Check Out Cindy Maram’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cindy Maram.

Hi Cindy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Los Angeles County as a daughter of a Chinese immigrant mother from Hong Kong and an American father of Eastern European descent. Groomed since early childhood to study hard, excel in athletics, be accepting of people from different backgrounds, and at the same time value family relationships and friendships, I stayed focused on making my way from high school to my undergraduate degree at the University of California and to graduate school through the California State University system, where a number of my family members taught as tenured university professors, while graduating with top honors. A creative person by nature and being a strong writer since youth, I concentrated and nurtured that side of my mind—constantly reading, writing and researching. This later evolved into my interest in publishing. During graduate school, I was selected to intern at USC for one of the university’s academic journals within the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism as an Editorial Assistant. Then, I worked for a youth trends market research firm in Hollywood, California that published a popular print magazine. This work was  followed by other professional roles for book and magazine publishing houses, where I was inspired to build my own independent magazine publication and website, which focused on the entertainment, fashion, professional sports and the art industries, which evolved into Dig IN Magazine.

The initial idea for Dig IN Magazine arose in 2008 and the website was fully launched in 2009. Therefore, in 2023, we will be celebrating our 15th anniversary of the magazine. Since I also possessed web, graphic design, photography, videography, and video editing skills, as well as enjoyed photographing events and meeting fellow artists and filmmakers there, I took it upon myself to develop and launch the entertainment website, which is now a globally accredited media outlet for the Academy Awards, Cannes Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, and a Sponsor and Promotional Partner of the Mill Valley Film Festival. Through Dig IN, I’ve had the opportunity to travel the world on a regular basis while meeting and interviewing some of the biggest A-list celebrities in Hollywood.

Growing up in Los Angeles, a number of my childhood friends since elementary school through junior high and high school were actors in TV, film, and commercials. Many went onto play professional sports and were sponsored by big brands like Gatorade, doing commercials for these brands. I have a fond memory of one of my very best friends in high school landing a recurring guest starring role on a popular primetime television show and how she had experienced overnight fame. It was all very eye-opening and difficult for me at the same time. I witnessed her having to deal with this overnight success and newfound fame—suddenly not being viewed as a mere student or regular girl on campus any longer. So, as a result I was familiar with the world of actors and Hollywood from a very young age. I also had a deep interest and growing passion for movies and would watch television and films any chance I could. This passion for film and the movie industry grew and culminated into my current brands, Dig IN Magazine and IN Close Entertainment.

For many years, I’ve traveled globally throughout the year and had the opportunity to attend A-list events and rub shoulders with many celebrities, as well as meet talented filmmakers from around the world. Many of these connections have evolved into lifelong colleagues and friendships, where multiple invaluable film projects and industry collaborations have come into fruition.

A few years ago, I began producing films, such as HBO Max’s ‘Women Is Losers’ and the short film ‘I Am Normal’ available to stream on Omeleto. Through my creative and production agency, IN Close Entertainment, I have served as a creative Producer, Executive Producer, as well as worked on the communications, public relations, and publicity side for the films that I work with representing these movies, as well as directors and actors. My work involves developing communications strategies for the movies in regards to film festivals, red carpets, and publicity campaigns. Further, IN Close Entertainment served as a Festival Circle Film Sponsor for the ‘Women Is Losers’ San Francisco Bay Area Premiere at the 44th Mill Valley Film Festival where it won the Audience Favorite Award, as well as sponsored the film’s SAG/AFTRA screening during that same year’s award season.

The pandemic, which has come with many challenges, allowed for time to focus more on my screenwriting and I’ve recently completed two short film scripts (which I’ve been planning on writing for quite some time.) Both short films will be produced by my production company, IN Close Entertainment. The short film, ’The Photo Shoot’ is intended to bring up important conversations about our society’s negative perceptions of mental illness and increase awareness of mental health. I hope the film will help in the fight to destigmatize mental illness. It’s also about the importance of valuing the ideas and opinions of youth and young women.

Also, during this time of the pandemic there has been a newfound positive focus and value on mental health and wellness. So, I believe it’s the perfect time to make a movie that brings these issues to light. There is a stigma surrounding those with mental health issues and mental illness in our society that has been extremely detrimental. And I believe in this country and globally our mental health system is broken and all of this has resulted in the poor treatment of those deemed mentally ill, many patients unfortunately misdiagnosed, the butt of prejudice and discrimination, and often sadly resulting in homelessness. I hope this film will bring to the forefront some of these misconceptions and spark important conversations that hopefully can influence and change people’s perspectives on women, youth, and mental health.

