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.

Jalina Brown

I grew up with an art-teacher mom who let me try every creative outlet I wanted, and when I found out that being in movies was a real job, I knew there was no other path for me. Eventually I realized the chances of me being ‘discovered’ in a small town in Midcoast Maine were slim to none, so I decided to broaden my horizons. Read more>>

Maple Moriji

I worked as a software engineer for thirteen years until I lost my job in the Great Recession. After six months of no work, I decided to get a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. This was the best decision I’ve ever made. I learned all about different therapy modalities that I still use to this day. Read more>>

Cody Steele

I grew up in Cleveland, where people work hard and don’t expect shortcuts. Acting started out as a way to make sense of things, then turned into the thing that made me feel alive. I studied theater, did every kind of side job you can think of, and eventually packed up and came to LA with just enough money and a lot of stubborn faith. Read more>>

Rosa Parra

Born and raised in East L.A. I’m a proud daughter of Mexican immigrants. Proud mother to 4 daughters and proud grandmother to 1 grandon. I’ve been a Southern California girl my entire life. I’ve been doing film criticism since 2017. Read more>>

Dorez Douglas

I moved from Detroit to Los Angeles in 1980. Started out doing Temp work as a Secretary. My assignments were at various television networks and movie studios. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was working in the Development side of the entertainment industry. Read more>>

Enjonu

I’ve loved music for as long as I can remember. I was that kid who was always singing, always dancing—music just lived in me. I started writing poetry back in elementary school, but it wasn’t until middle school that I really found my voice. That’s when I realized not only did I love doing it, but I was actually good at it. Read more>>

Meredith ‘Phee’ Avery

I’ve been performing for as long as I can remember — I was that toddler crawling up onto the stage after church to grab the mic and sing. By my pre-teens, I was writing poetry and had several pieces published in real books, which was when I first realized storytelling was in my DNA. Read more>>

Sarah McAtee

You know, it’s funny, my journey into coaching really started way before I ever called myself a coach. Back in middle school, one of my teammates looked at me and said, “Sarah, I think you’re going to be a Life Coach when you grow up.” I remember laughing, thinking, “What even is that?” But looking back, that moment planted a seed. Read more>>

Jonathan Molo

I’ve been fascinated by magic since I was ten years old, the day I watched David Copperfield make the Statue of Liberty disappear. As a shy Filipino kid growing up, magic gave me a voice. It made people smile—especially my mom—and that feeling never left me. Over the years, what started as a childhood hobby became a lifelong passion. Read more>>

Matt Sim

So, I’m Matt Sim, a mixing and mastering engineer. I started with stereo formats and, in the past few years, have ventured into Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 formats. Depending on the project, I might handle both mixing and mastering for Stereo and Atmos, or just one of those roles. Since 2020, I’ve been completely freelance, working remotely from my home studio. Read more>>

Nikki Taguilas

My earliest experience in the world of writing came from reading books and getting lost in the different worlds. In fifth grade, I took a basics skills test, which included a writing portion. Later, I was surprised to hear the piece I submitted was asked to be used in future tests as part of the reading comprehension portion. Read more>>

Alex Untoria

I was born and raised in New Jersey in a family of Puerto Rican and Cuban roots. From a young age, I was enamored by cartoons and drawing. I drew lots of dragons, aliens, animals, and superheroes. I created a lot of stories to accompany all the things I was drawing. Read more>>

Eileen Grubba

Eileen Grubba is an award-winning actress, writer, producer, and fierce advocate for disability inclusion in Hollywood, with over 55 awards recognizing her work in front of and behind the camera. A lifelong champion for authentic storytelling, she has dedicated her career to breaking barriers for performers with disabilities and ensuring that their voices are represented in film and television. Read more>>

Emma Filley

I practically grew up on stage. From competitive dance to local theater productions in San Diego, to choosing a path in the TV and Film industry. When I was younger, I remember watching kids my age, acting on my sister’s tiny television screen, and immediately thinking, ‘ How do I do that?’ I started acting classes and jumped right into auditioning. Read more>>

Olivia Evelyn Lynes

I’ve always been drawn to creating moments that make people feel something — calm, connected, and cared for. Before I ever called it “wedding planning,” I was the person who naturally brought people together, noticed the small details, and found beauty in how a space could shift someone’s energy. Read more>>

Emily Kim

I’ve always been captivated by skincare and how it intertwines culture, science, and our daily routines. Growing up in Korea, skincare was never just about looking good – it was a vital part of wellness and self-respect. Read more>>

Jace Adams

J.A. Creative Industries was born out of a passion for storytelling and visual identity. Before founding the agency, I worked within a major global fast fashion retailer — a space where I quickly realized that the value and proposition often didn’t align with the level of creativity, innovation, and dedication being brought to the table. Unfortunately, that imbalance is common in the industry. Read more>>

Irina Myasnikova

I got where I am today by exploring and learning about spirituality and how the mind and the story can be transformed and I also coach people and have supernatural experiences like traveling between the worlds when I asleep and doing psychic readings for people, helping them to transform their lives. Read more>>

Ri-ahn Kim

I started my journey as a musical theatre performer in South Korea, where I performed for over 13 years in various productions such as Matilda, Ghost, and Aida. Performing on stage has always been my greatest passion, and through those years, I learned how powerful storytelling through music and movement can be. Read more>>

Sassan Saffari

My journey into the arts began long before any kind of formal training. It started with my grandmother, Edith Conklin Weaver. I always say her full name when I speak about her…because I want her legacy to live on. She was a painter and a poet, and her home was a sanctuary of creativity and imagination. Read more>>

tina gonzalez

I grew up in City Terrace or East LA until my mom moved us to Monterey Park, South Pasadena and Texas for a few years. I was married at a very young age and started a family, so I never had the opportunity to experience college life. But I did take classes at night and started working in corporate America. Read more>>

