Iskra Angelova
ISKRA Angelova, the co-host and producer of the Nova TV morning weekend talk show At My Place, surprised her American colleagues with her emotionality, and is using her experience of the 'American Dream' to fight for quality journalism in Bulgaria. She is currently successfully combining her journalistic experience with theatre acting. One of her firmest beliefs is that the more work you have to do, the more mobilised you become.
Angelova studied TV journalism at Emerson University in Boston with seven other Bulgarians that had Fulbright scholarships. In this way she became acquainted with the American dream. Starting out as an assistant for a morning talk show on CBS in New York, she ended up as a desk person (responsible for gathering information and spreading it among the producers). She spent a year in what she calls "the cultural capital of the world" - New York - with the 50-member team of the Early Show where she had the unforgettable experience of being something between an editor and reporter. During that period she met many famous people like actors Hugh Grant, Susan Sarandon, and Dustin Hoffman.
For Angelova, New York, or the Big Apple, is the place where the most talented and ambitious people from all over the world come to try to make it. "It is an extremely hard place to live in but it has always been my dream and challenge," she said.
After working for two TV channels in Boston, Angelova was lucky to find a job in New York, where she was able to go to castings and act in films. Staying there made her tougher and now she feels ready to handle all kinds of situations. "Every Bulgarian faces the need 'to make it' when they settle in New York," Angelova said, explaining that Bulgarians are adaptable and capable people and that is why they can make it. She said that succeeding in the US requires a strong character, strong will, and the ability to survive. "All these are strictly individual qualities and only if you are not afraid you have a chance there," Angelova said with a smile.
"Starting is never easy," she said, adding that foreigners in Western Europe are often isolated and discriminated, unlike in the US where everybody has some European roots and highly respects European nations.
Angelova worked as the Kosovo crisis guide for her colleagues at CBS and never felt different or underestimated. "When I was given stories to follow I completely forgot I was a foreigner," she said. This was a great compliment for the whole team of the show, she said, because the only foreigners were her and a Russian. Her qualities were valued but her emotionality surprised the team.
"Being an idealist was also surprising for the team she worked with. The head of the CBS news department advised her not to be such an idealist in the profession but to emphasise the cynical side of her work. "This is due to the Bulgarians' Slavic spirituality," Angelova said with a smile. She said that in New York nobody takes any notice of you and you can feel completely anonymous and lonely. "This was a nostalgic burden to me," she said, explaining that Bulgarians are freer and it is great to live without strict rules and regularities.
While working and living in the US she missed the opportunity to go to the cinema, visit friends and go to the mountains or the seaside; all these things were part of being free, she said.
Returning to Bulgaria felt like travelling 60 years back in comparison with the film and journalism industry in the US. Angelova expressed satisfaction about her last two years spent in Bulgaria in terms of better musical clips, media and professionalism.
She said that Americans are meticulous in reflecting both sides of the story in a conflict and that they are not biased. "We mock American nationalism but it might be a great help to us in the future." She said that Bulgarians have never been proud of being Bulgarians and that is absurd. "The Bulgarian Dream is connected to deeply dissatisfied people in their own country. To be happy here means to be stupid," she said. According to her she has her parents' best quality: never to give up and to be happy with what you achieve.
On air she never underestimates Bulgarian viewers since she considers them quite intelligent and this has expanded into a constant personal fight. "Mass media cultivates taste and not vice versa."
She continues to act in Bulgaria and manages to combine her two professions skillfully. "Acting gives me one thing while television gives me another one," she said.
Angelova studied TV journalism at Emerson University in Boston with seven other Bulgarians that had Fulbright scholarships. In this way she became acquainted with the American dream. Starting out as an assistant for a morning talk show on CBS in New York, she ended up as a desk person (responsible for gathering information and spreading it among the producers). She spent a year in what she calls "the cultural capital of the world" - New York - with the 50-member team of the Early Show where she had the unforgettable experience of being something between an editor and reporter. During that period she met many famous people like actors Hugh Grant, Susan Sarandon, and Dustin Hoffman.
For Angelova, New York, or the Big Apple, is the place where the most talented and ambitious people from all over the world come to try to make it. "It is an extremely hard place to live in but it has always been my dream and challenge," she said.
After working for two TV channels in Boston, Angelova was lucky to find a job in New York, where she was able to go to castings and act in films. Staying there made her tougher and now she feels ready to handle all kinds of situations. "Every Bulgarian faces the need 'to make it' when they settle in New York," Angelova said, explaining that Bulgarians are adaptable and capable people and that is why they can make it. She said that succeeding in the US requires a strong character, strong will, and the ability to survive. "All these are strictly individual qualities and only if you are not afraid you have a chance there," Angelova said with a smile.
"Starting is never easy," she said, adding that foreigners in Western Europe are often isolated and discriminated, unlike in the US where everybody has some European roots and highly respects European nations.
Angelova worked as the Kosovo crisis guide for her colleagues at CBS and never felt different or underestimated. "When I was given stories to follow I completely forgot I was a foreigner," she said. This was a great compliment for the whole team of the show, she said, because the only foreigners were her and a Russian. Her qualities were valued but her emotionality surprised the team.
"Being an idealist was also surprising for the team she worked with. The head of the CBS news department advised her not to be such an idealist in the profession but to emphasise the cynical side of her work. "This is due to the Bulgarians' Slavic spirituality," Angelova said with a smile. She said that in New York nobody takes any notice of you and you can feel completely anonymous and lonely. "This was a nostalgic burden to me," she said, explaining that Bulgarians are freer and it is great to live without strict rules and regularities.
While working and living in the US she missed the opportunity to go to the cinema, visit friends and go to the mountains or the seaside; all these things were part of being free, she said.
Returning to Bulgaria felt like travelling 60 years back in comparison with the film and journalism industry in the US. Angelova expressed satisfaction about her last two years spent in Bulgaria in terms of better musical clips, media and professionalism.
She said that Americans are meticulous in reflecting both sides of the story in a conflict and that they are not biased. "We mock American nationalism but it might be a great help to us in the future." She said that Bulgarians have never been proud of being Bulgarians and that is absurd. "The Bulgarian Dream is connected to deeply dissatisfied people in their own country. To be happy here means to be stupid," she said. According to her she has her parents' best quality: never to give up and to be happy with what you achieve.
On air she never underestimates Bulgarian viewers since she considers them quite intelligent and this has expanded into a constant personal fight. "Mass media cultivates taste and not vice versa."
She continues to act in Bulgaria and manages to combine her two professions skillfully. "Acting gives me one thing while television gives me another one," she said.
