Archive for category: Interview

I decided to interview Roope as his career choice is a bit unusual – and how he came about it is also not the most typical story. Most actors I have start very early. He played guitar, sang in heavy-metal band, played ice hockey semi-professionally and studied in business school in Finland.

Who is Roope Olenius?

I’m an acting student at the New York Film Academy’s Universal Studios campus. I’ve been studying towards my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in States for the past three years, the first year in New York, the following two in Los Angeles.

At what age did you know that you wanted to be an actor?

It was one of those things that just happened. I was really into playing heavy metal music while I was studying business at the university of applied sciences in Tampere and I decided to attend this theatre course to gain more stage charisma. That weekend changed everything. The freedom of expression and the feeling of being connected to myself and the world around got me addicted. Year and a half later I was living in New York and studying acting on Broadway.(he is now 26 in 2013)

Is there any particular moment or an achievement throughout your career that you are particularly proud of?

I would say that the most exciting project on the road has been the short film Bro Code – Kaverille Kanssa, which me and my friends in Finland put together last winter. I wrote the screenplay on side of school here in LA and we had endless preproduction Skype calls with the director who was located in Finland. During Christmas break I flew home and we filmed the piece and everything worked out beautifully. I was amazed how well we had been able to take into consideration all the details concerning the production, even though, we were located on different continents. It was a good experience, because we not only learnt how possible technology has made things, but also how easy and cheap it is to produce your own film nowadays. It was also a really personal piece for me as the writer and actor, which made it an unforgettable project, since so many people were willing to participate and make the thing happen.

What would you say is the biggest misconception that people have about your profession?

That it’s easy! It gets me boiling when somebody who watches films, or consumes art in any form, just for the sake of escaping his or her own life, says “I could do that, he’s doing nothing.” Acting or any other art form is not easy, even though it might sometimes seem like it. I think there’s a big misconception going on nowadays, because the people who get the most attention in the industry are not artists or stars who have worked to achieve their fame. They’re celebrities, who we have given the permission to entertain us, so that we could feel better about ourselves. They are not creating better change, in fact, they are an obstacle for growth, since they are not giving hope or pointing out real difficulties that we are facing. A real artist, who has dedicated time to the craft and is willing to reveal something very personal to other people, brings real human life on screen and therefore creates change in the viewer. That is everything but an easy task as it demands not only skills but great insight into life and the drive to change things. Unfortunately, we have allowed the celebrity driven industry to push art on the background, but I feel a big change is going to take place soon.

What do you enjoy most about being an actor vs. your previous life?

For me, once I made the career change from business to arts, acting was a way to reach out and find my own voice. It was a way to express myself emotionally and physically and to put everything I had learnt in the past into use. It made sense and wasn’t a question about deciding whether I wanted to do it or not. I needed to do it and I still do, because it makes me feel whole. Nowadays, however, I’ve found other ways to express myself as well. I’m really drawn towards screenwriting and producing. Also, I still want to find a place in my life for music. So, I guess I should call myself an artist. I see all those things being parts of me and leading towards the bigger goal that I have. Therefore I don’t want to label myself as being just this or that. In a way they’re just different languages that I’m using to express myself in order to fulfill my purpose here.

What have you found to be the biggest difference between acting in Finland and United States?

The biggest difference is that in Finland the actors approach the craft with a very disciplined and physical way, whereas in States it’s more about exploring the inner life and bringing the character alive by feeding your own emotions into the role that you are playing. Sometimes I think that the Finnish approach is a much healthier and liberating one, because it focuses so much on the body and we are beings that need to be physically expressive by nature. The challenge however is that it can lead to somewhat forceful pushing of emotions that the camera will not hide on the movie screen. Both approaches have their advantages and disadvantages, but they what they do have in common, is that they both lead into beautiful expression when mastered.

What kind of people survive and do well in this field of work in your opinion?

People who understand that it’s a team game and that they’re allowed to act on their impulses. Some people like to believe that it’s only about being likable and about not giving others a reason to not like you. I don’t think that’s productive at all. I think you have to fight for the right to express yourself the way you want to in order to make good art. If you’re pleasing everyone, you’re doing something wrong. This doesn’t however mean that you should not act politely towards other people and not respect their point of views. A good thing is that nowadays, you don’t have to seek anyone’s permission to make it, because technology has developed so much. If you have something to say, I think it’s just best to be proactive and say it, because only then can you attract the like-minded towards your vision.

