Today we’d like to introduce you to Elisa Evans
Elisa, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m a middle-aged woman who always wanted to start her own film production company. After having a spinal fusion in May of 2022, I decided it was time to fulfill this dream.
I had moved to L.A. 30 years earlier and spent those years involved in the film industry in various capacities. I was a receptionist at UTA, worked at IFP/West before it became Film Independent, worked in Market Research testing movies before they came out. I also taught Kindergarten, 3rd, 4th, and Theatre for LAUSD. In between, I was auditioning as an Actor and Dancer, performing in Plays, Improv, Sketch Comedy, films and You Tube videos, and writing screenplays and sketch comedy.
While recovering from the spinal fusion, I wrote a Feature-length Screenplay, ThanksTrouble, with my 11-yr-old niece, Violet Sky. It is the story of 5 savvy 12-year-olds who get snowed in alone on Thanksgiving and face all kinds of trouble trying to save themselves AND Thanksgiving.
In 2023, I took the next leap, and cast the five lead kids (including Violet) and we began production on the movie in Big Bear Lake, CA. We filmed between November 2023- June 2024 (around the kids school schedules). We are currently in Post-Production and trying to raise more money to finish the film. We have a Go Fund Me. https://gofund.me/ab5dc6c4
We are very excited to finish this feel-good movie and share our story with others!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Many obstacles! Besides breaking the cardinal rule of filmmaking- “Do not work with animals and children” ;). I also worked with family and the five lead kids did not have filmmaking experience. We had to keep breaking up the film shoot to raise more money and film around the kids’ school schedules.
I put all my stuff in storage, gave up my rent-control apartment in Toluca Lake and moved up to Big Bear to organize the film shoot and get to know the community. I cast four of the leads from Big Bear Middle School and other local talent in some of the adult roles. Because its a resort town and mainly Airbnbs, I moved nine times and caught Covid twice. It was physically, emotionally, financially, psychologically exhausting!
Now, I am back in L.A. and working on the Post-production and marketing side of this movie. The kids keep growing so hopefully, we won’t have to do any re-shoots!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I decided to use my background teaching kids to mentor my niece in Screenwriting and make a Kids/Family film as my first feature. Because it was co-written by a child, there is a real child’s perspective in this movie, ThanksTrouble, not adults writing roles for children.
With the children and adults, I used my Improv training to help flesh out the characters.
After this movie, I would like to branch out into some of my other screenplays, which have more adult themes.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My brother, Dyer Evans, is a Screenwriter/Director. He came on board to co-direct and co-produce. This movie wouldn’t have been made without him. Not to this quality-level!
I am still building the company and finishing the movie and hope to meet mentors in Distribution.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ThanksTrouble.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thankstrouble_film/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557884417916
- Other: https://www.gofundme.com/manage/thankstrouble-family-comedy-movie
