

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.
Apoorva Choudhary

For me, success is about being able to create work that I’m proud of while staying true to my passion for storytelling. It’s not just about big achievements or accolades—it’s about the small wins along the way, like nailing the perfect set design, collaborating with a talented team, or overcoming a challenge on a project. Read More>>
Alexa Van

For years, every day felt like a struggle. I often felt out of place on this planet, at times so frozen that I couldn’t create. I questioned my motivations. Yet, slowly—very slowly—I began to come alive again. I found my voice, formed a band, and returned to the stage. Still, my past haunted me. There was so much left unsaid, and societal pressures squeezed me to the point of suffocation. Read More>>
Jeremy Sless

Things took a huge turn when I was accepted into California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) for an undergraduate acting program. I couldn’t believe it. They didn’t just see my acting potential—they saw my passion. This was my chance to immerse myself fully in the craft of acting, and I dove deep into it. The Stanislavsky teachings I learned there changed my approach and gave me tools I could use to refine my technique. Read More>>
Blanca Gruber

I look forward to partnering with other artists and entrepreneurs to bring together our best skills to master our efforts. When travelers ask me for an interview I feel honored. I very much appreciate the opportunity. Let’s also say that in addition to being an artist, I act like a roadrunner that I drive all over the country. I love experiencing nature in its full expression. I drove from Washington DC to Los Angeles. Is very excited to encounter new horizon new people. That is why I love to travel. For me Los Angeles is the perfect city to live in, you can created and turned into your dream become true. Read More>>
Rajan Puri

My journey into cinematography started off pretty humbly, and honestly, I never expected it to become my full-time career. I grew up next to a old single-screen cinema theater, and while the other kids were out playing, I’d spend hours inside watching every new film that came through. I’d often make excuses to skip school just so I could rent DVDs and watch movies. At the time, I didn’t realize it, but that was when my passion for cinema truly started to take root. Read More>>
Chelsy Clicks

I’ve always been drawn to creative expression, beginning with nine years as a competitive dancer in tap, jazz, and lyrical, along with playing volleyball in Minnesota. This foundation instilled in me a deep appreciation for movement, balance, and storytelling. My first introduction to photography came through a college elective that piqued my interest, but it wasn’t until this past year that I fully embraced it. What started as capturing my own Instagram content through self-photography has since evolved into a true passion, allowing me to explore and refine my artistic vision behind the lens. Read More>>
Wenyun(bill) Liu

I sang in the Shanghai Youth Choir for about six years, learning the power of “teamwork makes the dream work.” However, I eventually decided to leave my comfort zone and pursue my own path as a composer. I wanted to find my own sound and go beyond that. That’s when the idea of becoming a film music composer started to take shape. During my studies with the legendary Thomas Dolby at Johns Hopkins, I realized that artists in the 21st century need to be multi-dimensional in all art forms. I also developed an interest in music production, audio engineering, and sound design for visual arts. Read More>>
Konstantina Foca

Believe it or not, I was never encouraged to become an actress, which was always mind-boggling to me—especially coming from my mother, who had always hoped and wished with all her heart that I would become a doctor or a lawyer. Well, I didn’t become either, but I did become a clinical nutritionist while I was still in Greece, and I’m a notary public in California—so, in a way, I’ve covered both the medical and legal fields. Read More>>
Walid Chaya

One of my proudest accomplishments is my film ‘Driving Ms. Saudi,’ which I wrote, directed, and starred in. It won “Best Comedy Short” at Dubai’s WOW Mid-East Film Fair, received global acclaim, and was even presented at the World Expo. My latest short film “Darn It Darla!” is currently in the film festival circuit. The film follows Naveen, a former child star, as she fights for meaningful roles in Hollywood while contending with her manipulative talent manager—portrayed by me—in a dark comedy that exposes the industry’s control over artists. Read More>>
Lucia Castejon Lopez

My journey from Madrid to Hollywood has been both challenging and rewarding. Transitioning to a new country and industry required adapting to different cultural and professional landscapes. Overcoming language barriers, understanding diverse work cultures, and establishing a network in a competitive environment were significant hurdles. I navigated these challenges through perseverance, continuous learning, and a passion for storytelling. Read More>>
Darwin Reina

My love for animation and horror led me to my latest venture: the Los Angeles Fantasia Fest, set to debut on November 20–21, 2025. This festival focuses on Animation, Horror, and Sci-Fi films, genres I’m deeply passionate about. I’m excited to collaborate with Vincenzo Carubia, owner of SkipTown Playhouse, to bring this vision to life. After six years of running festivals, I feel ready to take on this new challenge—let’s go! Read More>>
Rachel Pegram

