We had the good fortune of connecting with Chloe Bellande and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chloe, do you have a budget? How do you make lifestyle and spending decisions?
I do have a budget! It’s always been a priority ever since I moved to LA. For me, spending money is really a matter of “want” and “need”. For example, having a car is a luxury and not a necessity since I work from home, hence, why I don’t own one. Another motto I live by is “if you can’t buy it twice, you can’t afford it”. And that applies to literally anything from my living expenses, personal activities or business outings.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I guess what sets me apart from others is how much work I can do in a fast turnaround. One of my recent projects is an 80 min feature film. Within 60 days, we went through 10 drafts and a locked cut. And meanwhile, I also delivered a few other short form projects to other clients. My path was not easy. I first came to LA to pursue my passion as a screenwriter. But things changed after I realized that editing was a much more realistic and lucrative business, and, still within my storytelling skills. I don’t think there is a creative job in LA that isn’t highly competitive. In fact, most of the time it’s not about who you know, it’s about who knows YOU. That’s why keeping good business relationships becomes the key to a successful freelancing career. Sure, there are times where I have anxiety and I tend to compare myself with other creatives that are more accomplished. But at the end of the day, in a world full of Chloe’s — there’s only one of me! — And that never fails.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My favorite fine dining spot is Castaway in Burbank. It’s a hilltop outdoor terrasse with a gorgeous view and they have happy hours if you’re looking to just grab a quick bite and a cocktail. Beach and hiking are definitely on top of my list of things to do with a visitor friend. El Matador Beach in Malibu has small caves and cliffs with a scenic view right off the parking lot. And while I’m in the area, I’d probably end the day with a sunset hike in Malibu’s Escondido Falls. I highly recommend Malibu Wine Safari if you’re into wine tours and cute Alcapas and zebras.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shoutout to my friend Chayanna Crumble who is an up-and-coming film producer here in LA. She quit her day job a year ago to focus on building her career in films, and since then, she’s worked on multiple features, started her own writers room and has multiple projects in the pipeline. She’s one women to watch out for!

Website: https://www.chloebellande.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chloebells__/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Chloe.Bellande/
Other: Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user20856094

Image Credits
New York Fashion Week powered by The Society La Ronde, Six Flags Jelly Film Festival, with actress Shiah Luna Winter Wonderland Fashion Show by In Vogue Photography “The Worst Day Of My Life”, directed by Jaret Martino “Donna”, directed by Jaret Martino

Nominate someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.