Our Pioneer in LA, USA: Sandra Soskic

Our pioneer of the week is Managing Director at ØPUS United in LA, Sandra Soskic. What can we learn from her experiences in America and what is it about life there that is creatively inspirational and different from the Netherlands? In this format, created in collaboration with Nils Adriaans, we ask Dutchies from the Creative Industry living abroad to send us 5 personal messages in a bottle, one for every day of the week.

What makes you feel at home?

We moved to Los Angeles from San Francisco just a couple months before the COVID-19 lockdown and I had purchased a Peloton tread just in time – the waiting list is currently many months. Not sure if Peloton is already available in The Netherlands, but this start-up and their products and content have been my absolute mental (and physical) health saviour in this long period of being locked at home. Every morning I step on my Peloton, open my garage door and do my HIIT workouts while enjoying the view of The Getty Center in the distance. My Peloton tread is my happy place.

What stands out the most there (professionally)?

The enormous diversity of people, lifestyles and industries. There are so many faces to LA, it takes years to just get to know your and the neighbouring hoods, let alone all the rest of town. It is inspiring and energising. Every day can be an adventure of discovery and exploration by just venturing into a new neighbourhood. The variety of creative industries one can be part of is enormous: music, movies, television, creative agencies, start-ups, fashion, and the list goes on and on. It gives a great sense of freedom and choice to know there is so much you can dive into if you want to.

What is your Random Pic(k) Of The Week?

I’m going to pick a world class artist – Sevdaliza – who comes from Rotterdam, where I was born. I absolutely love her music and visual work. Her latest video with Marine Serre, Amor Fati, is yet again a visual and fashion feast.

What’s the most radical piece of work over there?

Not a new movie, but an impressive directorial debut by Boots Riley. ‘Sorry to Bother You’ is a film which is reflective of the past, the current times and the future to come. Every frame and choice in ‘Sorry to Bother You’ feels like the opposite of a movie designed to please focus groups - it is a pronouncement of a major new talent. I can’t wait to see what he does next. It's a unique, meta, self-parody, original, ambitious and an absurd comedy drama.

What ‘souvenir’ would you bring home?

My time in California has definitely made me appreciate the little, joyful interactions with strangers and openness to make new friends. It may look superficial and fake on the surface, but it leaves everyone with a good feeling and it opens the door to really connect, if you want to. So yes, I would definitely try to bring that spirit to The Netherlands.