We started the show in August 2023 during the height of the Hollywood strikes in an attempt to redirect the narrative toward the amazing up-and-coming and already-there comics in LA. It’s been incredible running this show on a weekly basis, putting together a showcase where I (host Rachel Pegram) produce a show with two incredible women (Nina Rogers and Kathleen Yates) while seeing my friends/fellow comics perform at an intimate, one-of-a-kind venue! Honey, that’s gonna be one of life’s greatest treasures! Read More>>
Alisa Schulz

With no guarantees, I quit my 3 jobs, packed my bags and moved to Chicago. As luck would have it I rented a room from a fellow model (Katy Rowe) who also happened to be a photographer. Katy took me under her wings and mentored me, teaching me the business – model movement, character development, make up, skincare, fitness, and business etiquette. Her guidance was invaluable and set the foundation for my success. Read More>>
Vico Velez

One of the biggest challenges I face in my work comes from the ongoing censorship that exists for women, especially in the intersection of art and technology. There’s a long history of women being silenced or overlooked in both fields, and unfortunately, that still manifests today in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. In the art world, we’ve seen countless examples where women’s voices are diminished, and now with social media’s war on women’s bodies we’re going to see a lot more of it. Our bodies have been exploited and sold for millennia but as soon as women regain control over their own image and have autonomy over how it can be monetized then society finds a way to demonize it. Read More>>
Klaudia Kwiatkowska

But UGC was just the start. I wanted to take things further and help other women find the freedom and creativity that this path has given me. So I expanded into coaching and digital marketing, creating guides and tools to teach women how to build their own online presence, grow their social media, and monetize their skills. Read More>>
Kendra Checketts

During this time, my school held a talent show when I was in 4th grade, and I told my mom I wanted to perform. She was surprised because, up until then, she’d only ever heard me sing jokingly around the house. But after the show, parents were coming up to her asking where I’d been taking singing lessons—which was funny, because I hadn’t. I had just learned by listening to my favorite singers and mimicking what I heard. That talent show lit a spark in me, and from then on, singing became my entire world.
Enrique Soltero

Ultimately, I got to where I am today by giving myself my place and respecting my ideals. I resigned from good restaurants and projects I started with others because we didn’t share the same ideals and respect for the ingredients and my culture. Nine years ago, I met some avocado suppliers in Los Angeles, and since 2016 I have been their client. Thanks to the good relationship we built, I am where I am today at Amor a Mí, embarking on this project together. Read More>>
César Oyarzabal

That’s where rewriting starts for me — where the fun starts. In short, it’s this process that I love so much that got me to where I am today. And I mean, yes, there is a backstory about all my first steps, as a director and a writer (which are still things I do), but I spend the bulk of my time getting hired to edit films. And there’s nothing more fulfilling, as well as more instructive! I mean, the editing room is the room where any director learns his lesson! And guess what, when you’re the editor, you get front-row seats to that lesson too. Read More>>
Brandon Row

When I was 23-years old I moved to LA after years of addiction issues and instability and attended the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA…after completing a certificate program there in Audio Engineering I found myself working at NRG Recording Studios where countless name worthy acts have cut breakthrough records. It was here I began honing the craft of record-making and my production journey. Read More>>
Maria Andreotti

That made it very difficult to stay on one path, such as fabrication or production, and become a head of department or lead. I had to zig zag my way to becoming a producer, with many wondering what my true focus was along the way. However, the challenges and unexpected jobs were a blessing in disguise. Having worked in so many facets of production for over 15 years now, I feel confident that I understand the full filmmaking process from start to finish. Read More>>
Willy Calderon

If the road is smooth, not enough risks were taken. Struggles always included my age. Being a young person in an industry mostly comprised of more seasoned veterans always allowed people to belittle or brush me off. But this also motivated me to strive to become the best I could be in my craft. I think people associate a young face with inexperience, and ego certainly plays a part in those unfortunate situations. I kept pushing my standards and thankfully now my works speaks for itself. Read More>>
Melissa Pellone

My brand is carried in Designer Boutiques in the US, mostly women owned or family owned. It’s been incredible to work with and partner with them. An obstacle I have come across, is the ever-changing retail space is how people are not shopping in person as often, or at all. I’ve watched so many Boutiques or vendors have to relocate or close. A goal of mine is to continue to support local, small and US based businesses. They have something personalized, unique, special, and high quality to offer that you just won’t find shopping online. Read More>>
Nra Kudelka

I felt while continuing to ride the wave of freelance wardrobe styling, it was time to make Clique into a reality and try to manifest my own destiny and create a bright future for my kids and me. I literally have put everything I have into creating this new business and with three months open under my belt, I am doing all I can to nurture it, grow it, and hope that the LA community who is looking for a nail spot with not only an affinity for design, music, fashion, but who has a big heart and open arms will find us and create something beautiful together. Read More>>
Rio Summers

