Okay, I started this series called “So You Work a 9 to 5,” because I knew that there are tons of people who work jobs to pay the bills and also have other creative passions that they’re pursuing. Daniele Ferraro is not only one of those passionate, driven people, but she’s the type of person that is always super-positive and smiling. Plus, the woman is talented. Word.

So, tell the readers of girlatastartup about yourself. Where are you from and what brought you to the City of Angels?
I am from Ft. Liqourdale Florida. I wanted to spread my wings and fly solo. ( in a 89 blue chevy Camero)

Nice! Gotta love a Chevy. What made you decide to take the chance to come out here?
I wanted no regrets. I was listening to that inner compass and it landed me here in Los Angeles.

Tell us about “Dirty Mary,” and all the awards.
Dirty Mary is a 17 minute romantic comedy that I wrote, produced, and starred in. It was like giving birth to my first child (my bank account incurred the stretch marks). It was one of the most exciting projects I have ever worked on. I absolutely loved every moment of it! It screened in over 35 film festivals and won 25 short film awards including the “Women in Film” award and HBO’s online short film contest.

You’re quite the entrepreneur.  How did you go about getting financing for your film?

As far as the financing goes…. I held a major fundraiser that almost took as much work as the production itself. I had liquor companies donate alcohol and people donate services and goods that I auctioned off. My friends Claude  who is a stand up comic hosted the ugliest tattoo contest where the winner won a free laser tattoo removal. I also auctioned off free headshot sessions, pies, underwear, acting classes, painting lessons… you name it, we auctioned  it off.   It was a lot of fun and a great start to get things rolling. Then as the production started going, a few friends stepped in and offered to sponsor craft services and then another good friend donated a large amount to post production. I felt very blessed to be surrounded by such supportive people. When we wrapped, I walked through the unknown costs of post production, and that’s when I had to whip out the credit card out- constantly… but when your baby needs something you buy it and that’s how I felt. I always bartered or researched the best prices, but I never skimmed on what was needed to make my film the best it could be and I think it shows.

Wow. You really took a chance and obviously reaped the benefits. Tell us the inspirational things that get you up each morning.
That fact that I have two eyes that see when I open them and I have two feet that move when they hit the ground.

Ah! Good answer. And the worst job you ever had…
Cleaning bedpans in a hospital and putting dead bodies in a freezer.

Um…. I have mad respect for you. So, what is your current day job? And also, how do you stay creative?
I am a real estate agent at Keller Williams. I stay creative by surrounding myself with people and things that inspire and excite me.

Word. And what is your ultimate goal at the moment?
I just finished writing the follow up feature to my short entitled, “Warrior Princess”. I think it’s a great time for female driven comedies, so now I want to give birth to Dirty Mary’s big sister, Warrior Princess! Any Executive Producers out there want a kick ass female comedy?

Sounds like a fun concept for a feature. Did you have any mentors to give you advice or help you out when you were in a rough spot?
Yes, I have worked very closely with my artistic director, Stuart Rogers, who started the theatre company, Theatre Tribe. He has been very inspiring and has stretched me artistically for the past 10 years.

How do you stay inspired with your writing? And with life in general?
I sing off tune, moonwalk and breakdance. I read inspiring works. I am also a huge Tony Robbins fan. I think he rocks!

Because I know that I’m not the only karaoke freak…what is your karaoke anthem?
Meat Loaf, Paradise by the Dashboard Light.

Favorite film and why?
I don’t have a single favorite film, but “Death of a Salesman” is my all time favorite play. Willy Loman will forever bring me to my knees. I am a lover of good stories and characters much more than cinematic style or structure.

Definitely. I fall in love with characters and stories because you relate to them more. Thanks for doing this interview and by the way, if you’re a Studio exec who accidentally came across my blog and ended up reading this interview, check out Daniele’s “Dirty Mary,” short.

For anyone who has ever glanced through Teen Vogue, to peruse the articles about the latest teen pop sensation, tabloid darling, or just like to look at the ridiculously stylish teens who have fashion forward closets (and wallets), you’ll be psyched to read this next interview with Eva Chen, the beauty director of Teen Vogue. Check out the interview where she dishes on what its like to work at the former offices of Whitney and LC, her very simple beauty secret, and ahem, is she a karaoker?

Eva, so glad you could do the interview. Tell us where you’re from? Native New Yorker?
Yes, I was raised in New York. I grew up in the village, right around Washington Square Park. It was great to have such a multi-cultural and diverse experience as a child!

