Portraits of Hollywood

It’s more important to understand someone than to judge them. We think the first step to understanding someone is asking them the fundamental questions about who they are and how they became the person they are today. Understanding and empathy are essential building blocks for a better, more compassionate world. We’re incredibly fortunate to be able to ask these questions each week through our interview series. Below you’ll find inspiring interviews from in and around Hollywood.

JoJo Ginn

I’ve always loved entertaining people and was very involved in theatre in high school. Between my junior and senior year of High school, I went to Interlochen Arts Camp and kind of realized there that it might be possible for me to actually be an actor, professionally. I got my BFA in musical theatre and went to grad school at London Acting School East 15. When I was there, I really learned how to be an artist and spend a few years developing my own deep and personal artistic practice. I founded my theatre company “The Barrington Collective” with my very talented friends, Jenny King and Kade Morrill. We went to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with two original plays and had a very successful month-long run. Read more>>

Matt Chan, KPA CTP

But we helped the ones we could; and as time has passed, our field has continued to get stronger and better. Our culture in the US continues to demonstrably absorb the education we continually provide, and has become more knowledgeable and proactive–and I think with greater knowledge and understanding always comes greater compassion. The greater the bowl size of knowledge, the greater the ability to fill it with more compassion. Read more>>

Andie Paradis & Austin Schauer

Also – let’s just get this out of the way. We are unfortunately millennials. For years we have been running from this. But we cannot escape it and have found joy in making deliciously soaked pop culture songs that millennials can relate too. BUT ALSO Andie wants to point out that her Gen Z co-workers also like our songs…SO we’ve got an appeal to both generations  Gen X can we interest you in our dream album where all the songs sound like a Pavement song, but they are about things like overhead lighting being too bright and needing to limit our caffeine in our 30’s? Read more>>

Dmitry Polyakov

I moved to Israel with no industry contacts and no knowledge of the language at all. I understood no one was going to fund my projects, so I decided to self-finance my first music video there, working with a local artist signed to an Israeli label. But just as the project was ready for release, war broke out again on October 7, 2023. The entertainment industry came to a full stop. The song and the video were never released. I had already spent all my money, and I couldn’t afford to do it again. Without a release to show for it, it became nearly impossible to convince artists or managers to take a chance on me. Read more>>

Josh Pafchek

After graduation, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with my life. I wasn’t good enough to be a pro skateboarder. Or snowboarder. Things I realized maybe a little too late. So I decided to Google, “How to be an actor” after realizing this could actually be something to work toward. A modeling and acting class called Barbizon Modeling and Acting seemed the most doable — it was only two hours away. I started taking classes there and won a small award for acting in our class. That little achievement propelled my drive to keep going. Read more>>

Ajijul Hasan Surzo

However, my ambitions extended beyond borders. I left my successful career to dive into Hollywood’s film culture, where I was chosen for the Golden Globe Fellowship program. As a fellow, I served as director of photography on recognized projects like Emily’s Night Out and The Powder Room. I learned to express complex emotions through visual storytelling using light and movement. During this period, my work began to gain international attention. Bubbles won Best Comedy at the Mannheim Arts and Film Festival and Best Feature at the Golden Nugget International Film Festival, while my feature D was showcased at the Kolkata International Film Festival. Read more>>

Joseph Neibich Nybyk

Starting a small film festival came with its fair share of challenges. From securing venues and convincing filmmakers to submit, to marketing on a shoestring budget and building an audience from scratch—it was a constant uphill climb. Without big sponsors or name recognition, every step required creativity, persistence, and a leap of faith. There were moments of doubt, logistical headaches, and nights wondering if anyone would show up. But with each setback came growth, and over time, those early struggles became the foundation of something lasting and meaningful. Read more>>

Faris Alqabass

i came to united state 1998 with my parents.i worked with my Dad in his fast food business in New york city. i alwayse wanted to open a yemeni authentic restaurant.In 2019 i opend My first yemeni resturant.i traveld to Los angles with my family for a quick vecation and visit a family member.once i was searching for a middle Eastern cuisine, i found all arabic cuisine except Yemen cuisine.then my wife told me we should open one yemeni resturant here.we ending up opening one here at 1083 gayley ave los anglos.what gave me energy and encourged me to expand to other areas in california is the turnout of loyal customers Read more>>

