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.

Marléne

I actually got into photography pretty early. My dad was an amateur photographer, and he gave me a Polaroid when I was a kid. I think that was the moment something clicked—it felt like magic to take a picture and hold it in your hand seconds later. I also modeled and lucky to travel and be around so many creative people early on. I always had a camera with me—I’d shoot backstage, document the in-between moments, and take portraits of my friends. Over time, it evolved into a real practice.” Read more>>

Jessica Hernandez

I started playing for fun and after playing a few friends parties i slowly started getting gigs and some clubs in LA. I describe the style of music I like to play as fun high energy dance, house, pop. My love of the pop girlies got me into dance so they are heavily infused into the sets I play. I now play at a lot of the clubs in LA and have traveled to play in different cities around the country for parties and prides. My next goal is to get into producing my own music and take the next step in my dj career. I hope to dj more around the world as I’m dancing on tour for katy and I’m excited for what the future has ahead. Read more>>

Serhat Baydar

“Back then, I brought every innovative product I could find abroad into my country,” says Serhat. That forward-thinking approach filled a major market gap and earned him both recognition and success. His achievements in e-commerce didn’t just bring financial rewards; they made him a role model. Read more>>

Andrey Ivchenko

I was born and raised in Kharkiv, Ukraine. After serving in the army at 18, I left Ukraine for London, then spent time in Israel before finally settling in Toronto to pursue acting. Canada is where my career really began. I landed early roles in shows like *Falling Skies*, *Nikita*, and *Transporter: The Series*. My first lead role came in the Lionsgate feature *The Way of the West* (2011), followed by *Freezer*, where I starred opposite Dylan McDermott. Read more>>

ANOUSH SADEGH

XOIE has since been retired due to the high cost of hardware upgrades and was later donated to a lab for educational use and display. Her legacy now continues through ZOIE, her virtual AI successor, who represents the next phase of our mission to pioneer emotionally resonant, AI-powered storytelling. I’m also a proud member of the Producers Guild of America, which supports my continued commitment to elevating storytelling through innovative and ethical media production. Read more>>

Tatu Papi

I’m one of those hermit types, that I really don’t mix with the lifestyle, culture or mingle with the industry too much. My hindsight for the industry trends isn’t too helpful lol Read more>>

G Anthony Joseph

More importantly, it translated to dealing with and overcoming life’s obstacles to attain all the goals I wanted for my life. There is never a dull or static moment in this unique system so my mind is constantly activated trying to come up with new and creative ways to continually improve while following certain Objective principles. The one thing my main teacher kept repeating was “We will not be brawlers” which constantly required a high level on thought in the midst of the action to stay true to the technique because it simply worked and was designed that way for a reason. Read more>>

Alexandria Singh

In 2017 , I pursued learning hairstyling & it quickly became another passion. I continuously keep myself learning about makeup & hair with product knowledge, techniques & such with attending classes, demos ,seminars and simply learning from fellow artists. Read more>>

Michael Wall

I always regretted that we never got to share the Comic stores. In June of 2013, we started a Facebook page called Meisterkhan specializing in geeky content. The name comes from a combination of my favorite Christmas special, Santa Claus is coming to Town. The villain is Burger Meister, Meister Burger. Khan comes from my love of Star Trek and Kirk’s classic yelling during Star Trek II The Wrath of Khan. Read more>>

Jon Hechtkopf

Hechtkopf & Co offers a curated collection of unique properties for photoshoots and commercials. From luxury estates to stunning landscapes, we provide diverse backdrops that cater to our clients creative vision. Our team works closely with property owners and creative professionals to ensure seamless shoots. Whats sets us apart from the other similar companies, is that we actually care. We are super into architecture and design, additionally with in a extensive background in production so the main goal is to get clients into stunning homes, make the home owners as much money as possible all while helping the production/brands get the best unique content. Read more>>

Kennedy Mullins

I started working on building my book, making sure all my photos represented exactly what and who I wanted to work for. Over the years I have signed with modeling agencies in Los Angeles, Mexico, New York, Atlanta, Tennessee, and Chicago. I’ve collaborated with notable brands including Lids, Fanatics, Burt’s Bees, Panera, TJ Maxx, Hilton Hotels, and Ulta Beauty. My work has also been featured in People Magazine and Teen Vogue. I recently relocated to Los Angeles to be closer to industry opportunities and to further my career as a model and actor. As of January, I am proudly signed with a global management company for TV & Film. Read more>>