What advice would you give to other aspiring European actors aiming for the stars in Hollywood?

I don’t know if I’m yet in a place wherefrom I can start giving advice for other people, since I’m only trying to figure it out for myself. What I can tell is that with the Scandinavian working mentality there’s a lot to gain and one can really separate oneself from the mass of competitors by following through and really giving everything that one’s got. We’re reliable, motivated and hardworking, so there’s no reason why we should let our bad self esteem limit us. There is great potential in all the Scandinavian people. Americans are great on doing the talking, but in the end it’s what you bring on the table that speaks the loudest.

What and who captivate you in the world of the celebrities – and why?

I try to not follow the celebrity world too much as it doesn’t really offer me information that I can use to my advantage and learn something from. I like to surround myself with great authors, speakers and people who have actually made it or are currently making their way to the top, as those are the people I want to work with. One of those people, who is making it now, is Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Even though, he’s been around for a while now, he is working all the time and creating himself opportunities. That kind of pro-activeness is inspiring, since he is not seeking the industry’s approval, but on contrary, changing it to better, for himself and other artists.

Nice and friendly people.

How is the Finnish community in Los Angeles? Do you see yourself returning home after graduating?

The Finnish community is surprisingly large and active here. I have no idea how many Finnish people we have overall, but within the monthly meetings and bigger events, the majority always consists of faces that I haven’t met before, which is awesome. It’s really hard to complain about the life, but to be honest, sometimes you miss home quite a lot. I don’t really now what’s going to happen after school and whether I’m going to stay here or not. I find that kind of liberating as I want to do something different with my life. I guess time will tell what happens. What I do know is that I want to have an international career in arts and travel a lot without sacrificing my cultural background.

What does the future hold for you?

Well, I just finished shooting my thesis film for the school, which I will now go into post-production with. Aside that and all the presentations and final exams before graduation, the school is not employing me too much. Therefore, I’m creating quite actively projects that I can start working on once I get out and hopefully supporting myself with. I’m writing a short film, which I will shoot in fall with the same crew that we made Bro Code – Kaverille Kanssa with. Also, I’m planning to travel to Australia to spend some time with my little brother, who is studying aviation there, because we haven’t been able to spend too much time together within the past three years. I’m so happy to graduate and start the life outside of school finally. After being in school for almost the past 18 years without interruptions, where everything is graded and you’re forced to follow certain ideas about life, it is so exciting to jump into the life where my decisions will have direct results and everything is possible. I guess, it’s a sign that the school has done it’s job, since my mindset has changed about this upcoming period of change within the past year quite radically. Without the skill set that I’ve acquired through my education and all the wonderful experiences here in States, I would probably not feel as confident about the future as I do now.

Website: www.roopeolenius.com
Connect with Roope Olenius at Facebook

I really wanted to interview Kirpi since she lives in LA, interviews celebrities all the time and I find that some people lose themselves when they live in Los Angeles. Kirpi has not, she is truly a real person who enjoys her job. A woman who has met anyone from Beyonce, Jonny Depp to George Clooney – take a guess who is her favorite celebrity and especially the reasons for her choice.

Who is Kirpi Uimonen?

I am a Finnish freelancer journalist. I write mostly entertainment stories from Hollywood to different publications in Finland. I moved from Helsinki to Los Angeles little over 10 years ago.

At what age did you know that you wanted to be a reporter?

Well, my childhood friend just recently reminded me, that as a kid I always said I will never be a journalist. My mother and many of my relatives are journalist and as a kid I was thinking that it is too unstable of a job, you pretty much don’t know when you have to work and where you go next.

When I was visiting my mother’s work place her colleagues were always asking: So, when are you going to be journalist and they laugh at me when I said never ever. They said wait and see. And for sure, when I was twenty I started my first summer job at United Magazines (now Otava Media). End of that summer I wrote my first story about Finnish musician for Seura magazine. By then I knew I wanted to be a journalist

What has been the most exciting story that you’ve covered during your career?