Tell the readers of girlatastartup about how you started on your path to becoming the Beauty/Health Director for Teen Vogue. So, when you were 10, were you really into beauty products and stuff, or did
you start off in one arena and end up here?
I never would have guessed that I’d end up as a beauty editor. I actually was very much interested in medicine as a teen and went to Johns Hopkins University to be pre-med. The reality of pre-med didn’t quite agree with me though and after three years, I took a break and accepted a summer internship at Harper’s Bazaar in the features and beauty section. It was love at first sight! I had a great experience. Senior year, I went to Oxford University and studied Shakespeare instead (as I had enough credits to
graduate already) and then afterwards, got my first job in magazines at Lucky, in the fashion department. Then, I got a position at ELLE as the assistant beauty editor. I stayed at ELLE for three years, eventually leaving with the title of editor, before coming to Teen Vogue as the beauty and health director.

Very Cool. So onto the health questions, I’m a 20-something, but still read your blog for its great beauty tips/finds. What’s the biggest difference in offering beauty/health advice to teens vs. 20-somethings?
We absolutely have readers in their 20s (I’m in my 20s too and SO many of my friends “confess” to loving Teen Vogue!). The main difference between teens and 20-somethings is that teens are still very much learning, so they like to learn about the basics. That said, teens are MUCH more open to experimenting too. How many 28 year olds are brave enough to try the Agyness Denn pixie cut? Whereas teens are fearless!

Wow, anyone who can pull off a pixie cut gets a gold star in my book. So.. what about mentors? How crucial they and how do you suggest that people go about finding mentors in their fields? Also, did you have a mentor who guided you to where you are today?
Finding a mentor is definitely helpful. The best way to find a mentor is through internships (where you establish connections) or through reaching out to people via email. You can email people just to say you admire their work and ask whether they’d have 5-10 minutes for a spot of advice. I’ve found, given the proper wording/manners, most people are kind and gracious enough to grant time, even to a stranger.

Eva, give us some skincare secrets and don’t be stingy. You obviously have billion-dollar skin.
The most important thing is to set up a routine. Wash your face 2x a day religiously, drink a LOT of water, and wear SPF like it’s the most important thing in the world (which for skin, it actually is). Oh, and look into retinoids. I’ve found that they’re the one thing EVERY derm agrees on, in terms of acne reduction and elimination of fine lines.

Check. Tell us…what’s the coolest part about working for Teen Vogue? Is the the free products/perks? Going to Fashion week? And added on to that, are you a fan of the Hills, and is working there, hm…, a bit more intensive than its portrayed on the show?
I love working at Teen Vogue for so many reasons! It’s great to talk to young women/teens every day and hear that we’re really affecting their lives. Of course, free products aren’t bad either, especially for a product addict like me! Fashion week is wonderful but very frantic, so I’m grateful that I only have to cover New York.

Okay, so in the state of the recent economy, how can a girl be fashionable on a budget?
Ebay, ebay, ebay. And H&M!

Yes! H&M on 34th St is the best! And, as a former NYC resident, I miss the summer NYC fashion. What’s in style for summer 2008? Give us some of your favorite outfits.
This summer I’m pairing cute flats with little shorts and billowy tops, or I’m wearing long maxi dresses and a little chapeau (must protect the skin!). I’ve been lucky enough to go to Paris a few times this year, so I’ve picked up quite a few cute looks from Sandro and Maje.

You obviously love your job. So, what inspires you in your daily life? And if you could give advice to young women out there who are searching for their talents and passions, what would you say?
I find inspiration everywhere, from the New York Times Science section (great source for cool studies for my health section!) to the streets of Milan and Paris and New York. And, of course, the legions of cool and awesome girls out there who email me! My advice to girls out there is to not be afraid to try a lot of things. After all, I did pre-med, pre-law, pre-everything, pretty much, before landing in a field I love! And the more things you learn that you DON’T like, the more you are honing in on what it is that you do. Always write thank you notes, be down-to-earth, and be patient.

That’s so true. Thanks Eva, so how about some random questions?
Are you a downtown girl or an uptown girl? (Had to ask)
Downtown girl but with with the occasional taste for an uptown splurge.
What’s your Karaoke anthem?
I am the most tone-deaf person ever so I try not to agonize anyone with my voice!
And because this blog is entitled, Girlatastartup, how tech-savvy are you, Ms. Chen?
Just the basics… Emailing, word processing, and internet. Enough to get by. I wish I was more so, though!

Girl, you have the basics down. Thanks for sharing your inspirational and beauty tips with us, and I will CONTINUE to peruse that cute little mag of yours. Check out Eva’s Beauty Blog to read more about the latest beauty/health/fashion trends.

