Today we’d like to introduce you to Elle Jae Stewart.
Hi Elle Jae, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am an athlete turned drama geek. For years while on my journey, I would credit the woman who birthed me as the reason I became interested in the art of acting but that was a lie. I wish she was the purpose for my excellence but she is not, she is the opposite in fact. Therefore, my initial attraction to acting was under the guise that I could live in different worlds, inhabit different perspectives from my own abusive-traumatized reality. That worked for years, but the necessary work in processing my trauma was detrimental to my mental health and to the quality of my artistry. So my beginning started out of fear and has developed into a lifeline.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road at all, more jagged with missing pieces is a better description. I had to go down the hardened path of looking at myself with complete honesty (thanks to therapy) I was able to do so with honor and grace. I had to do the internal work to live fully and truthfully with unabashed authenticity. I had to work on myself before truly diving into the worlds I so eagerly wanted to create. My struggles were all internal which can manifest themselves externally onto people, into meetings, and so forth. The inability to crack the code of ‘truth’ was damn near impossible until I worked on myself. Once that process began, my world opened. It was as if the sky parted and the sun shined on me daily. The rain and clouds did not dissipate completely, no I am not saying that, but once the work started my career took off. I am now living in a state of duality. On one hand, I am processing the trauma, on the other, all of the goals I prayed, cried, and dreamed for are becoming true. It is safe to say that I needed to unpack the “baggage” of trauma in order to travel down the road less traveled. The road of internal bliss. I had to remind myself why I began in the first place, yes it was as an escape from my hardened reality, but that escape became a saving grace thus a passion I vowed to never disown. So in essence, the struggles saved me and saved my career.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My portfolio has expanded. I began as an actress earning a BA and MFA in acting. I have written, directed, starred, and produced original content for the past six years. My work as an artist is decorated with BEST ACTRESS awards, BEST SHORT FILM nominations, BEST TV PILOT honors and has been screened nationally and internationally at renowned film festivals. I have added professional writer to my resume garnering a commissioned gig to write a treatment for a feature film based on a novel, Documentary Filmmaker by directing and producing a feature-length documentary about The American Theatre of BEing, which is an art form created by the late-great Frank Silvera, and I am currently living my teenage dreams as a Music Video Director for some of the hottest indie artists. What I am most proud of is myself. For not giving up when it got tough, and it got really-really tough at times. I am proud of the work I’ve done and for the projects that are slated for production. The primary thing that sets me apart from others is consistency. I am consistently evolving, eager to expand and work on my craft. I am a student of the art form and a dutiful student of life, therefore, I am confident that my work and ability to create will only get stronger with time and experience.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My best advice is to develop meaningful relationships, not transactional relationships as there is a stark difference between the two. Surround yourself with people from different disciplines, goals, and aspirations so you are constantly evolving and appreciating varying perspectives. Read all the time. Enjoy the quiet moments. Love on yourself. Honor the doubt and fear that exists within by doing that thing that causes doubt and fear anyway–you will respect yourself more because of it. Exercise often. Treat yourself to a delicious treat from time to time. And last but not least, laugh hard, love fearlessly, thank the universe daily, and never-NEVER quit!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.ellejaestewart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellejaestewart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wazigroupla
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElleJaeStewart
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjyxOsPGpjHB0-bIkrWh4Zg/featured
- Other: www.thewazigroup.com
Image Credits
Stephanie Girard Luis Velasco CreativeChaoisMedia
