Today we’d like to introduce you to Ellis E. Fowler.
Ellis, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I was always the type of child lost in his imagination. I was making up crazy scenarios and fighting off invisible foes if I wasn’t constructing elaborate plots with my action figures as characters. I can remember putting on one-man plays for my parents, which, in retrospect, I bet made no sense and were tedious to sit through (sorry mom/dad). But that was the genesis of my love for creating something out of nothing but the ideas in my head. As I reached adolescence, my mind was on more practical things. I wanted to be a doctor, and then a pilot until I was introduced to video production in high school.
My time there made me realize that I could actually make a living working in entertainment so I dedicated myself to it ever since. I fell in love with the fact that video and filmmaking provided an opportunity to explore every creative endeavor from music production to acting. I since became what I refer to as a multi-hyphenate. Someone who has a lot of “slashes” or “dashes” in their professional title. I’m a writer/actor/editor/director/composer and much more. I’ve dipped my feet into every creative avenue that excites me and I really don’t ever want to be relegated to doing just one thing.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
As I mentioned, I’m a multi-hyphenate so I do a lot of things artistically. Lately, I’ve primarily been focused on writing and acting, although all of my pursuits kind of mesh at various points. For instance, in 2016 I released my award-winning documentary “Memphis Movement- Jookin- the Urban Ballet” about the dance style Jookin that started in Memphis TN and has been taking the entertainment world by storm. I shot, edited, and composed for that film.
That year, I also published two fiction novels and a book about goal setting, in addition to acting in a few short films. Just last month I directed and acted in a short sci-fi film, “Emotical” that has been making the festival rounds. I also edited, did vfx, and composed for that film.
To some, it may seem like I’m all over the place, but I try to be very strategic about what projects I lend my focus to and I pay close attention to how I’m balancing my creative pursuits. You can’t do it all at once, but you can do it all. With varying degrees of proficiency of course.
In everything that I do, I’d say that “Perspective” is the common theme. In my fiction and non-fiction work, I try to get people to see something from a new and interesting point of view. This is why I’m very drawn to sci-fi in my fiction work. It’s a genre that allows for total immersion into something seemingly unfamiliar but you’re eventually able to see some truth that relates to the world that you live in as well. The fact that the setting is unusual helps you to be able to see things in a new light.
What do you know now that you wished you had learned earlier?
My #1 advice is don’t wait for permission. Don’t get caught up in the mindset that you need approval or better equipment, or more money or that one casting director/agent/manager to approve of you. Put yourself out there. Create your own content and don’t wait.
I am a perfectionist and an over-academic so I’ve held myself back a lot by wanting to be a perfect actor/writer/filmmaker before showing my work to the world. 99% of success is failure, so get out there and fail. The more you fail, the more you’ll learn and the better that next round is going to be.
Definitely study your craft, whatever it is, but don’t study and wait too long to produce something. Study up, set a deadline, and put some work out. You’ll be so glad you did.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
Definitely follow me on social media @theellisfowler on Instagram and Facebook. I also have a website www.ellisfowler.com where I keep fans posted about my work whether it be films/comedy sketches/or new writing projects.
My fiction book series “The Dead Man Chronicles” and my goal setting book “Realize Your Resolutions” is available on Amazon (http://bit.ly/EEFowler)
Watch my full Documentary “Memphis Movement-Jookin: The Urban Ballet” at http://thedanceuniverse.com/
The best support is to just follow me and watch/comment/share my work. There’ so much more in the pipeline.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ellisfowler.com
- Email: ellisfowler1@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/theellisfowler
- Facebook: facebok.com/theellisfowler
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/Ellis-E.-Fowler/e/B072R3YMMZ?ref=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000
Image Credit:
Hannah Cobb, @overdrive_frank
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
