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In a world where everyone strives to live from acting, traveling and vlogging, only a few are actually able to make a living out of the arts in Hollywood. According to the statistics, the city of angels gets around 50 million visitors every year, an incredibly high number. A big part of these visitors are aspiring actors, influencers, and singers. But how many actually make it in this tough city? Alican Akman has been living in Los Angeles for six years, and he is the perfect example of a successful Hollywood actor and content creator. But achieving his current status was not an easy job! Just like almost every successful personality in the field of arts, Alican had to work and study for hours and even years to get to where he is today. Born in Izmir, Turkey, he was drawn to the arts from a very young age, performing in several plays written by Shakespeare, Çehov, and Molier, just to name a few. He was only 19 years old when he landed his first big play “Leyla ile Mecnun” directed by prestigious Turkish film director, screenwriter, producer and actor Onur Ünlü. That was only the beginning of Alican’s outstanding journey. That was the turning point, where his efforts and sleepless nights of studying finally started blooming, since, soon after release, “Leyla ile Mecnun”, became the first series in Turkey to break into the top 50’s of IMDB’s top 250 best series. Alican arrived in the United States of America with a solid resume. By the time he decided to move to Hollywood, he had already scored roles in big award winning movies such as Sen Aydinlatirsin Geceyi and Itirazim Var directed by Onur Ünlü and several television series. But working as a full time actor and content creator did not mean Alican was done. Although he was already successful, he continued to perfect his art on sets by studying and learning from the best: “Eric Morris” and “Ivana Chubbuck”, both A-list acting coaches, the latter famous for her book “The power of the actor”. Because of his continuous tenacity and hard work, Alican is now preparing to star in a yet non disclosed Turkish-American romantic comedy that will air on Netflix. “If I had to give any advice to young aspiring actors it would be to never give up. Acting can be hard, living in Hollywood can be hard. If you wanna make a difference you gotta push through, it is the ones who keep going the ones who make it” says Alican with kindness.

Peruvian music composer, producer and bass player moved to Los Angeles and is now working with artists such as Tamara Kumbula (Preach Records, RocNation), Saul Losada (Musician seen on Pre Grammy Awards, Pre-MTV Movie Awards), Molly Rose (Endorsed Artist by Paiste Cymbals, Vater Drumsticks) and playing in recognized venues around the US with nominated and award-winning band KingQueen (Hollywood in Media Awards, International Music Video Awards in Paris). Ella started her music career in Lima, Peru, where she was born and raised. She discovered her love for music at the age of 12 after playing her first guitar - She said “I started playing the guitar fairly young. I was making songs, but I didn't know what any of that meant until later on. When I decided to take music as my career”. Ella was mentored by Gregory Sanchez, a prodigy piano player from the National Conservatory of Music in Lima and studied Music at UPC (University of Applied Sciences) with prestigious industry mentors such as Miguel Ginocchio, a keyboard player for Laguna Pai and Bareto (distinguished Peruvian bands). She was also taught music in different recording studios around Peru such as “In Music Lima” where she learned in depth more about music production and engineering. All of this was before Ella decided to take her music career to the next level and move to Los Angeles to expand her knowledge and grow as a musician. After moving to LA, Ella rapidly started working within the music and film industry. She met artist Tamara Kumbula at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood and has been playing at recognized venues around Los Angeles with her since then. Some of the venues they’ve been playing together are “The Whiskey A-Go-Go”, “The Mint”, and “The Federal”. Ella has also been playing for nominated and award winning band KingQueen, where she plays the bass guitar. At first, Ella was working with them as a recording engineer and helping them with the production of drum recordings for their songs ``Roller Coaster” and “Live It Up”. After both songs were released, they got many nominations such as “Best Song Of The Year” at the 2021 Hollywood in Media Awards and quickly after that, the band was signed to Curtain Call Records. At the same time, Ella was recording and engineering bass and drums for their upcoming EP - being the first EP ever released by their new record label. Not long after, Ella became an official member of the band as a bass player and started to perform with them around Los Angeles. Some of the recognized venues they have performed together are “The Mint”, “Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood” as part of the LA Rock Collective, and the world-famous “The Troubadour”. The band has already tour dates for the next upcoming years. Apart from performing, Ella has also been working on producing and engineering well-known drummer Molly Rose for her upcoming collaborations with artist Jo Tyler (Country-Rap Artist). She has also been part of the album recording “Energy” by musician and music composer Saul Losada. “Most of the artists that I am working on and all the opportunities that I’ve had couldn’t have been possible if I wasn’t here in LA. I studied composition at the Musicians Institute and met some wonderful people that have opened and expanded my chances. Also just in general being a hard-working person, very professional, and on top of your game is something that people here in LA, such a competitive place, value the most. Apart from being a really good person and someone they want to work with, of course. I think one of the things that I have learned here is that you always have to be pushing, always aiming higher, and be prepared for anything. Because your dreams can come true anytime, if you just keep going.” Ella explained. Follow her career on social media! Official Website: https://www.ellagburgos.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellaxsound/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ellaxsound

