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

Hi Serena, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I started my own production company because I was sick of watching reality TV series that were negative and non inclusive all the time! I wanted to show the world that you can be sassy with out being mean and that you can be a Diva without bringing other people down. That it’s actually cool to be kind. We started with a mission to be completely inclusive so our team in LA, hail from many different countries including Brazil, Australia, Germany, the UK and even Guam! We also have a wonderful LGBTIGA community within our company.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I believe that my superpower is self belief. To make it big in the entertainment industry in Hollywood or in any industry for that matter you need to have total belief that your ideas are solid and that you have the tenacity to pull them off. You also need to be able to shield yourself from people who are going to tell you that you can’t do something. Success is something everyone can achieve, no matter how smart you are or how rich you are. If you believe in yourself, work really fucking hard and can tune out peoples negative opinions then you are on a path to success.

Being female, close to 40 and from Australia really put me on the back foot when I got to Hollywood and said that I wanted to be a TV producer and bring out lots of my own shows.. oh and star in some of them too. If I had gone the traditional route and got a manager and relied on them to help me get work, I would be living in a shared studio apartment with some extras credits on my resume. Instead of handing over my destiny to someone else I decided to take matters into my own hands and bang on every door I could, selling my ideas until eventually someone listened.

What I have learnt in business is that people above you respect you when they see you banging down doors and shouting from roof tops. They see themselves in you. They see the drive and determination and it excites them and makes them want to work with you so never be afraid to share your ideas with anyone who will listen. Eventually you will find someone who believes in them as much as you.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live on W3rd St in West Hollywood and I absolutely love where I live. There is so much to see and so much to do. Locally I would say that you have to visit The Grove. Its so beautiful and such an all american place. The fresh ravioli at La Piazza is amazing and the desserts at the Farmers Market there are just to die for. For some serious retail therapy I love to hit The Beverly Centre. They have all the designer brands and some gorgeous kitsch shoe stores to help you glam up and get that LA look. My fave restaurants around WEHO are The Ivy, Toca Madea and Cecconi’s and if you want to party you can not go past The Abbey or Delilah where you can do lots of celebrity spotting.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There is nothing more important than having a cheerleader (or two) in your team and I have been blessed to have a few. One person who really helped with as a mentor is a lady called Marisa Lloreda. When I arrived in LA 5 years ago with a sizzle reel and a dream, I knew nothing about the entertainment industry but Marisa took me under her wing and taught me everything she knew and her belief in me, more than anything else, helped me to open my company and to produce 4 TV series and 3 movies, all of which are streaming globally right now. I always think of her now when I mentor other people and get a great sense of joy knowing that I am paying forward the kindness Marisa showed me.

Website: www.serenadc.com

Instagram: @iamserenadc

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/serena-de-comarmond/

Twitter: @iamserenadc

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamserenadc

Other: www.elysiummedia.tv

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