Susu Hauser
The Woman Behind the Camera WRITTEN BY DENA DAW | PHOTOGRAPHED BY JONATHAN FREDIN
I really gravitated toward dance and the arts, and that continued through middle and high school. I was always an individual. There’s a quote that says, ‘Dare to be different; dare to be yourself.’ I think I lived that to a T.” — Susu Hauser 22 AUGUST 2022
THE YOUNGEST DAUGHTER of a superior court judge and a Hungarian refugee, Cary resident Susu Hauser — a selfdescribed visual storyteller — has been surrounded by inspiring narratives since birth. “My father presided over many criminal cases, but devoted 20 years to domestic violence cases. He made such a mark that the mayor named May 4 Larry Hauser Day,” said Hauser. “My mother was a Hungarian refugee during the Hungarian Revolution and escaped Budapest in 1956. I lived with her stories of the escape and the resilience and strength that she showed over the years.” Inspired by her parents, Hauser was never afraid to get her feet wet and try her hand at everything. As a young girl, she did gymnastics, dance, piano, jewelry-making, swimming, you name it. “I really gravitated toward dance and the arts, and that continued through middle and high school. I was always an individual,” said Hauser. “There’s a quote that says, ‘Dare to be different; dare to be yourself.’ I think I lived that to a T.” Hauser’s originality and passion for new experiences caught the eye of her high school counselor, who suggested that she go into communications in college. Hauser took the advice to heart, earning her degree in visual media communications and a minor in studio art at American University. After finishing up an internship with The George Michael Sports Machine, Hauser took her
creativity and spirit of adventure all the way to Los Angeles. “I had zero connections in LA, but I knew it was where I needed to be to do studio television,” said Hauser. “California was calling, and I moved three months after graduation.” Like many LA transplants, Hauser worked a variety of odd jobs to pay rent, from dog walking and catering to stints at Starbucks and Jamba Juice. It was during those early days that Hauser met Maria Jovanovic, artist and founder of MJ Atelier, an LA-based art studio. “I have had the honor of knowing Susu for almost 20 years,” said Jovanovic. “She became the most amazing sidekick apprentice! Susu reminds me to keep searching for the significance in what I do, to enjoy the process and find small ways to touch and inspire others along the way. The impact on my life is like her art: hauntingly beautiful!” Although Hauser enjoyed her time working as an artist assistant, it was her longtime passion for dance that led to her first job in the industry.
