Artistic and creative careers are among the most rewarding, but they also come with unique challenges. We asked some of the city’s best creatives to tell us why they choose to pursue a creative career.

Anika Perera | Actor, Educator, & Music Industry Professional

I was born and raised in the California sun, with two immigrant parents from Sri Lanka. As a child, I often felt caught between two cultures. To find a sense of belonging, I turned to the arts. However, faces like mine were rare in the media. Despite this, my mom recognized my passion for theater and encouraged me to pursue it. It was in the world of theater that I truly discovered myself. Mixing both American and Sri Lankan cultures in my performances allowed me to bring fresh perspectives to traditional shows. Embracing my dual cultural identity, I found value and harmony within myself. This passions transformed to all areas of the arts including music, and film. Read more>>

Granny Wowzers | Granny Wowzers poet and radio personality

Since I can remember, I have felt unheard. First as child no one understood, or cared to listen too . So I wrote stories , poetry, and made my own illustrations. Worlds where people could see me and hear me with understanding. Being in special education all my academic youth , in the 70’s to the 90’s . Made me feel silenced, a throw away kid , with no hope for the future. So once I found my voice through radio, becoming a published poet . Hearing how other people enjoyed or could relate to me . That made me want to help others to be heard . Now I am able to freely create and I know someone out there will appreciate it . Now I am able to help others feel the same , and see that it can happen. Read more>>

Rodney Hobbs | Actor

I pursued an artistic career because it’s something I’ve wanted to do since I was 5 or 6 years old. I’ve always been fascinated by television, and have been watching favorite shows since then. In looking at being fulfilled in life, there’s no other pursuit that motivated me the way performing does. Because I always had this dream/desire, I didn’t want to live my life saying “woulda-shoulda-coulda,” so I decided to pursue it. Read more>>

Tina Mitoyan | Founder of Tina Mit Artistry

It was like a driven force and I had to do it. It’s one of those things that you have to continue once you start so you can see any lucrative results .. and then it’s full-filling as an artist. Read more>>

Sophia Wolov | Writer and Producer

As a South African, theater was my entrance into the creative arts. Throughout school, I was deeply inspired by the plays we studied in drama class. We spent hours studying work created by playwrights such as Athol Fugard, John Kani, and Lara Foot. They all have the ability to condense a complex socio-political landscape into a world that forces the audience to confront painful topics of South Africa’s Apartheid history, mental health, and domestic violence. I realized that creativity, in a way, is a magic trick. We’re able to lure the viewer in through characters, humor, and an interesting world and then allow them to confront the world around us. I have a very dark sense of humor, and my favorite shows have been a huge influence in motivating me to pursue a career in the arts. Read more>>

Whitney Wegman-Wood | Actor, Writer, Producer

I had no choice but to choose an artistic career. I did a play in my 6th grade year of school and was bitten by the acting bug. After that there was no other path for me. And I love this path because it allows me to be a perpetual student. I am always acquiring new knowledge and growing as a person through the life and experience of my characters. I learn something new every time I research a role. Read more>>

Claudia Kazachinsky | Artist

I have always been creative, playing with color pencils and paint from a very early age. I always knew I could only be happy if I was able to be creative and being an artist seemed a little risky so I found a way to do both, creativity and practicality. Building a career, first as a set designer and then as an interior designer with my own firm where I could maintain creative and financial independence. In 2021 I walked away from my design business to finally do what I always wanted, be a full time artist. Read more>>

Francesca Escarraga | Writer & Producer

“You’ll never make it… You don’t have what it takes… Why would they give you a chance…” These were the words that kept playing repeatedly in my head as I sat at my office desk every morning, justifying all the reasons not to quit my corporate job in exchange for pursuing a ludicrous and impossible childhood dream – becoming a writer and producer in Hollywood. I had my life together at a young age – a stable job straight out of university, the privilege of traveling the world, and having the financial freedom to live the lifestyle I have always wanted. I was ahead of the game, and yet, I still went to bed with a heavy heart. Read more>>