Todd Franklin II

I’m Todd Franklin II from Atlanta, Georgia. I’ve always been curious and driven, whether it’s writing horror and drama screenplays, surfing in California and Hawai’i, or playing basketball in Venice Beach. I love food, especially Italian, American, and Mexican, and I’ve been diving into languages for years, learning Japanese, Mandarin, Thai, German, French, Spanish, and Vietnamese. I’m a proud father and love traveling. Read more>>

Lizzy Yang Liu

I’ve always believed that storytelling is both an art and a system — emotion meets structure. My path began at the Beijing Film Academy, where I developed a foundation in cinematic language, and later at Emerson College, where I earned my MFA in Film and Media Art. Those experiences shaped my understanding of how stories can transcend borders and formats. Read more>>

Yale Park

I studied architecture for five years in Korea and started my career at an architectural firm called ‘Poly.m.ur.’ The thing about architecture is it involves managing projects at a large scale which often means you can’t focus as deeply on the details—the small, tactile elements that people actually touch and feel. However, what interested me most was always the details. Read more>>

Branden Mitch

I got my start thrifting. Every week I’d hit different thrift stores and flea markets—Melrose Trading Post was basically my classroom. Every Sunday I was there studying pieces, learning washes, stitching, quality, and fit. I realized I was drawn to vintage because the craftsmanship was different—stronger materials, better cuts. Meanwhile, most modern brands felt cheap and synthetic. That’s when I started paying attention to fit. Read more>>

EME Aqua

My story began at home, when my family faced food allergies and gluten intolerance. Determined to create desserts that were both safe and indulgent, I started reimagining classic recipes using clean, natural ingredients. What began as baking for my loved ones quickly became a passion — a way to blend wellness, joy, and connection through food. Read more>>

Jack Kelley

The latest chapter our story is a new book that builds on and more deeply explores the concepts, science, and history in our hit international documentary The Atlantis Puzzle. This all started on the island of Santorini in 2019 when my wife and I were visiting the ancient ruins at Akrotiri. Read more>>

Ellie Diez

I’ve called Los Angeles home for the past ten years. When I first moved here, my dream was to transition my theater acting career from stage to screen. But the reality of LA driving—racing from West Hollywood to auditions across the 405—was a shock for someone who’d only ever driven during beach vacations. Read more>>

Charlie Perry

I arrived in Los Angeles 7 years ago with a thousand dollars in my pocket and a dream to make movies. A few months prior I graduated the University of Kansas with a degree in film, and a girlfriend I was looking forward to marrying. Read more>>

John Aaron

African-American doing business for over 13 years since I was 23 years old lives in Miami fl. Over 1000 real estate transactions Read more>>

jason walsh

Born and raised in Missouri, Jason’s path has been anything but ordinary. While studying at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he split his time between interning in the school’s strength and conditioning program and managing the late-night rush at Elaine’s on Franklin. That mix of discipline and hustle would come to define his career. Read more>>

Young Miller

Young Miller Tha Don (born and raised in New Orleans) moved to Beverly Hills with his relative Master P, and witnessing Master P’s success inspired him to pursue music and entrepreneurship. In 2004 Master P formed the Rich Boyz with Young Miller, Lil Romeo, Young V, Los, and Lil D, giving Miller early industry experience and exposure. Read more>>

Dominique Columbus

Dominique Columbus is an LA based actor who rose to fame after a recurring role on showtime’s hit show “Ray Donovan” for 2 seasons. Shortly after Ray Donovan, Dominique starred along side Johnny Depp in “City of Lies”, a film about the murder of “The Notorious B.L.G” directed by Brad Furman. Read more>>

Chris Cuthbert

My passion for filmmaking was sparked at a young age, watching the behind-the-scenes of Independence Day, where the magic of practical effects and filmmaking came alive for me. Seeing miniature explosions, camera rigs, and the collaboration behind the spectacle made me realize that filmmaking wasn’t just entertainment; it was a symphony of creativity, problem-solving, and storytelling. That moment planted a seed that never stopped growing. Read more>>

DAME

The story surrounding DAME is really, at its core, a love story. 2 musical souls who were inspired by each other from afar, came together in a single, powerful, fated moment, and suddenly the vision for this music became clear. The entire course of my life changed after meeting Brian. Read more>>

Mariano De Luca

I’m a frustrated guitar player that found Film School through making music for movies, and after my first “Cinematography” class, I said: “This is what I want to do!”. After that, all I did was try to become a cinematographer. I tried to shoot and participate in as many projects as I could during Film School. Read more>>

Jasper Cole

I’m a veteran Actor/Producer/Manager with over 120 TV/Film credits. I moved to LA from Atlanta GA. in 1987 with a play WILLOW SPRINGS NOW that I co-wrote and co-starred in with fellow Georgian, Becky Canady. It was produced at The Century City Playhouse in West LA and from there I started my career here in Hollywood. Read more>>

Nia Raasikh

I work at an entertainment agency and have been privileged to help produce campaigns for <i>Sinners</i>, <i>Oppenheimer</i>, <i>Barbie</i>, and more. But right now, I’m most excited and proud of <i>Girl Dinner.</i> Co-directing this with my friend Anika and writing alongside our co-writer Javier is a rewarding experience. There’s something special about building a project from the ground up and seeing it materialize. I’m so pumped to shoot this winter and can’t wait to bring characters who have lived in my head for years to life. Read more>>

Brooke Dulien

I was born in Los Angeles, raised in Newport Beach, and still call LA home. I’ve fallen into every career I’ve ever had by pure chance. It all started when I drove a friend to the airport for a styling job and ended up assisting him on set. Read more>>