Brian Harris Berg is an attorney, author, financial consultant, business executive, and film producer based in New York. He grew up in New York and attended Hofstra Unversity School of Law. He has over 20 years of business experience and also currently runs a successful real estate investment firm.
Brian discovered his deep love for traveling as a teenager and has since visited more than 75 countries, notably Tanzania, Scandinavia, Chile, and Eastern Europe. Brian also runs a popular blog called Cell Keys Wallet (CellKeysWallet.com), which helps individuals identify their goals and discover how to achieve them.
He is President of the Amateur Astronomers Association of New York, an organization that promotes Astronomy. He also writes a monthly column for Eyepiece, the Astronomy Associations newsletter.
Brian has been a cinephile since his childhood. This attribute, combined with his extensive knowledge of the law, business experience, and project and people management skills, has helped shape him into an accomplished film producer. In 2019, he produced the globally acclaimed psychological thriller, The Luring (TheLuring.com).
Brian is also a steadfast proponent of healthy living. Besides walking and running at least 12,000 steps a day, he also plays team sports every week. He enjoys reading, visiting museums, and engaging in charitable causes.
How was growing up in New York?
I am born and raised in New York City, one of the world’s most dynamic cities. I believe the city played an integral role in shaping my personality and moral fiber as a person and a professional. Growing up in New York City taught me so much about life and other cultures. Most importantly, the city helped me discover myself and open my mind to the many possibilities of life.
What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
I can’t point out a specific moment, but I try to make the best of each day and hope that the gratification at the end of today is better than yesterday. One of my best moments at work in recent days is when I interviewed Chuck Nice, the celebrated American stand-up comedian, TV personality, and StarTalk fan-favorite co-host.
Chuck has always been well-cultured, fun, funny, and full of wise words. He had so much to offer our Cell Keys Wallet fans as we covered a wide range of topics, including the pursuit of happiness, Star Trek, combating racism, and finding one’s path.
What’s the most life-changing experience you have encountered?
I encountered two life-changing experiences in my teenage years – I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, and I discovered my passion for traveling. Being diagnosed with Chron’s disease was a humbling experience; it totally deflated me. On the other hand, traveling restored my confidence.
How many countries have you traveled to? What achievements have you made in your travels?
I have traveled to at least 75 countries over the years, meeting people from diverse cultures, appreciating the wonders of this planet, and achieving several personal milestones. I’ve reached the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro in East Africa and raised funds for orphans in Cambodia.
I’ve also been to the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile to meet astrophysicists who are uniting nations with the common goal of understanding the origin of humankind. Additionally, I’ve traveled to the Australian Outback and enjoyed observing the ivory band of the Milky Way cutting through a billion twinkling stars.
Are you engaged in any non-profit projects?
I am president of the Amateur Astronomy Association of New York (AAA.org), a non-profit organization established in 1927 to promote the study of Astronomy. I am so incredibly proud not only to have been elected president but also for all of the hard work and dedication the members of AAA put in each and every day.
We achieve our primary goal through sponsoring lectures by leading researchers, offering economic classes in astronomy to members, organizing solar observing events, and outreach to schools and the science community at large.
How have you benefited from working with the Amateur Astronomy Association of New York?
At the Amateur Astronomy Association of New York, I have met like-minded individuals who approach issues with an open mind and look for answers that only science can provide. Thanks to the eye-opening lectures and informative classes, there are tons of knowledge to harvest from the organization. Nothing can be more gratifying than to be surrounded by individuals driven by the need to share knowledge and facts that unite humankind.
What’s your most successful project as a film producer?
The Luring (2019) (TheLuring.com). The unsettling psychological thriller is about a man who tries to recover a lost memory by returning to his family’s vacation home in Vermont, where a horrifying act took place. The film has been given worldwide distribution and is available on iTunes, Amazon, Youtube Movies, In Demand, Direct TV, and other leading platforms.
Do you have any books or publications?
Most of my writings are published on my blog, Cell Keys Wallet, and on my site that links to my different activities, BrianBergSpeaks.com. I also write a monthly column on Eyepiece, the Amateur Astronomy Association of New York’s newsletter that brings to its readers astronomy-related news and information from New York and around the world.
What do you do when not working?
I enjoy watching movies and reading. I also play team sports every week, practice yoga, and walk and run not less than 12,000 steps a day to stay in good shape and maintain a healthy state of mind.