Meet Cali Danielle | Creator and Host of CaliFaces

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cali Danielle and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cali, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I’m from California. Growing up, the people that my friends and I knew and told stories about were never on TV and never had their lives made into movies. Some were people who had done unique and legendary things but were unknown outside their neighborhoods. That’s one of the main reasons why I created CaliFaces.

CaliFaces is a website and YouTube channel dedicated to highlighting the legendary faces of California. Every week, I share the lives of people in California with videos, stories, and mini-documentaries. My stories include people from different backgrounds, financial statuses and lifestyles.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
CaliFaces has come a long way from when I first created it. Originally, I did interviews where I would meet with people in their hometowns and interview them on camera about their life stories. I loved doing in-person interviews and did them for 9 years, but I found that sharing narratives this way left out a lot of stories that I wanted to tell. That’s when I started creating short documentaries. The change was challenging because it was basically starting all over. But I stayed focused on my original goal of sharing unique stories, so overall the change has been good.

I’d say the most exciting part of what I do is sharing stories that people have not heard before. Ultimately that’s my goal – to tell stories about people who are not as well-known as they should be. I think that the type of stories I share is also what sets CaliFaces apart.

The thing I’d like people to take away from watching a CaliFaces video is to remember to not always be so quick to judge people for their life choices. For most people, the stories behind their decisions are the reason why they are the way they are.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m definitely a zero-to-a-hundred type of person, and most of my friends are too, so a week with me would probably involve everything from a night at home watching movies to staying up all night at a 4am after-hours lounge. I also love scenic viewpoints, and going to spots that overlook the city is one of my favorite hobbies. A week visiting me would go something like this..

Monday: Everyone likes to laugh, and on Monday nights in Los Angeles there’s some of the best comedy clubs in the world. Big name comedians and up-and-coming comics can keep you laughing for hours. I always take my friends to comedy clubs when they come to town.

Tuesday: I’d plan a day in Downtown LA. There’s so much you can find to do, including basketball games, shopping, and artists’ pop-ups. We’d do as much as we can fit in a day. Then dinner at Perch.

Wednesday: A chill day with a bottomless mimosas brunch, then relaxing by the pool all day. Ordering in and movies in the evening would be next, Then, late at night, we’d go to a scenic viewpoint. I’ve taken friends to some of my favorite spots – The Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, Hilltop Park in Signal Hill, Lookout Point Park in San Pedro, and Bluff Park in Long Beach. The best time to go is around midnight. It’s so relaxing.

Thursday: Anytime someone is visiting me from out of town they always want to go to Hollywood. Thursdays are a good day to go, and the afterhours clubs are always nearby.

Friday: Long Beach for lunch, either at Nick’s on 2nd or Tequila Jack’s. Then a walk around Shoreline Village and hanging out with friends in the area.

Saturday: I love the LA area, but weekend getaways to Downtown San Diego are so much fun. It’s close to everything and has the perfect vacation vibes. During the day we’d definitely be out on the water. The San Diego Bay is perfect for jet skiing. At night the Gaslamp Quarter has something for everyone. STK is always one of the restaurants that I go to. After dinner, there’s plenty of lounges nearby to have drinks and enjoy the rest of the night.

Sunday: Hopefully it’s football season when they come to visit, so we can go see a game. The new SoFi Stadium is incredible.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’m grateful that I get to share the life stories of so many legendary people.

Life stories like that of Kermit Alexander, the NFL player who tragically lost four members of his family when a hired gunman entered the wrong house.

DJ Yella from N.W.A, who trusted me to share the ups and downs of his life inside the legendary rap group.

And Scott Junior Ereckson, who served as national president of the Mongols Motorcycle Club four separate times, making the club internationally known like it is today.

Stories like theirs, and all the others that I have shared, are what have helped CaliFaces become successful. So, I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to all of them.

Website: www.CaliFaces.com

Instagram: www.Instagram.com/SheIsCaliDanielle

Youtube: www.YouTube.com/CaliFaces

Image Credits
All images are credited to CaliFaces.