Will Smith could win this year his first Oscar. He received a Best Actor nomination from the Academy Awards on Tuesday, Feb. 8, for his role in “King Richard.” Smith previously received nominations for “Ali” in 2002 and “Pursuit of Happyness” in 2007. Playing Richard Williams, the father of tennis prodigies Venus and Serena Williams, Smith was hailed for his performance. What other incredible actors will be competing with him this year? Benedict Cumberbatch for “The Power of the Dog”, Spanish actor Javier Bardem for “Being the Ricardos”; Andrew Garfield, “Tick, Tick...Boom!”; and the incredible Denzel Washington, “The Tragedy of Macbeth”.

We’ve all been feeling isolated these days, but try living on a small island off the coast of Western Canada with no indoor plumbing and no Internet. That was the better part of Quinn Teechma’s childhood until, her mother began taking her to Vancouver to pursue acting and modelling. “I never thought too much about my growing up because to me, it was usual,” Teechma, now a successful photographer and social media influencer says. “Of course, moving to the bigger cities and having more conversations has made me realize it wasn’t the most usual upbringing!” Though she was in ways sophisticated for her age–her family traveled extensively, including a jaunt to Nepal–Teechma learned not to stand out too much or risk attracting bullies. “When I first moved to a city school, it was difficult,” she remembers. “I was different and had little in common with my peers. When I wanted a hot bath, I was used to building a fire underneath a cast iron tub! I didn’t know what other kids were talking about when they’d discuss TV shows or games or certain toys. My teachers even made me feel different.” Hoping to avoid odd looks or bullying, Teechma would say that she was from “Vancouver” or “Vancouver Island” if asked. She never mentioned the tiny cabin with no indoor plumbing where she’d been raised or that her sister had been born on a sailboat. But being evasive just added to her sense of alienation. Finding self-confidence became a journey that led Teechma from acting and modelling to pageantry. She found beauty pageants to be far different than how they were portrayed. Teechma thrived on the preparation and discipline required of a beauty queen–learning how to be interviewed and present oneself, being creative. “It’s all about how you carry yourself,” she says. Once she became successful, there were bullies who would try to push Teechma off her pedestal (naturally!) but this was a small price to pay for the self-awareness and tenacity she was gaining. “When you do these deep-dives into a self-reflective space, confidence follows,” Teechma says. Recently the girl from the tiny island became a finalist for the title of Miss Universe Canada. In the press, she has been described as both regal and graceful. But she’d rather be known as inspiring, authentic and empowering. “Knowing yourself deeply and standing up for your beliefs is what creates a strong woman,” Teechma says. Her passion these days, she says, is making women feel like “the queens they are.” During the pandemic, Teechma opened Queen Studios YYC, a “boudoir” photo studio exclusively for women. A lot of her clients, she says, are single mothers coming out of abusive relationships. Most try to cancel a week ahead of time, scared that they’ll look fat or maybe convinced that they just don’t deserve to be sexy. “They come in nervous,” Teechma says. After a professional makeover by a makeup artist, her clients are taught poses that will flatter their body. Teechma then takes all of the photos herself, booking three to five women a week. The idea for the shoots was borne of frustration that, as a model, she never had control of her image–or her images. “Now I can help other women discover their inner queen and capture that forever,” she says. Teechma has recently moved on to helping other photographers start a successful “boudoir” photo studio for themselves. She’s christened this program, “Queen Collective: Six Figures in Six Months” in a nod to the financial success of her own business. She’s even hired a publicist to get her story into the media because she knows that when other women see the success she’s had, in spite of her humble beginnings, they may feel like success is attainable for themselves, too. “I’d like them to wonder, ‘If she can do it, why can’t I?’” Teechma says. Meanwhile, Teechma has also become involved with a number of official Miss Universe Pageant charities, including Operation Smile, SOS Children’s Villages and Habitat for Humanity. With a following of 600,000 fans on Tik Tok alone, she can now generate huge awareness for any cause she chooses. Teechma credits her large (and growing!) fanbase to authenticity and an ability to connect with people, many of whom are also feeling like they live on a distant island after two years of lockdowns and self-isolation. Being a social media influencer is, in many ways, like walking the ultimate runway. You’re vulnerable in the spotlight but also in a unique position to inspire. “Through acting and pageants I grew my confidence but it took internal work and continually takes work to be a role model,” Teechma says. “That’s why my goal is to empower other women–especially young women”. Quinn Teechma is a Miss Universe Canada finalist and was crowned as Miss Canada International Tourism in 2020 and 2021. Quinn has dedicated her life to empowering and uplifting other women and has quickly evolved into an educator to teach others how to do the same thing. and using her many platforms, Tic Tok having over nearly 600,000 followers and more than 2 million likes, she is inspiring all people globally to create positive change in their own lives as well as in the lives of others.