Nathan Da Silva

Dasimbowls started when I hit one of the lowest points in my life. I was struggling and knew I had to make a change. With the support of my mom and family, I turned to what I loved, cooking. What began as making rice bowls for myself, friends and family quickly grew into a business built on flavor, love, and resilience. Today, DASIMBOWLS offers bold, signature rice bowls, Meal Preps, All Event Catering, and Food truck services.. Read more>>

Shawna Beaugard

Despite life’s obstacles, I’ve stayed grounded in my faith, committed to purpose, and determined to be a light. Whether it’s through performing, mentoring youth, writing faith-based mental health workbooks, or serving my community—I do it all with the goal of uplifting others and reminding them they are seen by the King. Read more>>

Clarke Hallum

My friend, Jaron Crawford, was forming a band in LA called Touch. and he invited me to come down and jam with them. Once I did, and I got to witness the creative community around them here, I was sold. I moved here to pursue music in April, 2023 and have been working at that dream ever since. I’m currently the singer, guitarist and songwriter of in a indie rock band called SHEEP. This project has been the most meaningful outlet and collaborative group that I’ve had in my years of playing. I am so excited to see where this group will go and the road ahead of us. Read more>>

Couch Dog

Since our move to LA we have signed with Arrival Artists and are preparing to release our latest EP “UNRAVELER” with plans to support it with our second ever headlining west coast tour as well as an AZ leg. This will be our first time making our way all the way up to the PNW so we are very excited for those shows in particular. HIGHLIGHT: We’re playing an LA show at the Echo on 7/12 to tour our new project! Would love to see you there Read more>>

Brent Sands

Founded in Sacramento, Impound Comics is an independent comic book universe that has quickly grown from a local vision to a nationally recognized brand. At the center of the story is Anthony “Impound” Endsley, a former MMA fighter turned supernatural superhero—our flagship character whose journey mirrors the underdog grind of the brand itself. His saga launched a larger universe that now includes standout heroes like the regal and powerful Lady Monarch, and the high-octane, explosive anti-hero Blasted. Read more>>

Jericho Guzman

Always have loved music my whole life, but when it was time for career choices I chose the safe option. It was a roller coaster of a journey to get here and be in the music industry. I was a pre-med student and still a computer nerd that loves music and technology. That love for music and technology evolved in me transferring to Berklee and eventually landing an engineering gig. Read more>>

Gracyn Blu

I dreamed of sharing my music with the world, but that dream felt distant and unrealistic, like something reserved for people who lived louder lives in bigger cities. What felt more practical—and what I assumed would make my family more proud—was pursuing classical music. I ended up getting a degree in opera. While I’ve always loved classical music and have found some success in it, I’ve never quite fit into its more traditional expectations. Read more>>

Erica Mendoza

As a first-generation college graduate and DACA recipient, I knew what it felt like to exist in the margins present, but rarely represented. That absence lit a fire in me. I moved behind the camera not just to create art, but to reclaim space for myself, and for the many voices still waiting to be heard. Over the years, I’ve led campaigns and creative projects with organizations like LULAC, The San Francisco Foundation, The California Endowment, YR Media, Destiny Arts, and AIDS Healthcare Foundation. My work lives at the intersection of storytelling and justice bridging advocacy and art to shift narratives from the inside out. Read more>>

Cassie Marinho

Today, Skinic is a 5,000-square-foot clinic in the heart of Los Angeles, and we’re expanding. But what matters most to me hasn’t changed—I still personally train every member of my team. I still obsess over the details. And I still believe that when you help someone feel lighter, stronger, and more confident in their own body, you’re doing more than aesthetic work—you’re making an impact. Read more>>

