Hey everyone! Nora and Maryna here, and we have a very special guest today—Donna Smith! We're thrilled to have her with us. Donna is a trailblazer in the film industry and has an impressive resume as the first female president of physical and post-production at Universal Studios.

We kick off the episode by delving into Donna's remarkable career. She has produced over 157 movies, including a dozen Oscar winners. Her journey is nothing short of inspiring, and we can't wait to share it with you.

Donna's story begins in Minneapolis. In 1979, tired of the cold and snow, she and her husband decided to move to Los Angeles. They had no connections, no jobs lined up—just the drive to escape the Midwest weather. They both came from the Guthrie Theater, where Donna's husband was a Shakespearean director.

Donna's first job in LA was as an assistant filing clerk. She hilariously recalls thinking she was working for a tire company until she realized it was actually a film production company. This unexpected start led to her role as a production coordinator on Rocky II and later, the production manager for Raging Bull, which earned seven Oscars.

Donna's career skyrocketed from there. She shared stories of working on iconic films like Terminator, The Matrix, and Waterworld. Her experiences highlight the challenges and excitement of film production, from managing massive crews to handling unexpected setbacks.

One particularly funny story was how Donna met Nora. It was a classic LA moment—they met at a secret bar, struck up a conversation, and the rest is history. Donna's openness to new connections and her willingness to mentor up-and-coming filmmakers like us is truly inspiring.

We also discussed Donna's philanthropic efforts, including her role as the United States Film Ambassador to China and her work with the World Hero Foundation, which builds homes for veterans. Despite her busy career, Donna finds time to give back and support the next generation of filmmakers.

Donna's advice for those trying to make it in Hollywood? Perseverance. She emphasizes the importance of being persistent and believing in yourself, even when faced with rejection. Her own company's name, Persnickety Productions, reflects her meticulous and determined nature.

In this episode, you'll hear about:
- Donna's early days in Minneapolis and her move to LA
- Her unexpected entry into the film industry
- Working on legendary films like Rocky II, Raging Bull, Terminator, and The Matrix
- The challenges of managing big productions like Waterworld
- Her philanthropic work and mentoring young filmmakers
- Valuable advice on perseverance and making it in Hollywood

Donna's stories are not just entertaining but also incredibly motivating for anyone aspiring to succeed in the film industry. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did!

We welcome Jessie Somekh and Hannah Graves, two dynamic entrepreneurs who share their journey from the East Coast to LA. Listen in as we discuss their unique backgrounds, the challenges of starting a business in a new city, and the inspiration behind their innovative fashion rental platform, Rotate Your Closet.

Jessie begins by sharing her story of moving west from New York, attending Vanderbilt in Nashville, and working at Microsoft in Seattle. She talks about navigating a male-dominated tech environment and her eventual transition to Nordstrom and Amazon. Hannah, from Boston, discusses her academic background in psychology at Bates College, her passion for digital advertising and marketing, and her experience at Dartmouth's accelerated business program.

We then dive into their decisions to move to LA. Jessie explains how the city's creative and tech communities, along with the sunny weather, influenced her lifestyle and career. Hannah shares her unique experience of commuting between Boston and LA, enjoying the best of both worlds while reconnecting with her sister and Jessie.

Next, we explore the inspiration behind Rotate Your Closet. Jessie and Hannah describe how their shared love for fashion and the desire to create a sustainable business model sparked the idea for their peer-to-peer fashion rental platform. They discuss the challenges and successes of starting a community-based business during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the importance of confidence and faking it till you make it in the business world.

Jessie and Hannah share valuable insights from their entrepreneurial journey, highlighting the significance of understanding and believing in your product. They recount anecdotes of navigating investor meetings and the crucial role of community and collaboration in their success.

The conversation takes a fun turn as we all share personal stories about our unique pieces of clothing and fashion quirks. Jessie’s tale of her brown suede harness and walkie-talkie adventures and Hannah’s love for rose brooches and her vintage Ninja Turtle jacket add a personal touch to the discussion.

As we near the end of the episode, Jessie and Hannah explain how Rotate Your Closet works, covering rental pricing, dry cleaning fees, and community-based quality control. They also discuss their plans for expanding into accessories and other fashion items, and their vision for building a sustainable, peer-to-peer fashion community.

We thank Jessie and Hannah for sharing their inspiring journey and insights. We wrap up the episode with a call to action, encouraging listeners to follow the podcast and guests on social media and to check out Rotate Your Closet for unique fashion rentals.

Links:
https://www.rotateyourcloset.co/

In this episode of Just Fake It: Coming to LA, Nora and Maryna dive deep into the cultural differences they've encountered since moving to Los Angeles. From apartment structures and the prevalence of paper-thin walls to the American practice of keeping shoes on indoors, the hosts share their humorous and eye-opening observations about life in the City of Angels.

Highlights:
- The surprising construction style in LA compared to other countries countries.
- The cultural contrast of wearing shoes inside versus the common practice of removing them.
- Observing Americans’ respect for personal space and the differences in social norms.
- Comparing public transportation etiquette between their home countries and the U.S.
- Navigating debit vs. credit options in the U.S.
- Nora shares a hilarious story about receiving calls meant for a famous music producer after inheriting his old number.
- The hosts reflect on the unexpected ways identity and communication systems differ.
- The anxiety of mailing crucial documents like passports and trusting the postal system.
- How the fear of losing identification papers can make one feel like a "true immigrant."
- Dealing with spam calls and scam attempts in the U.S.

Tune in for a fun-filled chat about adjusting to the quirks and surprises of Los Angeles life!