Q&A with filmmaker and recovery advocate, Joan Borsten

Stick with the Winners! –

November 20, 2020 – Joan Borsten Vidov was born and raised in Los Angeles. Her mother was one of the Navy’s first female officers (then known as WAVES. Her father had a long career in the entertainment industry. Joan graduated UC Berkeley with a degree in comparative literature, served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Panama, and received a graduate degree from USC in bi-lingual education.

She worked as a journalist from 1974-1985, first for Israel’s English language daily “The Jerusalem Post.” She was a regular contributor to the LA Times Calendar (Entertainment) section. In 1985, while living in Rome she met Oleg Vidov, known as the Robert Redford of Russia, who came to Italy to defect from the USSR. When Oleg was given political asylum by the US Government, Joan followed him to Los Angeles. They married several years later

Q. Do you think addiction is an illness, disease, a choice or a wicked twist of fate.
A. For many it is a genetic pre-disposition.

Q. Where did you grow up?
A. Los Angeles

Q. From what school or teacher did you learn the most?
A. High School Modern American Lit teacher