I have covered many exciting stories. As a young writer I did cover most Finnish music festivals and interviewed hundreds of bands. Lately, last 10 years, I have interviewed most Hollywood stars. But one story is at the top of everything. Late 1990’s I inter railed with my friend around Europe for a month and we wrote 20 + page story for a youth magazine called Suosikki about our experience and people who we met. That was fun!

Is there any particular story, an award or a moment throughout your career that you are proud of?

I am proud that I got accepted to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association little over two years ago. It is a foreign journalist organization in Hollywood. It arranges hundreds of interviews every year for its 85 members. We also vote for Golden Globe winners every January.

What would you say is the biggest misconception that people have about your profession?

That it is always glamorous. Sometimes it is, like if you are an invited guest to some event. But usually it is hard and time consuming work. Research, interviews, transcribing, translating, traveling, watching movies and TV-shows takes time, and last but not least, writing takes a lot of time and you are always alone with your thoughts when you are writing.

What do you enjoy most about being a reporter?

Meeting people and listening their stories. Every person sees life differently.

Have you found to be the biggest difference between the types of stories you covered in Finland, and the ones you currently report on in Los Angeles?

I covered mostly entertainment in Finland and I do the same here in Los Angeles. The biggest difference is that I am doing my job in a different country and different language.

Are there any stories that you hate to cover?

Not really. I think I can learn from everything.

Do you ever get into fights with other reporters?

Journalism is a very competitive business especially now-a-days. Media industry is at a transition time, we are unsure what happens to print media and digital media doesn’t pay much yet. We also have more journalists in the field than there are jobs. Fees have collapsed during the last five years. So all this has an impact on my profession. People are more competitive, they have to be in order to survive and sometimes people disagree with each other.

What advice would you give to other aspiring European journalists and reporters aiming for the stars in Hollywood?

Be ready to work long hours, evenings and weekends. Your schedule will change all the time and nothing is sure unless it already happened. You need to be able to handle stressful situations; you will compete to get interviews, what and when you can ask your questions, your clients, pretty much everything. If journalism is your passion – go ahead and do it.

What and who captivate you in the world of celebrities – and why?

This is already a cliché because everybody likes him, but I have to say George Clooney. He takes his work seriously but not himself. He is always friendly and funny. Besides being actor-director-producer-screenwriter he is politically active and devotes his time to humanitarian work

Since you are Finnish – must ask what do you miss most from Finland – think you will ever return to live back there?

I do miss my family, friends and sauna. Sometimes I miss salty liquorice and rye bread, but not as often as in the very beginning. And I have learned that I should never say never. So yes, I could think of returning back to Finland. When? I have no idea. But I think it is a great country.

And how is the Finnish community in Los Angeles?

Finnish community has been growing in Los Angeles the last few years. We have more up and coming artist here than before. Or I should say in the last ten years because I don’t know how things were before that. Creative Finns meet every month. Everybody is welcome, and one can participate when he or she wants to. You can find our group from Facebook, Creative Finns in Los Angeles. There is also another group where everybody can share information, Finns in California.

What do you see the best about the Finnish culture/people vs. American?

Both cultures have they good and bad sides, sometimes they are different sides of the same token. I like that Finns know how to enjoy, relax and keep their vacations, but at the same time I admire the American work mentality, entrepreneurship like mentality and persistency. Americans don’t give up easily.

We have many great things in Finland; education, universal healthcare, long maternity leave, long vacations, sick days, social security. Over all as a society it is a safe place when compared to many other places.

Photos: Theo Kingma and HFPA
Website: www.kirpinhollywood.fi
Facebook: /www.facebook.com/#!/KirpinHollywood
Twitter: @KirpinHollywood

Lotta Luolamo is a freelance fashion stylist in the city of angels – Los Angeles – from Finland. We were delighted when she agreed to complete a full in-depth interview with us. Read on to discover, amongst other things, which fashion designers Lotta is inspired by, what she’s hoping to achieve over the next 12 months and what she does to relax. www.lottaluolamo.com

What are you currently working on?

At the moment I’m having my first week off in forever. For the past couple of weeks I’ve been working on shoots with Chris Brown (yes, the one with Rihanna), including his album packaging shoot. I’ve also worked my new client, up and coming artist J Randy and last week I also did a photo shoot with Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat.

