Meet Leigh Oblinger | Producer/VP Pets in the City

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

Hi Leigh, why did you pursue a creative career?
So I am unusual in that I have had two completely separate careers in my life – Hollywood producer and in the past few years, helping my husband run our dog training/boarding/hiking business. I knew when I was young that I always wanted to work in something creative, I’m not one who would do well sitting at a desk all day. In my decade as a producer at Access Hollywood, I was able to put my creativity towards booking and interviewing talent. I actually majored in Arts Management in college and never dreamed I would be working in Hollywood – I wanted to run an art gallery. I’m not a great artist but love the way I feel when I am around creative people, people who think bigger and better than I do.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a good example of someone just following what the universe offers. I moved to LA on a whim in my mid-late twenties, thinking I would be here for fun for a year. 26 years in, I’m still here! Saying yes to every opportunity that came my way got me a lot of jobs. I have worked as a unit publicist on feature films, a talent booker for non-profits, a producer for television and an on camera host for a movie theatre chain. One thing continually led to another by staying open to new things. Right now I am running my husband’s extremely busy dog training and boarding business, but it’s funny how small LA is – a lot of his clients are people I have interviewed or worked with at past jobs. I still freelance produce occasionally. I sort of have the best of both worlds right now, getting to work with dogs all day as well.

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?
There is never, ever enough time to do everything in LA! It is the best city for adventure, I think. I am spoiled in having gone to so many industry events – if you have a friend who can take you to any Hollywood event, you should at least go to one – it’s just fun to be on a red carpet, it’s the best people watching ever. I am a water girl and live near the beach, so my husband and I take walks on the strand or I try to meet friends for breakfast at Shutters as often as I can. Eating breakfast by the water is magical. I love Cecconi’s and The Abbey in weho – I have been going to the Abbey since before the add on, which means a long time! And for drinks I am really into a view. The rooftop at the Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills , Perch downtown and there are a few places at the beach (the Penthouse, Elephanate). I love the outdoor things we can do here – the self realization center in the Palisades is an amazing meditation center – beautiful grounds around a lake, but with ocean views. And if you’re up that way, of course have dinner at Nobu Malibu or Giorgio Baldi, especially if you are looking for celeb sightings! We also have great flea markets and obviously any outdoor activity you can think of. I am a yoga devotee and love Shefayoga in Venice and Power Yoga east in Santa Monica, which is a bare room where Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire used to use for rehearsal space for their films! Lastly, as touristy as it is, I love the Grove, especially at Christmas! The preserved part of it has all sorts of cool Hollywood history.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
He must be tired of this shout by now but my art history/studio art professor in college, Raymond Berry, was (and remains) extremely influential in me believing I could do anything. He had a quiet confidence in me even though I wasn’t a gifted artist! He saw something in me that I had never really gotten before – a “you can do anything you want to do” energy. My first big Hollywood boss, Gary Lucchesi  (Runaway Bride, Million Dollar Baby) changed my life in LA by allowing

Website: Www.petsinthecity.com

Instagram: Leighoblinger1

Image Credits
Leigh Oblinger