Raffi Lehrer

In 2015, my path crossed with Goldenvoice when Paul Clemente, the Coachella Art Director, offered me a job. I got to spend over 5 years curating and producing large-scale installations and cultural programming for Goldenvoice. I focused on festivals like Coachella and Stagecoach and got to collaborate with an international assortment of artists and institutions as varied as the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Pritzker Prize winning architect Francis Kéré. Read more>>

Lorena Placeres

I’m so fortunate because I’ve met wonderful people, I’ve studied in the best acting schools and I’ve been blessed to have had acting jobs and opportunities. It’s true that I didn’t come to LA in the best time because I came after the pandemic hit and since then, the industry has been a little challenging, specially after the strikes and AI, but I’m still standing! The water does not pierce the stone by its strength, but by its constancy. Be like water, my friend! Read more>>

Nerra Muhammad

Years later, I turned that same diary into my first self-published book, Rebel Rebel, and from there, everything blossomed. I began painting—large, four-foot canvases full of bold color and meaning—and had the opportunity to show and sell my art across Baltimore and to women from across the country at the Women’s March. At the same time, I became active in the fight for social justice, speaking out against police violence, gun violence, and systemic neglect in urban communities. My activism gave me the honor of working alongside leaders like Tamika Mallory, Tarana Burke, Farajii Muhammad, and Pastor Jamal Bryant. Read more>>

Sommer Durf

I try to keep a variety of programs without sticking to one style of training. This allows subscribers to choose whichever one they like and change programs periodically if their goals or needs change. Read more>>

Alex Corzo

after that, I opened my own company: ALx CORZO PHOTOGRAPHY. I have passion for portraits in general, but I love music, fashion and sports photography; that’s why I get my self into the fashion industry and I started to cover smalls and big fashion shows like LA FASHION WEEK, at the same time I had my desire to cover big music shows and so far i’ve been shooting in small venues and big festivals, so now i have the experience to do my job with passion in any of those fields Read more>>

Ra’Shawn Durell

Writing and producing The Server Slasher Massacre has been one of the most fun experiences I’ve had in this industry yet. Everyday was one of discovery and playfulness. I always knew that I wanted to live in the horror genre; realizing that I could meld the slasher sub-genre with the backrooms of a restaurant provided so many opportunities to pay homage to films that have shaped who I am as an artist and also express the difficulties of the “day job”. Read more>>

Tori Boutin

After a hop and a skip in Chicago where I formed a digital sketch group (Glass Half Funny) that had over 200 views on YouTube (WOW!), I decided to take my new found fame to Tinseltown where I could rub elbows with all the other top influencers. Here in LA, I’ve had to joy of being seen in a Liquid Death commercial, hosting cabarets and variety shows across the city, and can currently be found performing with the multiple time sketch cagematch winning group Critical Booby. Read more>>

Hannah Cubis

I was in awe of it. Everything about it was exactly what I wanted to do, and more. I went to their website, and funnily enough, they were accepting applications for the upcoming semester. I applied and went through the process of auditioning on Zoom. Not long after my audition, I was absent-mindedly scrolling through emails at 1 AM and saw my acceptance letter to AMDA. What followed was another year of work and organization to make it a reality, but thanks to the support and aroha of my family, I began my first semester at AMDA in the spring of 2024, studying for an AOS degree in on-camera acting. Read more>>

Tiel Bowers

Most of my professional work revolves around events. I photograph all types — concerts, pageants, portrait sessions — and I’ve dabbled in real estate photography as well. I also work for GradImages, manage my own social media pages, and advocate for myself in this constantly evolving industry. Over time, I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with organizations like the American Heart Association, RevoltTV, Empire Records, Miss Caribbean Los Angeles, and others I’ve met through those networks. Read more>>

Mitchell Marchand

I think the first time I attempted to write a script was maybe a year later. Throughout my teens I continued to act and got the chance to appear in the movie “Juice” and from my relationship with Ernest Dickerson from the Do The Right Thing experience he allowed us the latitude to write and improvise. The scene with Omar Epps and I in the pool hall where he and I are haggling over the price of a mixtape was my first opportunity to write anything, so I owe Ernest an enormous of amount of gratitude for pushing me into what became my destiny. Read more>>