When I first started a profile on Stumbleupon.com, I had no clue how to use the site. Yeah, technologically-deficient, I know. Now, its one of my very favorite websites and its how I met a ton of really smart, cool, funny people. (okay, not physically met, but you know, we exchange e-mails) I came across Todd/Mr. Belding, and was a bit awestruck by his profile. He’s worked in Education, cares about Environmental/Civil Rights Issues, and also is a techie. Plus, I mean, his SU name is Mr. Belding, and FYI, I used to be obsessed with “Saved by the Bell.” Who wasn’t? So, without further ado…

So, who is Richard Belding…really? What’s the deal with the name?
Ha! Yeah contrary to belief I’m not a middle aged balding principal running around after Zack and Screech at Bayside high. I’m a 28 year old guy who currently dabbles with viral marketing and creating quality content to help websites improve their usefulness. But who am I really? My background funny enough lies in social work where I cut my teeth in both Seattle and downtown Chicago. I’ve spent the majority of my work experience helping people find and improve their quality of housing, healthcare, and education. In my free time I enjoy beating up my body playing competitive rugby. I also enjoy Northern California’s beautiful landscape for hiking.
Mr. Belding is my social media alter ego. I chose that name for a couple of different reasons. For one, I am very passionate about access to education for all people. Through my days in social work I’ve seen the importance and need for people to have proper training and skill sets to achieve sustainable employment. Simple things many of us take for granted such as basic computer skills can be a major barrier for people. The name also fit nicely with several of the educationally themed sites I help with. Mr. Belding kind of fits both personal and business needs.

Where are you from and how did you get involved in social networking, Digg, Reddit, Stumble?
Living in the Silicon Valley area amongst the tall towers of Google, Yahoo and Apple, it’s a very technology rich environment. I initially got involved with Digg recreationally as a way to learn about technology news. I started out as just a news reader and over time I expanded my horizons to both reddit and stumble. I didn’t actually submit content until several months later until I got a firm handle on the interests of each community and felt comfortable. I never really set out to be a social media contributor. As I started to comment and interact with people online (which was a new phenomenon for me) my interests picked up and now it has become part of my daily life.

I know what you mean. So, tell us about your day job.
I wear a couple of different hats in my day job. My main job has always been creating content that people will find useful. Currently I’ve been producing free educational web videos with professional college and career counselors. That has been a really fun and fulfilling project. These videos help students learn about everything from selecting the best college major to writing a professional resume. I’ve been fortunate to work with some great volunteers and experts in their fields. I also help develop marketing campaigns to get the word out on these types of content. Many times, it’s through libraries and colleges or even through social media channels.

Now, that’s a fulfilling day job. So, there’s a recent cover story in “BusinessWeek” entitled, “Beyond Blogs, on to Social Media.” How has social media changed your life, on a day to day basis?
That article really demonstrates the growth and power of social media in the mainstream just within the last couple of years. I have a very quirky personality that is generally hesitant to new technology until I’m dragged by the collar to follow or be left behind. In many ways I’m kind of like Old Media. But even Old Media has realized that the future of communication is rapidly growing and actually changing just as fast as it grows. In the last several years there has been an explosion of innovative ways for people to communicate with each other and businesses. I think we’re in the middle of a creative renaissance where the boundaries of media are being redrawn and it will be interesting which paths stick and which ones don’t.
The biggest impact social media has had on my life is without question how I retrieve news. I’m easily digesting two to three times as much as I ever have before with news feeds and aggregators. The ability to get news from different sources and all of this instantaneously is very powerful. Before I get home to read the paper or turn on the nightly news I’ve read the headline stories multiple times. This election year is a great example where you can get up to the moment statistics on primaries and voting as it happens. It’s very remarkable.

So, Mr. Belding, who inspires you and why?
People who dare…Those who dare to make positive change and also those who dare to take risks. I am especially inspired by those people who stand up to the face of adversity. I am enamored with the American Civil Rights movement and the ordinary people who united and stood up for change in such uncertain times. There are so many unsung heroes in everyday life. People who risk to make positive change in their communities and others that fall off their feet, get back up and press on. Those are the people who inspire me.

What’s your current favorite TV show?
I’m a sports nut and always get a great laugh from the guys at Pardon the Interruption (PTI) on ESPN. I’m also a total sucker for garbage reality television. It’s like a bad train wreck that I know is happening but I can’t jump off. I was also a huge fan of the British Office back in the day.

Give us a random funny fact about yourself.
I get razzed a lot because I have really small hands and feet. I’m 6’2 and can fit into my girlfriend’s running shoes comfortably. I get a lot of Barney Rubble/Flintstones jokes.

And there you have it peoples, Todd, a.k.a. Mr. Belding, and one of my very best Stumble friends. (You can send me a stumble anytime). He’s not only a social media maven, but a socially conscious person who wants to help educate others via his website. Check out his stumble profile to find out more about him. http://mrbelding.stumbleupon.com/

I actually majored in Journalism so this interviewing stuff is helping me flex those B.A. skills. haha.
Next up is Kari Kurto, with whom I’ve taken several workshops, the Casting Associate for “Weeds,” and “My Name is Earl,“.

Her interview will be up next week, and its full of fun facts like what she did during the Writers’ strike, her love of skateboards and oh yeah, her alias. Duh.<a