DJ, rapper, songwriter, and music producer Lana Scolaro, whom we have seen in the past working as a DJ with Bob Sinclair at Mynt Club, is now releasing her new single Kitty! Lana based in Monaco and Los Angeles, and Diztortion based in Amsterdam and London, merge on a forceful strong bass dance track “Kitty!” which is an inevitable festival starter and big room club opener. The song was produced by Diztortion in Dubai with Lana hitting the vocals to her highest note in the studio. Kitty gives off a seductive aura with the punchy lyrics “no we turn it up in this bedroom” and the movie scene-like clause where someone asks (Hey guys can you turn it down in the bedroom?) The lyrics and bass of the song all the way through are racy and salacious which makes the song unique and captivates the listeners. Lana has DJ’d in renowned venues across the world, from New York, Texas, Las Vegas, and LA to London, Paris, Ibiza, and Mykonos, in addition to performing her own songs in Festivals such as Road to Nowhere Festival in Texas and the Creamfields Festival. Her passion for music began at a young age. She began playing the cello at age 14 and the guitar at age 16. Before becoming a musical artist, Lana spent four months in Ibiza every summer surrounded by some of the world's best electronic music DJs and artists. “They inspired me to consider pursuing a career in music,” says Scolaro. Check out issue 16 of Savoir Faire Magazine to see exclusive images and read the full interview!

Tarek al Basha is currently working on his new music video. Tarek’s music videos made his popularity bigger with the high number of views they were getting. Tarek al Basha was born in Germany and he evolved in different styles such as dancehall, soca, rap, and more. Mix after mix, sound after sound, Tarek al Basha pushed more and more by a greater number of fans adhering to his universe, this is how he built this name. Immersed very early in the many songs that benefit the Caribbean, which is a cultural crossroads, this is how Tarek naturally took a liking to music and started mixing at the age of 20. From 2014, he began to officiate as a DJ in several nightclubs in Germany in which he left his mark by making the crowd jubilant on hits remixed by him. In 2017, he got verified on Spotify and released his songs. His 2nd single accumulated more than 3,000,000 views. Young, versatile, but above all persevering in his passion, Tarek Al Basha transmits his Caribbean vibrations with an increasingly cosmopolitan audience. Don’t miss his previous work!