How have the last 12 months been for you?

The last 12 months have proved to me that hard work really pays of. I graduated from Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in December 2012 and got hired immediately to work as a assisting stylist for Mozie Campbell Inc. I’ve also done freelancing, both as a stylist and a set designer. Basically I’ve been on sets of TV-shows, commercials, photo shoots and music videos trying to gain as much experience and inspiration as I can.

What does fashion mean to you?

Fashion is obviously a part of our appearance and our appearance is a part of who we are – a way of expressing ourselves. Fashion brings out personality, it’s a statement. The main thing is to feel comfortable in what you are wearing from clothes to accessories. I believe if you are comfortable with what you are wearing your personality and self esteem will get a boost.

Which modern day fashion designers or fashion icons do you look up to?

Alexander Wang has been my inspiration since the beginning of his career. He’s daring and simple at the same time which to me is a appealing combo. At this moment I’m also obsessed with Dries Van Noten and his colors and prints. My fashion icon is Rihanna, just because she has this crazy ability to change from romantic and flowy feminine looks to these urban and even masculine looks and still always look like her self and represent what she is. She always looks like she is comfortable in what she is wearing.

What was the first thing you ever designed? How does one think about becoming a stylist in Finland..

I never really designed anything. Unless you want to hear all about my school projects from designing a bag to designing a window display. Other than school I have no own designs.
To be honest I wouldn’t want to work as a stylist in Finland. I mean I would love to work there every now and then on interesting projects for sure, but living in Finland and trying to support yourself by styling might be a challenge since it is such a small country. LA is probably the best place to be for an aspiring stylist.

Where do you get your inspiration? Who and what inspires you?

I get my inspiration from every where, literally. It can be someone or something on the street, nature or a magazine I read. Of course these days it’s incredibly easy to find inspiration online with all the blogs and online publications. But the unexpected inspirations come everyday where ever I go – and will be captured on my iphone. It can be a quote, an outfit, a picture or a song.. Anything can inspire me and spark an idea.

How would you define your personal style
 vs. how would you define the style your work exemplifies?

I dress according to how I feel or what the atmosphere is like. I can go from sweatpants to a dress in 10 seconds. Whatever goes with the mood I have or the surroundings I’m in, from floral jumpers to boyish baggy jeans and snapback hats. My work actually is pretty much the same.. whatever the client needs and wants I’ll get, and what ever the atmosphere of the shoot is I’ll create. It’s all about feeling out the people and the surroundings.

Where are you based?

I’m now based in LA but will hopefully travel where ever my work takes me. I’m not tied to staying in LA even though my home is here right now.

What’s it like being where you’re from?

The contrast between Finland, where I’m from, and LA is huge. Everything from the weather to how people interact is quite different in Finland. It’s cold most of the year and the people may not be as outgoing as in LA but I have a huge respect towards my homeland and the toughness and integrity it taught me.

How would you define your current city’s (LA) fashion?

LAs fashion is kind of hard to define, or try to summarize since LA has everything. That’s what I love about LA. There’s everything from Hollywood glamour and red carpets to street wear and urban clothing, from the Sunset strip rocker style to the Downtown artsy hipster scene. You can be who ever you want to LA and dress everyday according to exactly how you feel – no restrictions.

What’s been the highlight of your career to date?

Highlight of my career by far was definitely getting hired by Ugo Mozie and Daver Campbell, the amazing team Mozie Campbell Inc. They’ve been great mentors and a true inspiration to me. Also getting my first own client, J Randy a couple of months ago was an achievement I’ll cherish and continue working hard on.

What are you hoping to achieve over the next 12 months?

I’m now working to get my O1 visa to be able to work both Europe and here in the States. After that I just want to concentrate on working as much as I can and continue living a dream I’ve already achieved.

What do you do to relax?

Hike at Griffith park! Or drive down to Malibu and breath the fresh air – simple things.

Where would your favorite holiday (vacation) be and why?

I love the Caribbean islands. I’ve been to Curacao and Barbados already so I’d probably go to a new one..

What songs are you listening to at the moment?

Cody Chesnutt – ‘Til I met Thee
Daft Punk – Give Life Back To Music
Police – Walking on the moon

Do you have interesting hobbies?

