OUR PIONEER IN LOS ANGELES, USA: EMMA WESTENBERG

Award winning visual storyteller, director & producer Emma Westenberg (represented by Halal) moves between the worlds of fashion and fine art to deliver visions brimming with colour and confidence. Her breakthrough came with Janelle Monae's viral music video Pynk (2018), earning her a Grammy and MTV Music Award nomination. She has since gone on to direct a Super Bowl spot featuring a cool Zoe Kravitz, directing Kendall Jenner for Vogue, Rebel Wilson for Olly, and the list goes on. Having moved to Los Angeles only four years ago - we find out what life is like for the young director who's already put her name firmly on the map.

Why are you in Los Angeles?

I live in Los Angeles because work brought me, I work in film so there’s a lot to do around here. The friends I made, the sunshine and national parks kept me around, I have been here for about 4 years now.

What makes you feel at home?

I just moved into my dream house, not an overstatement, I walked past it two years ago on a hike and called it out “that’s my dream house” and coincidentally saw it on the market not too long ago for rent, so I packed my belongings and moved in with two close friends of mine. Los Angeles is a city where you spend a lot of time at home, not so much out and about like in Amsterdam, so it makes life in LA pretty precious. It’s an adobe with high ceilings and beautiful views and it has a bunch of gezellige ghosts.

What stands out the most there (professionally)?

I came here for work and that’s what still makes it worth it to be so far away from family and friends. I’m growing in my career, I love working here, I’m ever expanding and learning. I feel very lucky to be doing what I’m doing.

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

Cassavetes is one of my favorite directors (I love the performances he gets out of actors and his movies make me laugh) and his collaboration/ relationship with Gina Rowlands is very inspiring to me. I identity very much with how they talked about and lived with movies, stories and art. Added in is also a link to an interview to elaborate that some more.

I'm almost not Crazy - the making of Love Streams by John Cassavetes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFqBSl-6KWI

Who’s the most outstanding creative over there?

Hmmmmm it’s hard to name just one. I think what inspires me is the multitude of talents that work and live here and the attitude that people have towards art. The excitement about creativity is really what keeps me invigorated to work here. I’m really happy with the network of creatives and friends I get to work and spend time with, like my dear friend, actress and producer Vera Bulder and fashion designer Sophie Hardeman. Both Dutchies who I frequently collaborate with here.

Vera Bulder: https://www.instagram.com/vera...

Sophie Hardeman: https://www.instagram.com/hard...

What ‘souvenir’ would/will you bring home?

I wish I could do it the other way around and bring my friends and family to California to come live with me here. I miss them very much, it’s too far away. But sticking to the rules, I would like to bring the infinite sense you get in nature here back home ;)