I desire to use my platform as a filmmaker to serve as a vessel to bring these important issues and ideas to light and to spark conversations surrounding these crucial topics to the forefront. I desire that it will provide strength to and grant a voice to those whose stories or opinions may have been disregarded in the past. That they may be provided the opportunity to be seen or given the stage to talk about certain issues that have been traditionally pushed under the rug and be provided a safe space to speak their mind, as well as to share their experiences and their truth.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road. I mean, my strides have been made as a result of many late nights and early mornings. For many years it was a side hustle as I worked a full-time corporate communications job by day and did all of this on my hours off (sometimes that meant blogging during my lunch breaks and taking phone meetings on my 15-minute walk breaks.) But it all paid off. I waited until I got enough traction in my side hustle to transition into starting my other company, IN Close Entertainment. I still run Dig IN Magazine nonstop and have moved to the heart of Hollywood, California where I generally work remotely and travel whenever there are movie premieres, film festivals, or screenings. It’s really getting busy again now since awards season is upon us.

It has also sometimes been challenging to find the right team of people to work with. I have a stellar production company that I’ve worked with for many years in the San Francisco Bay Area, Guerilla Wanderer Films, who I collaborate with to produce my celebrity red carpet interview videos, and I work with a few trusted seasoned critically acclaimed freelance film critics. But once and while I get people applying that just want to meet celebrities or want to do it to “get famous” and that just doesn’t work for me as I like to consider Dig IN Magazine a more serious or non-fluff publication.

I was never in it for that reason. I believe the reason my interviews with many A-list celebrities are so genuine and have been told by various A-list talent that they appreciate my questions is because I am never just asking them what they are wearing or who they are dating (although I do love a stylish, red carpet couture dress or a Vogue cover—I mean, I did complement Emma Stone on gracing the cover of Vogue in one of our ‘La La Land’ red carpet interviews.) However, I am usually asking them about their work and their acting process, for example.

Also, it can be a little scary sometimes when newbies to the industry get starstruck, so I really have to be careful and work with only extremely seasoned industry professionals, and not just bring anyone along to A-list events. The key to success at these red carpet premiere events is to always keep one’s composure and be professional at all times, especially in high-pressure situations—especially with high-level people that are in the public eye.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a Producer and Global Entertainment Film & Media Executive and Influencer/Creator. I am the Founder, Editor-in-Chief, and Host of the entertainment celebrity news, interview, and indie film reviews digital publication, Dig IN Magazine (founded in 2008) and the talk-show, Dig IN Magazine Celebrity Interviews on YouTube and Scooped Podcast, as well as the Founder and CEO of IN Close Entertainment, a Los Angeles-based creative and production company.

Additionally, I provide year-round support and coverage of the international and national film festival circuit at Sundance Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, Venice International Film Festival, and Mill Valley Film Festival, to just name a few, where I also work with the California Film Institute and Mill Valley Film Festival as a Promotional Media Partner via Dig IN Magazine and Festival Circle Corporate Sponsor via IN Close Entertainment.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson that I’ve learned along my journey is to define your own success. No one person is alike, so do your best not to compare yourself to others. You are in your own lane.

No one is exactly like you, so there’s no way your path and journey to success will be the same as the next person’s. Your end goal or idea of success may look different for you than it does for someone else.

But one thing we all have in common is that life and health are success for all. If you have that, then you HAVE achieved a certain level of success. So, I believe at the core, focusing on your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health and well-being are essential to success in life. If you don’t have these essential assets, then your productivity in other areas of your life, professionally, academically, socially and/or athletically may not be as positive, productive and successful.

I realize that my life journey, which includes my career and educational path, as well as my choices, which have led me to where I am today as an entrepreneur and filmmaker, are unique to me.  No one else has done it this way or achieved what I have in the fashion in which I have achieved it. And not everyone understands my course, but they may understand the significance of the finish line. In my case, this is possessing a certain level of freedom in life and a career I have always desired that is filled with creativity, travel, movies, fashion, red carpets and glamour, arts and culture, as well as getting to hang and collaborate with friends and filmmakers on film projects from around the world.

Since I’ve carved my own path, I believe I am truly in my own lane. And therefore, so are you. Just like me, everyone’s life and career path is unique.

So, remember, stop competing with everyone else. You are in your own lane!

Contact Info:

• Website: Portfolio: http://www.cindymaram.com
• Blog: http://www.diginmag.com
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/cindymaram
• Twitter:https://twitter.com/cindymaram
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/diginmag
• Other: Creative and Production Agency: http://www.incloseentertainment.com

Image Credits
Vivien Killilea, Jacopo Phraule, Venice Film Festival, Kimberly White, ABC10, Marc Kay, and Cindy Maram