I do have hobbies but they’re not that interesting. My hobbies are my relaxation so hiking, like mentioned before, going to the beach for a run or surf (I’m horrible at it). I would say music too but it’s more of a daily routine than a hobby. I love to learn about new artists and genres.

Any advice for other aspiring European stylists?

Network! That’s all I can say. It’s so important to know the right people and make yourself available for as many projects as you can! Don’t sit around waiting for IT to happen.

Lotta Luolamo’s Website: www.lottaluolamo.com
Twitter: l_otta
Instagram: l_otta

Kaisa’s note: given how Finland is, this is really not the most typical profession for anyone. I am really impressed what Lotta has accomplished and hope she can get her visa sorted out. I also agree with her what is great about Finland..integrity is something you expect other people to have. It is given. It is also dangerous in the sense that many Finns – including myself – may get unlucky trusting people way too easily. We tend to have a lot of trust especially in other women..the two biggest disappointment in my life have been women who turned out too be totally fraudulent. I would never have guessed that – ever! In LA Lotta has probably started learning not to believe that people are what or who they say they are..or do what they say they do.

I got the privilege of interviewing Emilia Sixtensson – one of the leaders of International Swede (ISwede) in New York. International Swede has been around since 2002 and they are hosting the annual roof top summer party with EuroCircle in July 2013 (like last year).

What is International Swede?

International Swede is a collective for young, expat Swedes living in New York City and Los Angeles. We gather for sport events, live music, parties and Swedish holidays. We believe in a modern view of Sweden but enjoy some nostalgia from time to time (especially when it comes to music) and we are always welcoming of non-Swedes to share our culture and way-of-life with. We have a few big events every year, Midsummer being the biggest with up to 1000 people, where our members and their friends gather at a nightclub venue somewhere in Manhattan to celebrate the Swedish spirit and dance the night away. We also invite a famous Swedish Music Act from Sweden every year and that is always a highlight.

When and why did you start International Swede?

Thomas Noe founded ISwede in 2002. I joined in 2003. We were both lacking a place to meet other young Swedish people. There were plenty of organizations for the older crowd and the business community, but nothing on the social level. Thomas, who is also a DJ, also wanted an audience to play Swedish music for and that became a huge attraction at our events.

What is your role with the group?

I am more on the event organizing side and Thomas handles anything related to music and sports.

What challenges have your faced and what are your best accomplishments?

We aim for perfection at our events which is always a challenge when being forced to trust venues and suppliers, but we have learned a lot over the past 11 years and I am proud to say we are very close to achieving our goal.

What kind of events do you have and how often do you have them?

We have between 6 and 10 events per year of different sizes and themes.
Apart from our Swedish Midsummer Party and other similar dance events, we do a yearly traditional crawfish dinner where we gather 150 people on long-tables to eat, chat and sing schnaps songs.

We also organize locations for our community to watch Soccer/Ice hockey games and the Eurovision Song Contest. Whenever there is a famous Swedish DJ or band in town we are the first to announce it.

How many members do you have and where is your member base from?

We have 10,000+ members and most are Scandinavians living in the New York and LA area.

Is International Swede in any other US or International cities?

Only New York and Los Angeles for now.

When you aren’t planning events what fun things do you like to do in New York City?

There are so much to do, but I like catching up with friends at house parties and dinners, grabbing a show or feeding my intellect with an interesting TEDx lecture or movie screening (accompanied by cocktails of course).

How is New York different than Sweden?

I’ve lived here for almost 50% of my life now, so I’m at a point where I remember only the good things about Sweden and idealize them, but I would say Sweden is more structured (in mindset and system) which could prove very helpful and efficient when playing by the “rules” but less so when trying to work/think outside the box.

When is the best time of year to visit Sweden and how often do you go and visit?

Summer! Summer! Summer! I don’t go as often as I would like to for sure.

How long have you lived in New York?

Since 1996

Are you involved with any other groups in New York? If so which ones and for how long?

I like to follow all the European networks here in New York. EuroCircle, NL Borrels, Made in Italy, French Tuesdays, etc. I used to attend a lot 5-6 years back, but I’ve had to scale down. Too much partying. : )

How can people connect up with you?