DJ Beachball is putting an empowering twist on live music events. A typical DJ dance party can be found in a dark night club within a busy city, however DJ Beachball is performing at events where you’ll find yourself dancing out in nature during a sunrise or sunset. He wants to empower wellness and an epic DJ’d dance party. The night club feeling of fun and excitement are still present however the club lights are replaced with a beautiful sunset and an unforgettable view from the top of the mountain. DJ Beachball uses the power of music, dance, and community to empower people; with a large inspiration from the emergence of Dance Therapy. DJ Beachball uses both music and dance to create breakthroughs and therapeutic effects. He says “ It’s not uncommon for people to attend a DJ Beachball event and cry tears of joy, or leave the event saying that it had changed their life. The format and design of the events are meant to be liberating and empowering: using the science of dance therapy.” DJ Beachball’s live music wellness events were inspired from his profound experience of Meditation.

As a South African native, born in the small town of Willowvale, which fell under an independent pseudo-state during Apartheid, Sakhe Jele is a witness to the country’s underrepresented communities and lack of extracurricular activities for young individuals. To keep himself occupied, he learned how to play the church piano. Little did he know that this would spark his interest in becoming a video editor, screenwriter, and director. He later moved to Johannesburg, the largest city in South Africa, to pursue a career in music. There, he obtained a sound engineering diploma. During that time, he found his passion for storytelling. Sakhe received his sound engineering diploma in 2004 and began his professional editing career as a trainee in 2005. During the early part of his career, Sakhe took every opportunity he could get, regardless of his salary, because his first dream in the entertainment industry was to see his name on the credit roll on television. Over the years, Sakhe edited videos in various genres, including lifestyle, wildlife, kid shows, faith-based shows, talk shows, and sports. But his curiosity about the entertainment industry continues to grow. “Not only do I wait for people to bring me content to edit, but I also wanted to partake in producing stories. That’s how you get to artistically express yourself fully and touch lives,” he said. Speaking of touching lives, in 2014, Sakhe focused on bridging the gap between Hollywood and the South African entertainment industry. “I know that television and film have the power to impact viewers’ social fabric and bring dignity to the stories of the underrepresented communities too because their lives/stories are also valid” Sakhe shared. After realigning his focus, Sakhe has begun to shoot, direct, and write projects that align with his beliefs. This 2022, he shot six-part documentaries in South Africa, which he is currently editing. Meanwhile, Sakhe is also extending his reach to the US, particularly in Los Angeles, as he partnered with PinMark Media to develop a show which profiles immigrants from Southern Africa and the ways they contribute to cultural exchange in the US. Sakhe has just been headhunted to co-produce and handle matters relating to post-production in a new show titled, Breaking Bands (working title). The show is a docu series which captures the story of talented dreamers who make their way from all over the US to pursue careers in music. The show pays homage to Los Angeles as a city with so many success stories to tell and full of potential even post Covid to remain the hub for new artists to break out. This series promises to be a huge global success, there’s already plans to have a South African version of the show which is another huge contributing factor that Sakhe brings to the show as co-producer and video editor. Part of the skills that make Sakhe effective in influencing two different cultures is his experience, and he speaks five other languages, including English. His exposure to multicultural life in South Africa and all his travels also helps him understand the importance of nuance in his career in the entertainment industry. Moreover, Sakhe’s work and life experiences also encouraged him to develop his talents beyond video editing. His interest in storytelling and creativity led him to take on the responsibility of editor, screenwriter, and producer. He believes in the ability of video editors like him to branch out, which is why he transferred to California State University, Northridge, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in screenwriting. Sakhe continues to achieve new heights in his career and mission while raising the banner of South African entertainment. As he continues to progress, he inspires more people to hone their talents to go beyond their comfort zones and appreciate language and cultural preservation through the entertainment industry.