Mae Edwards

Although labeled as Neoplatonist, these Rituals trace back to the original Wisdom, first recorded of humanity communing with the Divine. These Rituals are decoded from the cuneiforms of the Ancient Sumerians. Those who practice Theurgy are considered “Wonder-Workers” as the Divine then uses them to assist those who are suffering, to alleviate sadness and uplift and magnify feelings of loving adoration, deep profound feelings of self-worth and the light sweetness of Being in all of the Divine’s Creations. Read more>>

Lina Kottutz

It’s never been a smooth road. I’ve gone through deep heartbreaks, lost people who meant the world to me, and faced financial struggles that made me question everything. There were moments when I stood in my own way – doubting, hesitating, overthinking. It hasn’t always been easy. But somehow, through all the chaos and challenges, I kept showing up. And that’s what shaped me. Read more>>

Renee Alegria LTHR WRKS

LTHR WRKS is a small, artisanal leather manufacturing facility and brand located in the heart of Los Angeles, CA. We specialize in private label production of leather goods and offer full product development services—from material sourcing to prototyping and finished production—all under one roof. Our craftsmen, each with over 25 years of experience, handcraft every piece in our East Hollywood studio. Read more>>

Becky Bruner

Now haunting Los Angeles, Becky co-hosts and produces Final Girl’s Guide, a podcast that slices into horror tropes, spotlights women in the genre, and doesn’t shy away from a little blood and banter. She’s currently producing Goldie, a wickedly campy short film about a clown pushed one insult too far. Whether she’s behind the mic or running a set, Becky is all about crafting horror that’s sharp, stylish, and just a little bit unhinged, in the best way. Read more>>

Ming Fen Congdon

After settling in, I had enough savings to avoid getting a part-time job right away, so I focused on making connections. I joined Facebook groups, applied for free gigs anything to get my foot in the door. I worked a few unpaid jobs as a boom operator, a camera PA (yes, I know that’s not an official role!), and ran around LA with influencers. Eventually, I got really lucky. A friend from the house needed a ride to a short film shoot, and I offered to drive her, but also asked, “Do they need extra hands? I’ll work for free. Read more>>

Maria Salinger

Back in Berlin and like many young actresses starting out, I faced my share of disheartening experiences, what led me to take control of my path. So, I immersed myself in learning every aspect of filmmaking and moved back to Los Angeles to study Cinema Production. I co-founded Craft Films LA with Surzo, a close friend of mine who has a Heart of Gold. It‘s working with friends which has always been a dream of mine. Read more>>

Jonathan Lawing

Then one evening, everything changed. I was watching Vogue World: Paris in June 2024, live from Place Vendôme. As I sat there, something stirred within me — an overwhelming sense of belonging, as if I was meant to be there. It’s hard to explain, but it was visceral. That feeling lingered long after the show ended. Just two hours later, while scrolling through Instagram, I came across a casting call for models. I almost scrolled past, but the same feeling surged in me again — that tug, that push. I took a leap and applied. Read more>>

Monica Nia

I’ve always said that music wasn’t a decision, it’s my identity. It’s who I am. I grew up in a home where emotional and financial stability didn’t exist. My father struggled with addiction, and the house was often filled with chaos and fighting. From a young age, I leaned into music without even realizing it. My mom would tell me I held notes and danced in rhythm to the Marineland commercial as a baby. I would make up songs in the bedroom, not because I was trying to be good at it, but because it made me feel safe. It helped me process the world around me. Music became my safe space. My invisible friend. My way of expressing what I didn’t yet have the words for. Read more>>

Jimmy Maddon

With continuous gigging I had set myself up as a rapidly growing artist, touring Australia again in 2017 and Thailand in 2017 2018 was my first major breakthrough tour with a tour of the United Kingdom before returning home to work on my debut album ‘Jimmy Maddon’ my self titled album was released in 2020 amid the pandemic, with my second single ‘The Real Me’ charting in a USA Indie Top 10 Read more>>

Jairo Tomico

I first came to L.A. about a decade ago for a summer job with a startup app, and somewhere along the way, it just became home. I work in graphic design and marketing, so being in a creative city made sense — but finding community wasn’t easy. At first, I kept my conservative beliefs quiet, fearing it might close doors. Growing up in Texas as an only child, I’ve always had an independent streak and a quiet drive to prove people wrong. Read more>>

Yuri Shim

Eventually I wanted to explore something different so I ended up taking a permanent makeup tattoo course but quickly realized that it didn’t offer the creative freedom I wanted. One day, my boyfriend mentioned that he wanted a tattoo and encouraged me to try it using the machine I already had. (Don’t worry – I’ve upgraded my machine since then haha). This was the start of it all and after countless practice tattoos on my boyfriend, fake skin, myself and some close friends (thank you all – I wouldn’t be here without you) I pursued it as my professional career and landed a spot at Banana Tattoo Studio in Los Angeles. Read more>>