I’m Rio Summers, born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and I’ve always known I wanted to be in the entertainment industry. At just five years old, watching Britney Spears perform made me realize I had to be a star. By second grade, I was already sneaking into the choir teacher’s classroom to ask if I could join, and that determination set the tone for my future in music, acting, and performance. Read More>>
Monika Spruch

This intense focus on my career also affected my personal life, including my relationships. The demanding nature of my work, constant travel, and the need to be fully dedicated to my craft sometimes made it difficult to maintain a healthy work-life balance. It’s not always easy to find someone who understands and supports the commitment required to achieve success in these fields. However, I’ve learned that staying true to myself and my passions is essential, and I believe that the right people will support and encourage that journey. Read More>>
Adan Ramirez

One of the biggest influences on my childhood and career came from a plastic brick called Lego. Lego became my passion, and I cherished the moments when my parents and family members gifted them to me. My world changed when I saw my first Lego stop-motion video. I was blown away and eager to learn how people made Lego figures move with a camera. I began experimenting by borrowing my parents’ digital camera and creating stories with my Lego Star Wars characters. These early animations weren’t professional, but over time, I improved simply by teaching myself. Lego provided endless fuel for my imagination and led me down a path toward becoming an artist. However, as I grew older, I stopped buying Lego sets and making animations because I thought Lego was for children, and like most kids, I believed I had to grow up. Read More>>
Lucy Gómez

It has definitely been a journey of many lessons. Imagine moving to another country at 17, not knowing anyone and facing not only the language barrier, but also the constant feeling of being an outsider. There were times when I doubted myself and I felt that my effort wasn’t worth it because the opportunities didn’t come as I expected. I asked myself many times if I’d made the right decision, if maybe I was too hasty. Thousands of existential questions that cannot always be answered. Read More>>
Joyce Souza

Looking back, it was never easy. Leaving home, building a life in a new country, and finding the courage to start over required so much more than I ever thought I had in me. But every challenge taught me something about resilience, bravery, and the power of believing in yourself. Today, I’m proud to say I’ve built a life that allows me to help others chase their dreams, just as I chased mine when I first came here. My journey is a reminder that even when the odds feel stacked against you, persistence and passion can lead you to places you never imagined. Read More>>
Waldo Valenzuela

The Technical Learning Curve: Especially as a sound engineer, keeping up with new technology, equipment, and software can feel like an uphill battle. It’s a field where you need to constantly update your skills to stay relevant, which requires a lot of time, patience, and sometimes financial investment. Read More>>
Pia Hou & Frank Zhuang

It hasn’t been a smooth road—far from it. Photography, we’ve come to realize, is so much more than just taking pictures. When we started our business, we knew it wouldn’t be easy, but we didn’t anticipate just how challenging it would be to put ourselves out there and attract the right clients. We’re still in the beginning stages, figuring things out as we go, and we haven’t found the perfect solution yet. Read More>>
Jim Alexandrou

When you are on that bumpy road, it really feels like a huge struggle, emotionally distressing at times, repetitive thoughts of giving up your dreams circulating in your mind in a chaotic fashion, but in retrospect you realize that it was all worth it! Read More>>
Micole Williams

I have written and published 2 fiction and 2 nonfiction books that have opened doors. After I moved from Houston to Hollywood, my film, “365 Days in LA” became an award winning film seen all over the world. I furthered my education with a Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting from Houston Baptist University. I recently wrote, produced, and directed a faith- based project I am excited about titled, “How Do You Hear God”. It will premiere soon! It features 14 different believers from different walks of life who are taking a moment to share their own unique way God speaks to them, and how it’s transformed them as people. Read More>>
Ana Ortiz Wienken

My passion kept growing bigger, and I adventured myself into the den of dragons: Los Angeles. The heart of production, expression and the vanguard of film scoring. I never stopped going the extra mile, my tenacity took me to work at famous music studios, delivering Netflix series (“Elite”), Warner Studios Films (“Smallfoot”) and plenty of local musicals and events (“Latin Grammy Scholarships”). Read More>>
Corey La Rue

I lost to use of my right arm from the impact of my motorcycle accident ripping my brake plexus nerve bundle in half. The nerve bundle was repaired, with more surgeries and physical therapy required in order to gain at least some function. I paint now and do everything in life with my left arm and hand. I had to relearn how to write, paint, and operate in the world in this way. It’s been challenging and very frustrating at times.. because of this my wife and I placed Gallery Mariposa into a seasonal hiatus though we have plans coming up this year in 2025. Read More>>
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