Two Ukrainian refugees got a foothold in the entertainment industry thanks to a helping hand from Warner Bros.
Looking lost at the time, the young women, wearing oversized red plaid flannel shirts provided by a local donation service, described how stalled work permits and red tape for the entertainment union had hampered their efforts to find work. Meager job offerings included dog walking and dog grooming – i.e. scoop poop detailing.
But a year later, Chumak, 39, and Ksenofontova, 35, are smiling. They are working on new jobs in their respective fields at Warner Bros. – Chumak as Production Coordinator and Ksenofontova does makeup for the Apple TV+ series “Presumed Innocent”, produced by Bad Robot Productions and David E. Kelley Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television.
Ksenofontova is a daytime player in the series, which is filming on Warner Bros. locations. Ranch and LA, and hopes to work on other productions.
“Like” Pretty Woman
The sisters upgraded their wardrobes, donning an entirely different kind of donated outfit: Warner Bros. Fashion Department raided its racks for the sisters’ formal wear to adorn at the 10th Annual Makeup Artists & Hairstylists Awards at the Beverly Hills Hotel in February.
The designers provided not only clothes, but “shoes and bags—we looked like the Pretty Woman ladies at the event,” Chumack told TheWrap with a laugh.
On a more sobering note, she added: “In the course of one year (we met) a lot of people from Ukraine – families and young people like us who escaped and people who just couldn’t return (to Ukraine) like us. When we hear their stories, we understand that ours is a real Cinderella story. Because of the people who helped us. Without them, we would have struggled like they do.”
So where does the Cinderella story begin? Well, once upon a time in 1950, Disney turned the fairy tale into a movie — but in 2024, the Fairy Godmother is Lisa Cochran-Neilan, vice president and executive director of production at Warner Bros. Cochran-Neilan’s daughter, publicist Dana Steiner, brought the story to her mother’s attention.
“It was like bear poking,” Cochran-Nelan told TheWrap. “My two daughters are 33 and 35 and I think what struck me was that their parents were so different in such an awful time in the world and not being able to see their daughters or learn how they treat strangers in another country.”
She continued, “I think any parent wants to know that someone is going to lend a hand to these two ladies and I felt that our company and the industry in general can and should do everything they can to help a couple of Ukrainian directors survive this situation. Yes, being a parent made an impact.” On my decision to join.”
After meeting the Ukrainian women via Zoom, Cochran-Neilan took TheWrap story to a group of WB production executives. “When I got there, the producers, the CEOs, would come up to me, shake my hand, introduce themselves and say ‘Yeah, we’ve heard a lot about you,'” Chumack said. “We want to know that you are very popular here at Warner Bros.”
Cochran-Neilan and Warner Bros. representatives also reached out. Others are with representatives of trade unions representing makeup and hair for Ksenofontova, as well as reaching out to Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), to help sort out the refugee red tape.
“The story of Yulia and Alona is one of remarkable resilience in the face of very difficult circumstances,” Schiff said in a statement to TheWrap. “My office was approached about their situation, and we were able to help secure and expedite the necessary employment documentation so they could continue their careers in the film industry in the United States after the Russian invasion of Ukraine forced them to flee.
Refugees like Yulia and Alona have rich perspectives, experiences, and talents to contribute to our communities, and should have the opportunity to earn a decent living and build a life in the United States. I am delighted that my office was able to help them get back on their feet, and I look forward to continuing to support them as new residents in my area.”
‘Abnormal’
While Cinderella’s glass slipper is a perfect fit for Hollywood, Kiev always looms large in the background for Chumak and Ksenofontova. Their parents are safe in Kiev for now, Chumak said, but “the economic situation is very bad, and they say there could be attacks at any time.” “It’s very hard to live on, especially with these high prices and low salaries, and many people have lost their jobs because a lot of businesses, they just closed… It’s bad out there, and I’m not sure it’s been better any time soon. I just don’t see it in the future.” near.”
Šumak added, “You know, people are used to these conditions and now they ignore the air strikes and air strikes, they are just trying to live their normal lives. They want to go back to their normal lives. But this is not normal.”
Chumak and Ksenofontova are among more than 270,000 Ukrainians who have fled to the United States. government program, United for UkraineRefugees are allowed to stay for up to two years with a work permit.