Fan Zhang | Film Producer

Hello! Firstly, thank you so much for having me on this fantastic channel. I’m thrilled to share my story with the readers! I believe my journey into a creative career traces back to my childhood. Each night, my father would read bedtime stories to me, and I particularly cherished the moments when he brought Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales to life. He often infused the characters and animals with distinct voices, allowing me to immerse myself in vivid scenes. Even in my dreams, these characters continued to play a significant role, marking what I consider my earliest encounter with creativity. Read more>>

Inka Nevala | Creative Director, SNCTM

I’ve always been interested in arts. When I was young, I was terribly shy but enjoyed drawing, painting and playing piano. We were always building our own toys and gadgets with my younger sister so creativity was always part of everyday life. I found dancing as a teenager after overcoming my shyness and I mostly enjoyed show jazz and hip hop dancing. I never thought that this type of creativity could turn into a career so I went to a business school and begun to work as a part time employee at a model agency where I taught runway models. After graduating I studied to become a Graphic Designer but after few years in profession I realized this type of work was too restrictive for me. I wasn’t passionate about it. Read more>>

Ju!ian | Independent Pop Artist & Actor

Ever since I was younger I’ve always had an aspiration to pursue my artistic endeavors. What brings me happiness is being able to inspire and create music or something to bring joy to other people. Music is an easy way to connect to people and what’s rewarding is when they’re able to relate to what I write about. When people tell me they went through the same experiences I did or that they relate to the song on a whole another level, I feel complete. Read more>>

Mike Perez | Lifestyle Portrait and Boudoir Photographer

My aspirations to pursue being an artist/creative stems from high school. I was in Advanced Drama/Theater all 4 years of high school and I absolutely loved it! To be able to step outside of my comfort zone and step away from reality for a moment and become a new person/character and create something for the audience to truly enjoy was amazing! I remember when I played the character Jacob Marley from Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol; to captivate the audience with a darker, mysterious tone to the character, honestly it will be one of those moments I will never forget. I heard the cheers, the gasps and the screams and it was infectious. I craved more, yet little did I know what journey I would be on. Read more>>

Abra Kadab | Recording Artist, Composer & Social Activist

Music has always been not only a place to which my mind can escape, but a medium of psychological and spiritual cleansing. My approach to writing lyrics is generally an attempt to make sense of the forces of humanity that I fear the most. I pursued a career as an artist because I had to. It’s something I knew about myself from very early on. I’ve had many subjects of notable interest in my life, but art has pursued me and has always been one of the only things I’ve ever understood about the world. Read more>>

Carol Ann Tan | Theatre Director & Dramaturg

Honestly? Growing up in Singapore, all I wanted was to play Christine in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera. (I know.) But when I moved to the United States, I realized that I was having a lot of trouble getting cast in shows. I don’t even mean professional productions; at this stage, I was only going out for productions at my college, which frankly felt worse. I couldn’t tell how much of it was because I just wasn’t very good, or because of how I looked and how I sounded. Now I think it was probably a combination of both, but back then I was too close to the whole thing. I ended up not really liking who I was, not in some emo teenage sense, but in the fundamental sense of hating your own identity—the aspects of yourself that you simply can’t change. Read more>>

Yu Qian | Fashion Designer

Ever since I was a little six-year-old, I’ve had this deep love for drawing and creating tiny clothes for my dolls. When people used to ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer was always the same – an art teacher. But my dad had different plans for me, and he didn’t want me to pursue art. I couldn’t help but envy other parents I saw, riding bikes with their kids carrying art supplies, heading off to art classes. I even had this secret habit of lying outside the window of the art studio near my home at night, watching art students sketching from life. The warm orange glow from that window in the pitch-black night felt so comforting and blissful. Read more>>

Zhongyang Lyu | Editor | Filmmaker | Storyteller

In my pursuit of an artistic and creative career, my journey began in Changsha, China, where I was born in the spring of 1995. Growing up above one of my father’s restaurants, I witnessed his relentless dedication to transforming ordinary ingredients into culinary art. Despite not initially choosing a culinary path, my father’s passion for food inspired me to find my own avenue of creativity: film. I drew parallels between the culinary world and filmmaking. Just as food satisfies hunger, cinema nourishes the mind. While people often say “you are what you eat,” I believe that “you are what you see.” Read more>>