Johnny Depp won the defamation case against his ex-wife Amber Heard. One of the reasons for it was that the jury didn’t believe she was telling the truth. California judge Halim Dhanidina told the NY Post that “the case was going to rise and fall on her credibility more than any nuanced legal question. And she just did not make it through the trial with her credibility intact.” “The fact that she emerged from cross-examination in essence defeated without any remaining credibility — that was the linchpin in the case for me,” he said. Dhanidina, who is a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney, said jurors likely thought the 36-year-old actress was lying about the abuse she claimed to have suffered at the hands of the 58-year-old “Pirates of the Caribbean” star. The jury ultimately thought, “She was lying about [Depp] on purpose because she had a bone to pick with him. And that, to me, is the takeaway on this trial,” Dhanidina said. People in general though Amber Heard was unlikable due to her overreacting faces and non-sense answers such as claiming that she had donated the money of her divorce settlement to charities, when the reality was that she had only pledged she was going to. Some of these answers, plus the recordings, played a big role on the jury’s decision and the support of the world to Johnny.

In filmmaking, every director or producer has a different perspective that becomes their identifier in the entertainment industry. Having a unique personality that translates well on their projects is what sets them apart from the sometimes competitive environment. Director and creative producer Maria Staroselets also has some notable characteristics that support her in becoming a well-loved individual who approaches entertainment from a different angle. Maria is born to a family of Russian circus directors and producers. Early in her life, she already knew her fate was connected with storytelling and traveling. “I spent all of my childhood years in a traveling circus, lived in caravans, moving from town to town in Western Europe. Throughout those years, I’ve developed curiosity about the surrounding world that determines me as a personality,” she shared. She studied for a Master’s degree in Philosophy and Religious Studies, especially since she was interested in the world’s physical and metaphysical riddles. Her main interests during her university years were ritual practices, dancing, and chanting, which later brought her back to arts and entertainment. Her curiosity now aids her as a filmmaker, especially since she advocates for sustainable entertainment where theatrical performances are held in urban environments to minimize unnecessary waste and lessen the required budget. Maria believes that the urban environment contains all the necessary elements that individuals in her profession need to create a story in any genre. Through sustainable entertainment, various types of storytelling and performative practices allow directors or producers to adjust the “optics” where viewers and participants perceive a single layer. As a result, the city can be viewed from any angle, decomposed into layers, by applying various semantic filters. “I’m a pro in site-specific performances. I conduct unique psycho-geography research for each production I work at,” Maria said. From 2020 to 2022, while staying in Russia, Maria wrote and staged four unique site-specific performances because she considered the approach safer against COVID-19 and practical, as the show takes place outdoors and doesn’t require a hefty budget to produce. When engaging in site-specific projects, Maria also uses a technique called continuous mapping, which is a unique format of a promenade theatre produced in any location without any budget. This method is sustainable and became a part of her urban environment awareness project. Maria’s experience and eagerness to learn also contributed greatly to her success as a film producer and director. She first got her certificate in film production in 2005, marking the beginning of her filmmaking career. Award-winning mavens of Soviet cinema even mentored Maria. They taught her the craft and technology used in film production, useful information which she uses to this day. “For the past 17 years, I've been working as a director and a producer in film, theatre, and circus, creating immersive experiences and open-air events for large audiences,” she said. Now nearing two decades in her career, Maria’s unique perspective on entertainment and successful projects is a testament to her abilities as a director and producer. And although she advocates for a different kind of entertainment, it shows that she has the skills to see it through so audiences can immerse themselves in a new experience.

