Getting Personal

This is one in a series of interviews with LAANE staff and board members, whose eclectic backgrounds and experiences reflect the incredible diversity of Los Angeles. In this edition, we introduce you to Lara Bergthold and Douglas Ross, both of whom have joined LAANE's Honorary Board this year.

Lara Bergthold is the Director of Development for Act III Productions, Norman Lear’s production company. She has spent much of her career working in the nexus of Hollywood and politics. Previously, she was the Executive Director of the Hollywood Women’s Political Committee and the Lear Family Foundation, and worked as a consultant with progressive nonprofits to reach out more effectively to the entertainment industry. In the last presidential campaign, she served as National Political Director for General Wesley Clark’s presidential bid and then as National Deputy Political Director for the Kerry campaign, acting as a liaison to the entertainment industry. She is the Board Co-Chair of People for the American Way.

Who most inspired you growing up?

I was inspired by a lot of great leaders who fought for social change—Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Pete Seeger, Susan B. Anthony, Cesar Chavez. But as a young woman my greatest inspiration was Senator Paul Wellstone, who was a living example of how one person could make a difference and the power of “the little guy.”

What has been the most exciting activist experience of your life?

Participating in the 1992 March for Women’s Lives in Washington, D.C. where I joined a million other men and women marching from the White House to Congress for women’s rights and equality. Just as exciting was joining the immigration marches in Los Angeles this year.

What can you tell us about your background that people might not know?

I grew up in Santa Cruz, California and my parents were in the first Peace Corps group in Ethiopia .

What is the greatest myth about Hollywood?

A lot of the myths are true, or at least partly true—after all, Hollywood is a corporate town. But I suppose the greatest myth is that people in Hollywood don’t know how the rest of the country lives. Most people in this town don’t grow up here, or don’t even live here, and they have a rich experience and understanding of the class and racial differences in our country.

What role do you think the entertainment industry can play in fighting poverty here in Los Angeles and the rest of the country?

The entertainment community can help bring attention to the problems—as well as the solutions that groups like LAANE are trying every day to promote. They can help tell the stories of people who are fighting to organize, change their lives, and in the process change the lives of others.

The founder of the independent production company Evolution Film & Tape, Inc., Douglas Ross heads up the company’s varied slate of reality programs. Currently, Ross is Executive Producer of MTV’s Yo Momma starring Wilmer Valderrama and Court TV’s Beach Patrol. Recent credits include TLC’s Clean Sweep and Bravo’s high-profile gay romance series Boy Meets Boy. Ross launched the first season of NBC’s alternative series Fear Factor, and the first season of CBS’s Big Brother. He is the creator and Executive Producer on Disney Channel’s documentary series Bug Juice and Movie Surfers (now in its tenth season), and was the Executive Producer of Bravo's docu-series Gay Weddings. Ross is active with the American Civil Liberties Union and the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. He is the Executive Producer of the new politically charged feature documentary Camp Out , which details the first summer camp for Christian gay and lesbian teens, and is winning major awards on the film festival circuit.

Who most inspired you growing up?

Although I’d like to say I was aware of all the famous leaders out there, those who inspired me most as a kid were the real people in my life who were living well and seemed to make a difference in the lives of those around them. Trite, perhaps, but both of my parents set a strong example of people who “lived by the Golden Rule”—and to this day I strive to follow their example. My father worked hard at his own business, and although he could be a hard-ass, he believed in fairness and playing by the rules. My mother put other people and their happiness and needs before her own. Those specific traits have guided me through relationships, business and in life.

Believe it or not, my first grade teacher, Kay Brownyard, was one of the most inspirational people to me. She made it clear she believed in me and my abilities and instilled a solid sense of self-confidence that I’ve relied upon to get me through the ordeals of everyday life.

After reading my report on Karl Marx, my sixth grade social studies teacher said, “Well done, but be careful not to fall in love with your own words in the future.” This has stuck with me ever since and has helped me to police myself and not get too cocky.

What has been the most exciting activist experience of your life?

The most exciting activist experience was being part of a filmmakers exchange with young artists in the Soviet Union in 1987. The trip was billed as an “anti-nuke” mission, designed to show that we’re all more alike than different. I produced and directed a documentary about the experience (naively titled Change the World) and although the film never found a broadcast home, it became my calling card and helped launch my then fledgling production company.

What can you tell us about your background that people might not know?

My favorite job I’ve ever had was being the house boy for a sorority at my college. I was responsible for serving dinner and doing the dishes—and I got $5 a week for the honor. But I also got to eat with the girls every night and eventually became their mascot—it was a hoot.

What is the greatest myth about Hollywood?

The greatest myth about Hollywood is that it’s glamorous—it’s actually a ton of hard work and full of disappointment. Or, perhaps the biggest myth is that it’s easy to make it big. Hollywood is not a meritocracy. Or perhaps the biggest myth is that you can’t make great, true friends. You do have to be careful, but there are a lot of wonderful, caring and hard-working people in the town.

What role do you think the entertainment industry can play in fighting poverty here in Los Angeles and the rest of the country?

More important than celebrities lending their name and support for causes is the entertainment industry including realistic storylines about poverty and its effects in programming, and showing stories about people who care—thereby inspiring viewers to make positive choices and changes in their lives.