Community Highlights: Meet Zuzana “Sju” Martinkova of Why Not Productions

Today we’d like to introduce you to Zuzana “Sju” Martinkova.

Hi Sju, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started my journey in sports journalism, which might seem very different from where I am now, but it actually taught me so much about storytelling, discipline, and how to find the human side of every story. I studied Sports Journalism at the University of the West of Scotland, and for my final thesis I created a documentary called Bullet Away, which focused on war correspondents and their firsthand experiences from conflict zones. That project became a turning point for me because it made me realize how powerful film can be when it is used to tell real, emotional, and meaningful stories.

After that, I moved more fully into film. I studied film production and later completed my Master’s in Film and Media Production. I knew I wanted to understand the industry from different angles, not only creatively, but also practically. Over time, I started working more in production, post-production, and VFX, and I found a space where I could combine organization, creativity, problem-solving, and storytelling.

My path was definitely not simple or overnight. I had to work very hard, learn fast, and prove myself in rooms where I was often one of the younger women. But every project helped me grow. I had the opportunity to work on short films, documentaries, feature films, and larger productions, and each experience taught me something different about leadership, collaboration, and staying calm under pressure.

Today, I work as a producer in Los Angeles, and I am very grateful for the journey that brought me here. I feel like everything connected in its own way, from journalism, to acting, to producing, to post-production. At the center of all of it, I have always cared about stories that make people feel something, understand something, or see the world from a different perspective.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. I think anything creative, especially in film, comes with a lot of uncertainty, rejection, and moments where you have to keep going even when things are not happening the way you hoped.

One of the biggest struggles was moving through different industries and building myself from the ground up. I started in journalism, then moved into film and production, so I had to constantly prove that my experience was valuable, even if my path was not the most traditional one. Being a young woman in this industry also comes with its own challenges. You have to learn how to stand your ground, speak up, and trust your own voice, even when you are in rooms where people might underestimate you.
There were also many practical challenges, from moving to Los Angeles, building a career in a very competitive city, learning the business side of film, and figuring things out as I went. Nothing was just handed to me. I had to work hard, take opportunities seriously, and sometimes create opportunities for myself when they were not there.

But I am honestly grateful for the difficult parts too, because they taught me resilience. They made me better at problem-solving, better at communication, and stronger as a producer. I think the struggles shaped me just as much as the successes did.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Why Not Productions is a production and content creation company built around bold storytelling, creative problem-solving, and the idea that sometimes the best opportunities come from asking, “why not?”
We work across film, digital media, branded content, social media content, and visual storytelling. We specialize in creating content from concept to final delivery, whether that means developing the idea, filming, producing, editing, or helping shape the visual style of the project. My background is in producing, post-production, and VFX, so I bring both the creative and practical side into every project.

What sets Why Not Productions apart is that we understand the full process. It is not just about making something look good, but also about making sure the story is clear, the production is organized, and the final piece feels polished and intentional. We can support a brand, a film, a campaign, or a creative concept at different stages, from filming and content creation to post-production and visual finishing.

Brand-wise, I am most proud that Why Not Productions reflects my own journey. It is ambitious, adaptable, and not limited to one box. I want readers to know that the company is built with passion, resilience, and respect for the craft. We care about creating work that feels cinematic, meaningful, and visually strong, whether it is a film, a branded campaign, or social media content that connects with people in a real way.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was a little firecracker. I really did not understand fear. I was always outside, running around with beat-up knees from climbing trees, playing hide and seek, and getting myself into some kind of adventure.

I grew up in Slovakia, spending so much time outside with all my friends on our neighborhood, which is basically a housing estate, but to us it felt like the whole world. It was wild in the best way. We were always running around, playing games, climbing, exploring, staying out until late, and somehow it always felt safe. There was this sense of freedom and community that I think shaped me a lot. We did not need much to have fun. We just used our imagination and whatever was around us.

I think I was always a little bit of a crazy thinker, but in a good way. I never really looked at things in the most obvious way. I always liked thinking outside of the box and figuring things out for myself. I was also very hands-on from a young age. I loved making things, fixing things, and doing little DIY projects.

A lot of that came from watching my dad. If something needed to be done and he was busy, I would just try to do it myself because in my head it was always, “why not?” That mentality stayed with me. I think it is still a big part of who I am today, not being afraid to try, to learn, to build, or to find a creative solution even if I have never done something before.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sjumartinkova.com

Image Credits
LUIS AVILES = HEADSHOTS