Istanbul to Hollywood International Career

Hello, I’m Emre.

I’m writing this from Los Angeles, where a seven-hour time difference signifies not just a number, but an entire difference in life. For many, I was a recognizable face on the runways and in local commercials in Turkey, a male model. While sipping my coffee in the Bosphorus-view cafés of Istanbul, my career was comfortable, and I was known. But a voice inside me always wanted the biggest stage, the whole world.

I had to leave that comfort behind.

Why America? Why Now?

Modeling was a starting point for me. It taught me how to be in front of the camera and play with the light. But I didn't just want to fill a frame; I wanted to create a story. There was only one place to go for an acting career: America. This is where dreams are made and broken just as quickly; Hollywood.

To achieve my international career goal, I had to enter the world’s most competitive casting rooms. Being a potential "star" in Turkey is different; standing out among thousands of talented faces in Los Angeles is a completely different game.

From Runway to Audition Room

Since coming here, my biggest struggle has been leaving my old identity behind. The portfolio I brought from Turkey was just starting material. As a model, looking perfect was enough; as an actor, I have to convey the emotion perfectly.

• The LA Reality: I go to dozens of auditions a week. Sometimes I wait for hours just for a five-second line. In this market, the answer "no" is heard much more often than "yes." Even starting to work with reputable agents is a huge victory. Right now, I'm focusing on my accent, my role versatility, and my technical acting skills.

A New Beginning and the Future

Now, in Los Angeles, a city where you can smell the ocean and feel the breath of legends, I am going through the hardest but most exciting period of my life. I am using the discipline and passion I brought from Turkey in America's ruthless but fair system.

I am not just a male model; I am an actor who set out to write his own story in Hollywood.

Keep your eyes on me, because the first curtain of this story is just opening.