KARMA | Producer – Vocalist – DJ

Music saved me when my life seemed uncertain and without purpose. It became my anchor in stormy seas, a light at the end of the tunnel if you will. It’s not just a career choice; it’s my duty to share the magic that pulls my life forward. Each composition I create is a tribute to the lifeline that music threw my way, a way of saying thank you. Recognizing the transformative power of music and the community that creates it, I vowed to become a curator of musical magic for the rest of my life, returning to the passion that lead me to begin composing at the early age of 12. With every composition I am practicing the art of alchemy thru sound. Read more>>

Peter Cowen | Queer Artist and Designer

To be honest, I don’t feel like I pursued it as much as it pursued me (cheesy.. I know). In fact, I actively rejected any type of career in art because I thought it was too impractical and that I would never be good enough. I thought I would end up broke and disappointed that I didn’t have what it takes to make it. I listened to the voices of others that said it would be too hard and put my dreams of being an artist in a box and stored it away like a cherished childhood toy. Drawing has been a passion of mine since I was young. It served as an escape, whether it was drawing my own Yu-Gi-Oh cards, building my own Lord of the Rings RISK game board, or drawing all over my notebook paper and assignments during school. Read more>>

Lily Hart | Artist. Author. Creator.

I pursued an artistic or creative career because of my deep passion for self-expression and the desire to explore the boundless possibilities of imagination. There are several reasons why I chose this path: 1. Personal Fulfillment: Engaging in artistic and creative pursuits allows me to tap into my innermost thoughts, emotions, and ideas. It provides a means to express myself authentically and connect with others on a deeper level. The act of creating something unique and meaningful brings me immense joy and a sense of fulfillment. 2. Freedom of Expression: Artistic and creative careers offer a platform for unrestricted self-expression. Read more>>

Rui Dong | Director /Producer

I have had a strong interest in art since childhood. I learned drawing and piano at an early age and developed a deep fascination for film and television. These early experiences paved the way for my involvement in a creative career. However, I must admit that pursuing a career in the art industry was not my initial plan. My true journey into the realm of creation and art began when I came to the United States for my studies. Initially, like many international students, I was uncertain about the direction of my future. However, due to the environment around me and exposure to numerous creators, I developed an interest in content creation. Read more>>

Shahan Rao | Director & DP

During my childhood, I constantly sought opportunities to explore and manipulate visual concepts. I would capture moments on my mom’s cellphone, reflecting on the results with keen interest. Early on, I delved into photography to satisfy my inquisitive nature, discovering a profound fascination with visual artistry. This realization became the foundation for my career aspirations as a filmmaker—someone who directs and visualizes stories aimed at adding greater significance to my own life. Additionally, I am driven to challenge societal norms through the narratives I create. Read more>>

Natalia Gonzalez Garzon | Photographer | Digital Cinematographer

In life, many prejudices and labels can separate me from who I am, and cinema is a sea of possibilities that never ceases to surprise me. I pursued this artistic career because, looking forward, I promised myself what I had dreamed of since childhood. The day I leave, I want to be proud of having tried rather than regret not doing it. Read more>>

Sunny Dilinger | Music & Calligraphy Artist

Art/ music have always been apart of my life ever since I was young. I feel like it was meant for me to be an artist. The more I create the more I learn. Read more>>

Francesco Malandrino | Cinematographer & Camera Operator

This is a choice that comes from the heart, and at the same time you also have to be very courageous, because I knew that an artistic career it may mean not having a stable job, working mostly as freelancer especially in the film industry that is like a jungle, so somehow I can say that I was ready for this.
I have been working as DP and Camera Operator for the last 8 years between United States and Italy, I’m also a member of SOC (Society of Camera Operators) and I am always looking for new opportunities in order to grow up in my profession. Read more>>