Angela Donava: “We Surround the Client with Attention from All Sides”
Angela Donava is the owner of an international press agency and PR company DONA PRESS, represents more than 50 print media and online portals in various languages worldwide, works with celebrities and influencers, and is an active participant in big events and festivals.
Angela, how was the Cannes Film Festival this year?
Grandiose and intense, as it has always been. The festival is a special period of the year to be prepared for in advance. Starting from many projects, because Cannes hosts international celebrities from all over the world for two weeks, to the outfits that sometimes have to be changed 2 or 3 times a day. During the Festival de Cannes, we often do photo projects, interviews, and cover shoots. In this issue of Times, we shot the cover with the beautiful Marina Mogilko on the roof of the famous Martinez Hotel. It was very extreme. It was a steep staircase, and it was tough climbing it into the roof with a bouffant dress and stilettos. But we made it, and the results and memories of the project are unforgettable!
Do extreme shoots and projects come up often?
What I love about my job is that we never get bored. No shoot is like any other. The variety of beautiful locations, interesting people, fashion brands, travel. I love it. The most important thing in all of this is that it’s all done in a positive and stress-free way.
We shoot more than 20 covers a year, a large number of fashion projects, and do interviews, articles, gastronomic and travel topics, outfits, shopping guides. It’s a never-ending process, in fact.
What is your agency’s main job?
The tasks are different for each client or project. First of all, there has to be the right dialogue and the right priorities. We surround the client with attention from all sides: well-developed social networks, press in the right print and online publications, participation in prestigious events, communication and introduction to interesting contacts, and the realisation of beautiful photos to represent the brand. In this chain, each link is important in its own way, and each complements the other. And we carry out the stages of these tasks brilliantly. If it’s a shoot, it all starts with finding a budget, then a location, selecting a country for the shoot, selecting the team, the brands involved, the model, and all the subsequent production of the project.
Your clients are mostly related to the fashion industry.
Not only. As we work a lot with glossy magazines, some of our clients are fashion designers, cosmetics, and perfume brands. But our clients also include yacht charter companies, alcoholic and non-alcoholic brands, real estate agencies, cars, and even personal PR. Everyone needs PR and press coverage these days. You are welcome!
Your company represents French brands.
International brands. And it is very important for brands to present themselves in other countries, expand into new territories and make presentations. This is all in the scope of our activities.
You do a lot of work with celebrities. What projects stand out in particular?
I love all projects when they get done.
What’s your motto in life
Life is unforgettable!