Age: 36 (Acosta) and 35 (Castillo)
Occupation: CEO (Acosta) and Vice-President (Castillo), Mas Studios
They say don’t go into business with a friend. But what about a virtual stranger?
Eluvier Acosta and Juan Castillo had only known each other three months when they founded Mas Studios in 2019. The pair met while working on set for a marketing campaign — Acosta taking photos, Castillo on video — and bonded over their Colombian roots and shared creative goals. Both yearned to start their own company; neither wanted to go totally solo.
“I was so scared of doing it by myself,” Acosta remembers. “So, when I met him, it was the perfect match.”
Embracing new creatives remains part of the ethos of Mas Studios. The 6,000-square-foot production house and creative space (which doubled in size during the COVID-19 pandemic) hosts photographers, filmmakers, makeup artists, stylists and video editors of all kinds; more than 50 contractors in total. “We don’t only have a business that makes money from rentals — people come in and bring new techniques, new ideas, new equipment,” Castillo explains. “Everyone comes in here to share and grow together.”
The work of Mas Studios has been featured in international publications such as Vogue Italia, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, Marie Claire, Schön Switzerland, Noir and L’OFFICIEL, and its long list of commercial clients includes Hillberg & Berk and Alberta Ballet. Acosta and Castillo have also worked with musicians Tegan and Sara, and rented their studio to giants like Zara and WestJet.
Championed by Mas Studios, several photographers have even gone on to launch businesses of their own. “Our contractors, artists and clients end up being our friends, too,” says Castillo. Adds Acosta: “This is an open and safe space for them to come and create and learn.” In this community, competition is a non-issue: “There’s enough work for everybody,” Castillo says.
Thank Yous
Eluvier Acosta: “Mom and dad for teaching me to love unconditionally.”
Juan Castillo: “Eluvier for his trust and collaboration in bringing this beautiful monster to life; my incredible wife, Diana — the true mastermind behind all our operations (without her, we might still be working from Eluvier’s living room); my son; and my parents for their unwavering support, even from afar.”
Top 40 Under 40 2024
Eluvier Acosta & Juan Castillo