Sophie Shelh

It wasn’t an easy journey to establish myself in the sports industry, especially as a young immigrant woman striving to prove her talent in a highly competitive environment. Despite the challenges, I remained motivated and refused to give up. I continued to believe in myself and in the possibility that anything could happen with perseverance and determination. Read more>>

Dan Guerrero

Let’s start at the very beginning. I was born in Tucson, Arizona at the Stork’s Nest. It sounds like a bar but it was a maternity hospital where several generations of Tucsonans were born. My mom Margaret and dad Lalo were born and raised in Tucson. Mom was Irish on her paternal side and Mexican on the maternal. Her father was a mining engineer born in San Antonio and he was working for mining companies in Mexico when he met his future wife. They wed in 1900. The Irish family was not happy that a Mexican branch was sprouting on the family tree. Read more>>

Michaela Miller

Now, granted, this was likely not the best telling of Alice In Wonderland, but it was the first time I felt a passion to film and create my own work. My love of acting however, started when I was 5, taking summer school acting classes. I don’t remember the exact moment I knew I wanted to explore acting or take classes , it was always just kind of what was gonna happen. I didn’t choose it , really, it was just the only thing I ever wanted to do, even before I consciously chose it as my career. I performed in a play about the Greek Gods and Goddesses at the end of that summer, and it stuck with me so much, I wrote about that moment and the feeling of performing for my college essays. I got into film and tv acting when i was Read more>>

Rio Sage

I moved from Maui to LA just a couple months after I turned 18! I’m going on 10 years here as of August of this year. Acting has always been my dream since I can first remember, which is why I made the leap to LA. I am still continuing to pursue my dreams everyday! I also do music. I sing and play the ukulele, which I taught myself how to play when I was a teenager. I just released a new song called “Manifest”, available to stream on all music platforms! I also do modeling, photography and I love to cook and create recipes, which I make videos of as well. Read more>>

Chris B

“Back in elementary school, I kept telling my teacher, Miss Kapsin, that I couldn’t see the board,” he recalls. “She thought I was being a class clown and would send me to the office. Even when she moved me to the front of the class, I still couldn’t see — but no one ever thought to test my eyes. Instead, they kept testing how I talked. just because I couldn’t say my ‘R’s correctly ”  Read more>>

Elisa Perry

Elisa caught the acting bug after viewing idols Diahann Carroll in the Hollywood classic Paris Blues and Diana Sands in A Raisin In The Sun. The late Sandy Dennis was a huge inspiration to Elisa after she saw her work in films Splendor in the Grass and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf. The actress studied at the prestigious Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York and later spent several years performing on stage and appearing in several independent films and television commercials. Elisa even lent her talents to the world of comedy for a time, performing stand-up to US troops in Kuwait, Iraq, and Kosovo. But acting remains Elisa’s true passion. Read more>>

Laura Thomas Mullen

I moved to Los Angeles from New York City to pursue a career as a buyer for a retail store, but my path quickly evolved into television production, where I worked on shows like Hard Copy, E! True Hollywood Story, and Blind Date. Wanting a new challenge and being able to work for myself, I co-founded a travel goods line that sold in stores nationwide and was featured on The Today Show and in Oprah Magazine. Read more>>

Macy Rupp

I started reaching out to local companies and landed a design internship a few months later with X-Laser USA, a locally owned laser manufacturer. I was especially interested in lighting design, and lasers—in a very simplified explanation—were big, fat, (kind of dangerous) lights. Under close supervision, I learned to operate and eventually design laser shows set to music. Much to the dismay of my very pious academic environment, I applied to the California Institute of the Arts for their lighting design program and was accepted with a scholarship. Read more>>

Aleksandra Turlure Rola Titizian

I started working as an Endermologie technician back in 2002 while working in a small boutique spa in Brooklyn, NY. At that time I was pursuing career in Corporate medical compliance and being an Endermologie tech was a college job, and not something I thought would end up being my calling. After brief exposure to the corporate dynamic, as I was hired as an administrative assistant, I’ve realized that this isn’t my path, it was like a slow mental death. I realized this isn’t for me. Read more>>