything rosy online.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If immortality were real, what would you build?
I would try to build a non-violent society. Who had lived in a violent environment knows more the true value of peace and kindness. I am not saying those who didn’t live in that kind of environment don’t know, but they don’t have that experience so what they know are mostly through other people’s experience. And they may not appreciate what they have.
Some say wars and violence made our society progress….it may be true to a degree. Until nowadays, when it supposed we evolved quite a lot and we shouldn’t repeat the mistakes of the past. But it seems we still do. Wars and violence are such a waste of material and human resources. Such a waste…
If I would be immortal I would work towards that goal…think of the Cleon dynasty from the TV series Foundation…but a good Cleon :). Not a dictatorial one. Although they are not immortal per se.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mirceagoia.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirceagoia
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3223682
  https://vimeo.com/882372128

Image Credits
Mircea Goia