Don Katz

I was born in Israel and raised in Orange County from the age of three, the child of Slovakian parents and Holocaust survivor grandparents. Food and hospitality were my first loves—I studied restaurant management at San Francisco State and managed restaurants in SF before moving to New York to pursue a master’s in Food Studies at NYU. Read more>>

Sylvia Heranchian

Growing up with a tom boy mom , my thick long hair was too much for her to take care of. One day she decided to cut it short. After that , going to the hair dresser was a nightmare for me. I kicked and screamed every time. Finally in high school I started cutting my own hair. My friends would always compliment it so then I started cutting theirs. Read more>>

Flyy High

I was raised in a traditional West Indian household, where children were expected to be respectful, obedient, and quiet. Emotions weren’t something we necessarily felt comfortable exploring. We were taught to keep going, keep producing, and keep it together. I was “mature” early on. I knew how to look strong and unaffected, but in truth, I’ve always been deeply sensitive. Even when I couldn’t say what I was feeling out loud, I felt it all. Read more>>

Maya

After some major life events a couple of years ago, I’d say that I lost the sense of my path and hasn’t done anything creatively for some time, which took a toll on my courage to express myself. But, as always, taking small steps helps – which is exactly what I’ve been doing & getting out there always helps, like look at me, ha, doing this interview! Read more>>

Ryan Anderson

My background in finance within the film industry has equipped me with essential skills that I apply to assist artists and creatives in their brand development journeys. By leveraging my MBA from Pepperdine, combined with practical, real-world experience, I have been able to deliver substantial value to the artists I work with. My approach transcends traditional creative support; I am dedicated to educating them about their critical role in managing their own businesses, emphasizing the importance of financial literacy and strategic planning. Read more>>

JUICE Dukes

My first love and passion is music. Since a kid I’ve always been around the industry through my older brother. He started off rapping and was really good at it, but was way better and marketing his brand/himself. I remember walking my first red carpet with him at the age of 13. He use to take me everywhere with him because I’d keep him awake when we’d be driving home from different events. Read more>>

Larry Sims

Once I got back to LA, I had to book dance jobs to suffice for money. One of the jobs I booked was with Jessica Simpson for the People’s Choice Awards. Stylist to the stars Jessica Pastor saw images of my work as a hairstylist on my laptop in the dressing room. She saw that I had talent and introduced me to Jessica Simpson‘s hair stylist Ken Paves. Read more>>

Elisa Barretta

It hasn’t been a smooth road, but it’s been a deeply rewarding one. When I decided to study to become a registered yoga teacher, I was still working full-time as a fashion designer. I was juggling demanding design projects during the day and spending long hours—very early mornings, late nights and whole weekends—immersed in yoga teacher training. It was intense, both mentally and physically. Read more>>

Chantara

Born in Long Island, New York, and raised in East Los Angeles since the age of two, Chantara grew up as an only child in a multicultural home, surrounded by a mix of Spanish, Russian, and Indonesian influence. With no siblings to share her world, music became her closest companion – a place where she could explore her thoughts, express emotions, and feel less alone. She first discovered her voice in elementary school, when music class quickly became her favorite part of the day. It wasn’t just fun – it felt like freedom. That’s when she realized: “Songwriting could set her free.” Read more>>

Anya Ahuja

The mic feels warm and comfortable in my hand as my words echo through the stadium. Adrenaline pumping, I catch a glimpse of the joy, pride, and excitement in my parents’ eyes. After 9 years, I can’t shake that habit. After each event I host or speech I give, I become 9 years old for just a moment, desperately scanning the crowd. Always a little fearful that I’ll see those same, heartbreaking emotions and be right back in the funeral home. I still look upon the world with the same third-grade eyes, but my perspective has shifted. My vision is heightened with the years of life behind me, with a gradual understanding of the complex emotions I no longer need bright yellow icons to feel and understand. Read more>>

Franccesca Tardini

At In The Pink, we’ve built something that reflects both our worlds. It’s a space that blends a tattoo studio with a live music venue, retail, education, and digital media. We didn’t just want to open a cool place—we wanted to design a system that helps independent artists actually grow and thrive. That’s what we specialize in: building real support around culture that’s usually underfunded, overlooked, or exploited. Read more>>

Murphy Li

Financial uncertainty was another major challenge. Freelancing in film sound, especially as an immigrant, means juggling multiple roles, building a network from the ground up, and constantly adjusting to new crews and workflows. But every challenge became a lesson in resilience. I’ve learned to trust the process, embrace the uncertainty, and keep moving forward—even when the path isn’t easy. Read more>>