Meet Nora Kezer

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nora Kezer. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Nora, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

I was born in Eastern Europe – or as Hungarians like to call it “the heart of Europe” -, where I think by default, due to past wars, the way we are raised, etc., we are hard workers and resilient as you never know what tomorrow brings, so you just prepare for the possible difficult times. I also saw my grandparents and parents work hard, take risks and giving a go to all sorts of business ventures, out of which some have worked out and they managed to build a great life for us. This not only provided me with good education and opportunities, but also taught me how to make the most of these opportunities. I have never been one to rest on my laurels. When I had the chance to learn something new, travel and try new things, I took it. I believe this is what has taught me to be ok even when things are uncomfortable for extended periods of time and persevere. And when the investment of time and energy pays off, that feeling of accomplishment is one of the best feelings in the world. A bit like a drug, so you want to feel it again and again which is why many successful people never want to retire. They don’t think of work as something inconvenient, rather as pursuit of a goal, which gives purpose and excitement to life. This drive is what gets me out of bed every day, curious and ready to tackle the world. Following my ambitions, although requires effort, is fun and rewarding at the same time.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I work in the film industry, mostly as assistant to producers and eventually would love to produce my own films. In addition, I’ve also always been drawn to acting as I’d love to have so many different experiences, I find that this is the only profession that gives me the chance to try all the different lives I want to live.
In my case landing in the industry was a very conscious decision as it’s been a dream of mine since I was small.
I was working at an insolvency firm when Covid hit and circumstances at my job have changed, so I thought it’s now or never, I have to take a chance on finally getting into film. I resigned and started to specifically target roles at film studios and companies and eventually got a job as an assistant in the Film Services and Operations team at NBCUniversal. It was an amazing and highly fulfilling year as, besides my day job, I could try lots of different things – volunteer, join employee groups and sign up for other extracurricular activities. One of which was organizing and hosting a charity gala to raise money on behalf of The Prince’s Trust which was a dream come true! The gala has since turned into a yearly event and I will always be proud and grateful that I was part of the founding team. I’ve learnt that with the right mindset and right people around you, everyone’s potential exponentially grows and you can really achieve anything.

After Universal I joined another film company where I could learn about independent filmmaking which was a great next step to learn about different areas of the industry. It was a lot of work, but gave me invaluable insight into the business side and opened doors for further amazing opportunities for what I will forever be thankful. The latest project I had the privilege to work on was a major Hollywood feature film that comes out next year. I was fortunate to be able to travel with the crew, be on set (even get a tiny acting part) and learn more about industry processes, which was another dream coming true. Since then I took a few months off to recharge and reflect on the last few intense, but unbelievable years, so I’m now ready to jump into the next year with a crazy amount of energy and enthusiasm!

When I’m not working I always make sure that I keep broadening my knowledge and I’m up-to-date with what’s happening in the industry, so I go to events, screenings, etc. Luckily in London and LA there’s a lot going on when it comes to film and there’s no shortage of opportunities to meet people, study and further my career. I enjoy this world so much I honestly feel like a child on a playground being a part of it. I genuinely love connecting with people, hearing their stories, learning from them and trying to look at the world from different perspectives. These experiences and empathy, I believe, will also be a valuable asset for great storytelling.

I still have a long way to go and loads to learn, but I feel like I’m on the right track, and my clear vision will always steer me in the right direction when it comes to making choices and decisions, while I make sure that I remember to enjoy the journey and be grateful for every day and opportunity I get!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Perseverance, delayed gratification and thinking of my dreams as goals not as something unachievable just because I was born into a completely different world and background. Schwarzenegger has always been a great inspiration for me. I always listen to his story and advice when I need a boost of positivity, self-belief, and a reminder to keep going.

My advice would be to start feeling and behaving as if you already are who you want to become. That’s one of the quickest ways to transform your way of thinking and therefore reality, in my opinion. Would throw in here some discussion about neuroplasticity, but that’s a longer topic for another time…

Lastly, the older I get the more I realize that the right balance of work, rest and nurturing connections is the only way to feel whole and happy as a human, and the people we surround ourselves with – be it family, friends, or other people from our community – are essential to be able to recharge and be the most efficient version of ourselves.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

Being able to move to Los Angeles. Working in the industry will hopefully help, but I keep looking at options and trying to figure out how to make it happen as soon as possible. It’s challenging because it feels a little bit out of my control, and after moving from country to country earlier in my life, it is hard to acknowledge the existence of borders. But I know myself… and challenge accepted! I know the following sayings are cliché, but I live by them: “Where there’s a will there’s ALWAYS a way!” and when I’m being told I can’t do something, I say “Watch me!” 🙂

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @norahkezer
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/norakezer/
• Other: IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm16132351/