Radmila Lolly always fought to be eclectic in her artistic choices. In most circles, she was not always readily accepted. Radmila says: “We are born into labels, so when we don’t meet certain criteria, people are frustrated and have a difficult time understanding an artist or appreciating them. Jack of all trades master of none, as the saying goes. “Radmila doesn’t believe in that saying, because, “if your path or career is geared towards one goal, however, the different elements, it’s the same trade. For example, Radmila is a classical singer and a couture designer. The scientific word for it is synesthesia. It’s still all the same. Colors and sounds. That said our whole world is interconnected.” Whatever your goal is, whatever your passion, you have to go for it. First, it’s a dream, then you plan and write everything down. You create a schedule and a list of tasks, then execute them one by one. Perhaps your path may pivot on your journey, but you will still be on the right path of your dreams and goals. Radmila Lolly’s journey actually expanded on her way to pursuing her music and fashion goals. She is a writer, director, composer, producer, and choreographer. Just an Artist is what she likes to be called. Her upcoming project “DIVA” has all of her artistic talents displayed and hard work is the other prerequisite to achieving her end goal. Radmila is very excited to showcase such an ambitious project with the residency show. In the meantime, Radmila is releasing the “MAGIC” remix by Mike Tee, which will be available on platforms in September letting the summer continue. Don’t miss out. Check out Radmila’s IG for more upcoming projects, when they say NYC never sleeps, well Radmila never sleeps, she is a true renaissance lady. Please tell us more about what you are up to these days and what your fans should be on the lookout for. Well, this month I’m very excited to announce that the MAGIC remix is coming out in September. Producer and DJ Mike Tee remixed the original song. It has a completely different style than the original song. I absolutely love it. A remix is supposed to sound like a remix, not like the same song with a few slight changes. I really hope that you guys will like it. What is your inspiration and where do you get all of this creativity? I get inspired by so many different things. Perhaps, when I see someone’s outfit or when I speak with certain people. Imagination is all around us. I think it’s important to open for an artist to open her mind and accept all the beauty on earth. Our readers always ask us to ask artists we interview - what drives you and what are your fears? Unfortunately, what drives me is the fear of failure. I’m working on it, because failure can mean so many things to different people. Someone’s failure is absolutely winning in life, so it’s all relative. I believe the most important thing is to stay grounded and grateful at all times. What do you enjoy the most about being an artist? The imaginary world is endless and it’s unique to each of us. I love to escape the real world into my own imaginary world. I feel so happy when I’m in a creative environment. You are also very much of a businesswoman, how do you do it all ? Well, I think it’s very important in any career that you are very familiar with the ins and outs of your business. Of course, the more successful you become it isn’t possible to know or do everything yourself. However, you will know how to interview and what professional traits you are looking for in a team member. Show Business is called Show Business for a reason. You need to know SHOW and BUSINESS. What are the most disappointing and frustrating elements of being an artist? I love being an artist. In any career choice, you will have supporters and haters. Don’t pay attention to people that don’t believe in you, pay attention to the people that believe in you, that’s who deserves your full focus and attention. The funny thing is the haters will be the first ones to scream and say how they always knew you will succeed, it’s very ironic. Stay focused, and nice. People will appreciate you and your goals. Our last question is what is your beauty routine and what do you do for fun ? My morning starts with a face massage, cleanse, mask and sunscreen. I think it’s very important to refresh your skin, so I’ve done lasers, and micro-needling; I’m not a fan of cosmetic injectables so that’s just not for me. For fun, I see my friends for dinners, Miami Heat games, and concerts. I have a great circle of friends, I’m very grateful for them. One of my favorite things is just being with my mother and my cat his name is Dandy. I adopted him a few months ago. Overall, small pleasures are the biggest source of joy.

Rapper and Songwriter EL NH releases his latest single “Nostalgia” in the US Spotify platform, while also releasing his latest music video “Que lo Toquen”, co-produced by El YucaMx and released through their Mexico City-based production company EME EQUIS MusicFaM. “This is probably the most scared I’ve ever been before a release”, says EL NH from his studio in Mexico City exclusively to Savoir Faire. I definitely stepped out of my comfort zone on this one. It’s a type of narrative I’d never worked on before, with a completely different structure in terms of the lyrical process. It was challenging and overwhelming to say the least but it paid off.” The Mexico City raised rapper has a strong philosophy and perspective in terms of music and genres. “I believe music is music. Period. In a way labelling music in terms of genres kills the purpose of it properly accessing our emotions. I like where the music industry is heading to. Years back, Rock was labelled as Rock and Hip-Hop was strictly seen with a specific image and style. That’s over. Genres are merging, you see country artists collaborating with rappers and Hollywood pop-stars being featured in Latino hits. I like that. The less you think about genres the more creative you can work with collaborations and styles.” The main thing EL NH, whose real name is Donovan Valdovinos, strives for is to portray his native Mexico at its best showing the true nature of it culturally and artistically. Photographer: Javier Soltero