Long before she was an Academy Award-winning star, Emma Stone (born Emily Stone) was just a 14-year-old girl in Scottsdale, Arizona, with a big dream. Facing the daunting task of convincing her parents to uproot their lives and move to Hollywood, Stone didn’t resort to typical teenage pleas. She approached it with the methodical professionalism of a business executive—complete with a PowerPoint presentation set to an iconic pop track.
The Proposal: “Project Hollywood 2004”
In 2003, young Emma Stone decided that her future lay not in high school in Arizona, but in Los Angeles. To convey the gravity of her commitment and the seriousness of her plan, she created a presentation titled “Project Hollywood 2004.”
The Setting: Stone invited her parents into her room, even providing them with popcorn for the “pitch.”
The Soundtrack: Crucially, the entire presentation was set to the Madonna song “Hollywood,” a track from the pop queen’s 2003 album American Life. Watch young Emma Stone’s 2003 “Project Hollywood” PowerPoint set to Madonna’s “Hollywood.” The song’s theme perfectly underscored the young actress’s ambition.
The Goal: The presentation’s objective was to logically and emotionally persuade her parents that this was a necessary and calculated risk for her acting career.
The Result: An Oscar-Worthy Pitch
The unique and determined pitch worked. Her parents agreed to move from Arizona to Los Angeles. In January 2004, Stone and her mother moved from Arizona to Los Angeles, where Emma was homeschooled and began focusing intensely on auditions. This foundational move set the stage for her incredible ascent, stunning her parents into relocating their lives overnight.
The initial years were a grind of unsuccessful auditions, but the perseverance she demonstrated with her “Project Hollywood” pitch eventually paid off.
First Major Role: After securing roles in various TV pilots and shows, Stone made her feature film debut in the smash-hit comedy Superbad (2007), playing the role of Jules.
Breakthrough Role: Her first lead role came in the 2010 teen comedy Easy A, where she played Olive Penderghast. This performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination and established her as a major talent.
The Peak: Stone went on to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Mia Dolan in the musical La La Land (2016). Her recent second Oscar win for Best Actress in the film Poor Things (2023) further solidified her place as a generational talent.