Milana Vayntrub

“Every opportunity I've had to work and act with incredibly talented directors, like Dean Holland was on 'Love,' and the writers and creators of that show, Judd Apatow, Paul Rust and Leslie Arfin, have been incredible learning experiences that have informed my creative process.”

“I do know what it's like to be an outsider.”

“In the late '80s, the U.S.S.R. loosened its restrictions on immigration. When the government was like, 'Y'all wanna bounce?' my family, along with tens of thousands of other Jews ran for the door in an attempt to make a better life in America.”

“Commercial directing felt like a very natural transition from my comedy, sketch, music video directing experience.”

“We had a lot of help when we got to America.”

“When I direct - everything I've directed has had improv in it, because I think there's something special in a performance the first time it's said out loud that's hard to recreate.”

“I would love to keep directing commercials. I love it so much. I love working with brands and ad agencies and old white men who have been doing this for 60 years.”

“My family had to live in Vienna for three months, then in Italy for another nine, while we waited for refugee status.”

“There are moments in your life where you realize you could do nothing, but if you do, you'll probably regret it forever.”