Croatian-born television professional Ivica John Ostojic has spent more than 38 years working in the American entertainment industry, earning six Emmy Awards along the way. In a recent interview, he reflected on his journey from Rijeka to New York and explained why artificial intelligence could transform the future of television and filmmaking.
Speaking on the Croatian-American podcast Cronnect, hosted by Joe Bogovic, Ostojic discussed his career, the challenges of working in American television and the importance of adapting to new technology.
His professional experience includes work for CBS, Fox, MTV and VH1, as well as the long-running American television program Inside Edition.
But his fascination with cameras began long before he arrived in the United States.
From a Homemade Studio in Rijeka to American Television
Ostojic developed an interest in filmmaking during childhood. His father, a ship captain, frequently recorded videos while the family spent time in Ethiopia.
By the age of eight, Ostojic was already learning how cameras worked.
As a teenager, he began creating documentaries using Super 8 film.
At just 13, he built a makeshift television studio in his bedroom in Rijeka, complete with a cardboard camera and his own version of the BBC.
Even then, he dreamed of moving to America.
After completing his education in Rijeka, Ostojic continued studying directing in New York.
His first professional opportunities arrived in the late 1980s.
In the early 1990s, a small advertisement in The New York Times helped him secure an important position despite lacking some of the required experience.
He was given three months to prove himself.
Determined to succeed, he spent long hours learning editing, directing and television equipment.
Over the following decades, Ostojic worked across multiple areas of television production.
He edited content for MTV and VH1 and served as a senior technical director for 20th Century Fox.
In 2013, he began working with Inside Edition, gaining experience on a wide range of television stories.
His assignments included New York Fashion Week, interviews with celebrities, documentary productions and filming inside American correctional facilities.
He also worked on the 1993 United Nations documentary Fear and Hope in Cambodia.
One of his Emmy Awards came from his work on the documentary project Behind Bars, which involved filming inside prisons.
Throughout his career, Ostojic has also filmed American presidents and prominent political figures.
He covered Donald Trump’s first presidential campaign and witnessed major developments in American public life through the lens of a television camera.
Six Emmy Awards and a Warning About Artificial Intelligence
After nearly four decades in the industry, Ostojic believes artificial intelligence represents one of the biggest technological changes television has ever faced.
He has already experienced the transition from film to video and the introduction of digital editing.
However, he believes AI is developing faster than previous technologies.
Modern AI tools can organize footage, edit video using transcripts and generate elements that previously required extensive production work.
According to Ostojic, these capabilities could reduce the need for some traditional studio equipment and production processes.
He believes professionals who refuse to adapt may struggle to remain competitive.
His message to young people interested in television and filmmaking is not to abandon their ambitions.
Instead, he encourages them to study artificial intelligence and understand how it can support creative work.
Ostojic also emphasizes the importance of learning several professional skills rather than depending on a single specialization.
His own career included directing, editing, camera operation, sound and technical production.
That flexibility helped him navigate changes in the American media industry.
Despite demanding schedules and years of working long hours, Ostojic says he would choose the same professional path again.
His story also reflects the experiences of immigrants who pursue careers in highly competitive American industries.
For Croatian Americans and the wider Balkan diaspora, his achievements demonstrate how professional determination and continuous learning can create opportunities far beyond one’s country of origin.
From a homemade television studio in Rijeka to six Emmy Awards in the United States, Ostojic’s journey illustrates a career built on persistence and a willingness to embrace change.
