Check Out Alex Elliott’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Elliott.

Hi Alex, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve always been interested in storytelling, but I first started performing as a dancer. It soon became clear to me that dance was almost but not quite what I wanted to do with my life. When I got the chance to try theatre, everything clicked into place. I did a bunch of community theatre in my hometown, and when I was able to get into more formal acting training, I fell in love with the study of it. I did the BFA thing in my home state of NC, and that’s where I started acting in film and working with some really fun and creative local filmmakers. After school, I moved out to LA, and since then I’ve had the chance to expand in multiple directions.

Since coming to LA, I’ve had the opportunity to be the managing director for the Downtown Independent, an independent cinema specializing in premiere events and film festivals, as well as writing a couple of pilot scripts and screenplays (some solo, some collaborations), and performed in multiple plays, short films, pilots, and features. I’ve also recently started working in production, and coordinating on commercial shoots has been a massive education on how the machine of filmmaking actually works.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
There have definitely been challenges. LA can be a tough city, and it takes a lot to live here. I’ve got a running joke with my friends out here that the first year in LA is pure chaos for everyone because unless you’ve got an advantage, this city is so full you have to claw and scrape to make a space for yourself. And beyond that, the main challenge has always been finding a way to keep creative and keep growing on top of the effort and time it takes to make a living large enough to afford to live here. It’s not a unique challenge, but it’s the price of admission for trying to get into this industry in LA. But I do think it creates an environment where every win is even more precious, even more hard-fought and gained. The cinema I used to run specialized in premieres and film festivals, and that was one of the best parts of the job: getting to support the celebration of those filmmakers’ achievements. It was also evidence that if you keep pushing forward and keep creating, you can absolutely create a place for yourself in this industry.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
First and foremost, I’m an actor. That’s the core. And it’s been a funny ride. I started in horror films, and I loved getting to be multiple characters who appeared sweet at first but were filled with all sorts of darkness, madness, and violence. And it’s been a bit of everything since then. I love getting to be a best friend, it’s a great job to show up to work and care about someone all day. I love getting to be a bit witty and a bit odd, which feels a lot like my day to day. And with some of the projects in the pipeline, I hope to get back into kicking some butt soon, but maybe on the good guy’s side this time. Every job has been a gift, and I’m probably most proud of the variety of roles I’ve been granted the opportunity to play.

I have also, within the past couple of years, really dug into screenwriting. I approached it as a way to create more opportunities for myself, but I’ve found a real aptitude for writing dialogue and a lot of joy in digging into story structure and distinct character voices. I’ve read so many scripts in the work I’ve done toward acting, I can bring that experience into writing as well. I also have to give a lot of credit to my frequent writing partner Kevin C Kellum, through the process of working with him developing scripts for Ubiquity Entertainment and The Ascendent Studios he’s constantly encouraged me to keep growing as a writer and has helped me get to a place where I can dig into a screenplay with confidence and creative freedom.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Remembering what’s important and staying in the fight to get it.

Contact Info:

• Website: alexelliott1.com
• Instagram: @_alexelliott_