When most people hear ‘Manhattan’, their mind flashes to the promised glitz and glam of New York’s most famous borough, but on the other side of the nation, just south of Los Angeles, lies another small borough that shares it’s name- Manhattan Beach. And it’s not just a name they share, but their synonimity with starving artists and success as well. Several locals are successful in the music, advertising, television and film industry, where it’s all about connections, and in a small beach town where everyone knows each other, dreams of fame are nothing short of expected.

Speaking of starving artists and success, recently, I sat down and got an exclusive interview with a Hollywood dynamic duo- executive producers and writers of AMC’s Golden Globe and three-time Emmy Award winning drama, Mad Men– Andre and Maria Jacquemetton. They began with a dream and talent, went through various day jobs while writing on the side, and finally after 10 years, they’ve made it to the top.

Andre and Maria both admit that getting to where they are now wasn’t easy and sometimes it still seems so surreal. The main thing I took from speaking with them is that patience and passion go hand in hand. In order to pursue your passion, and if it truly is your passion, the wait will be worth it and soon you’ll find yourself somewhere you’d never believe- so be patient. One very important thing that didn’t go unnoticed by me during the interview was the evident passion in their eyes and in the tone of their voices when they spoke about their work and how they developed a voice through writing.  They have also passed their love of film and writing to their son, Luc.