You can follow us on Facebook page “Swedes in New York” and of course sign up on the website also www.iswede.com

International Swede – ISwede Website: www.iswede.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SwedesInNY

International Swede – ISwede Twitter http://twitter.com/iswede

 

Atlanta is a city I personally have never visited, I have friends who have lived there and I have spent hours at the airport. What do I know about it..hmm, it’s really big, lots of traffic, millions of people, Coca-Cola, Peach trees, Olympic Games, I have been told many beautiful women by male friends – and many many great restaurants. Let’s see what Leena Ringvall says about her life in Atlanta. She is originally from Finland – just like I am.

Who are you and what group do you represent in Atlanta? What is your role with the group – and what do you do otherwise?

My name is Leena Ringvall. I was born and raised in Helsinki, Finland. I came to the U.S. to work as a teacher and have taught 2nd – 4th grades in VA, GA, and NC. I currently hold a full-time job as a 4th grade teacher at a local public school in Metro Atlanta. As a volunteer work I’m also the president of Atlanta Finland Society and the principal of Atlanta Finnish School of Language 2012-13. I’m in charge of administrative tasks and creating curriculum for the Finnish school.

What does your group want to accomplish and what would make you really happy as an accomplishment with your group?

The mission for the Society is to increase the knowledge of Finnish culture and customs in Atlanta as well as maintain them and celebrate our traditions with our members. Even though we still have over 100 members after many families have moved back to Finland, I feel that some people are acclimating to the U.S. culture by blending in and putting forth very little effort to maintain the language. I would be very happy if we could set up a cultural event that would satisfy all needs of different aged people with a high participation rate.

How do you think it is working out, what are your biggest obstacles and the best surprises that have come along?

As mentioned above due to recession companies don’t send families for overseas assignments as regularly as they used to. Therefore our member list is getting shorter and shorter. There are people that have lived here for over 20 years and then young families who have just arrived. It’s hard to find something meaningful for everyone to do. Some people are set in their ways and don’t like change. It’s also hard to find volunteers to help organize events. The best surprise, however, has been the connectivity amongst the active members and the overwhelming support from unexpected distances.

How many Finnish people are there in Atlanta as far as you know??

I want to say about 120.

What kind of activities do you do and how do you fund the group’s activities?

Atlanta Finland Society holds an annual Christmas Celebration in December. This year we also had a Finnish Labor Day party. The Finnish School is under the Society and has a few events within students and their families. We work closely with SAFG (Scandinavian American Foundation of Georgia) and have events for both members. Everything is funded with membership fees.

What is the most captivating thing about Atlanta for you?

The Southern Hospitality. I can’t get enough of that. I also love the view of skyscrapers when driving in the city.

What would you tell a visitor not to miss in Atlanta?

The Georgia Aquarium. It is the largest in the world and takes about two hours to wonder through.

Where do you go in Atlanta to chill out?

As a teacher I’m surrounded by noise. When I want peace and quiet I will go hiking up in the mountains or one of the beautiful parks in North Atlanta. When I want to laugh stand-up comedy is the answer (preferably at Dad’s Garage).

What is the most memorable thing that has happened to you in Atlanta?

Getting married.

Is there something that annoys you about Atlanta?

THE TRAFFIC!!!!

What is your favorite restaurant/s? And is there any place we could get Finnish food there – what is it to you…

There are so many of them… For someone visiting Atlanta for the first time I’d recommend Vortex for their burgers. There are no restaurants were you could go for Finnish food but you can buy for example Fazer chocolate, salmiakki, or Aura mustard at Buford Farmer’s Market.

What do you miss most from your own country Finland?

As the only daughter I really miss my family (and friends), as a teacher I miss the Finnish education system, and in general – people being on time (Finnish people are usually very punctual), summers with endless daylight, and the beauty of nature.

When is the best time to visit Atlanta?

Early spring when it isn’t too hot or muggy between March and April.

Atlanta Finland Society Website: www.atlantafinlandsociety.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Atlanta-Finland-Society/184785808207517

Kaisa’s note: I wanted to explain – for the benefit of those readers who may not not understand why Leena says “as a teacher she misses the Finnish education system”. For the last few decades there has been a few countries that have excelled with their public education in all global tests from grades 8 to 12 – Finland, Japan and South Korea probably leading the pack