Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsea Spirito
Hi Chelsea, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Well, I was adventageously born in Los Angeles and was given the opportunity to work in film & entertainment at 17, starting in the vault at Technicolor (at what was then then Complete Post building, now the shiny blue glass structure at Sunset & Gower). Up ’til then I’d always been an avid movie lover, creative writer and overall sort of weird kid, so getting thrown into the mix without a plan at that age gave me the ability to try on all sorts of hats within that world. I’ve worked in casting (The Rookie, Spongebob 3: Sponge on the Run, Arlo the Alligator Boy), in VFX (the final season of Ugly Betty), as a production coordinator on gameshows, PAs of all shapes and sizes, in voice over behind (Ingobernable, Fauda) and in front of (Stapes, Google, Carnation, Cracker Barrell, Robot Chicken, Mastercard…) the mic, and a dozen jobs inbetween. For a long time I struggled with the desire to create, and the desire to support myself financially. My parents had gone through an explosive divorce when I was a kid, and a lot of the fallout shaped the way I felt I had to live. During that time I kept making and performing in things though; short films, sketch shows (I’m a Second City Conservatory grad from the now defunct Hollywood branch), short stories, burlesque routines, plays and all manner else. In the last few years (and by that I mean the last five I’ve been in therapy), I’ve been able to give myself permission to follow what truly makes me happy, and that’s writing. I’ve only ever self produced my work, scrimping and saving to pay my cast and crew (and taking the rest in exchanged favors), and now I’m venturing out into my first foray into crowdfunding, building an audience and a budget for my proof of concept short, “Brain Spotting”, which launched Tuesday, Feburary 4th (ahh!). I suppose that’s my story in a nut shell. 😉
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not, haha. I think while there have been a lot of happy moments and breakthroughs, its been a rough and uncertain road. Because of a lot of childhood issues (but I mean, who doesn’t have those?), supporting myself and not relying on anyone else for help has been a huge hurdle for me. Independent filmmaking, at least at the start, takes a lot of help and a lot of faith, and for a long time I lacked the latter and wouldn’t accept the former. I had a major injury Spring of last year that shook things up, resulting in one of the largest surgeries I’d ever had (I’m okay now, I promise). It was an undertaing for me, but also led to the realization that something was not working in my life. That idea kept ruminating in my head, “Something isn’t working. Something isn’t working.” and it wound up being a huge kick in the ass to reevaluate where I was spending my time and energy in this life.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
By choice and by passion, I’m a TV & film writer (Screenwriter? whatever you’d like to call me, I’ll accept it) and comedianne. By career and trade I’m a voice over artist who both directs and coaches others interested in pursuing a similar line of work or the craft as a hobby. I suppose I’m still working on what it is I’m known for, but I do perform regularly with Los Angeles’ premiere political sketch group, “This Week This Week” (Atwater Village Theater) and I used to perform at the Rocky Horror Picture Show for more than ten years (!!!) at The Nuart Theater on Santa Monica. I got recognized a couple times from the latter, so that was neat. I’m most proud of making a living as a creative. To support myself doing things I love. It’s not been an easy journey getting here, but I get to live in Los Feliz, and support a little panther cat. I’m very proud of that in an of itself. I’m proud of having made several short films of varying degrees of success– That I made them though to copletion and how incredible that is by iteself, isn’t lost on me. I’m proud that I continue to have the will to try in an industry (and in this our year of 2025) that feels continuously challenging. I’m proud to still be here.
What sets me apart from others? Hmm. It almost feels like tooting my own horn (toot toot), but my perseverence to continue, while maintaining the ability to be kind. Nobody gets thrown under the bus, nobody gets left behind. I love the people I work with, and my priorities, whether I’m writing, producing or directing, are to pull people up with me. I’ve worked in this industry for so long, that I’ve gained what feels like a well rounded perspective of how things work and the people that are within it. There are so many instances I’ve encountered where people forget the steps along the way they’ve taken to become the great successes they are, and pull the ladder up behind them (we’re not naming names here). I don’t take for granted the opportunities I’ve been given or the people who’ve helped me.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
I wish I’d had the courage to admit to myself what I really wanted when I was first starting out. I played it safe out of fear, and the expectation that I wouldn’t have a net to save me if I failed. I went through college with the deepest pit of longing at the students working through a theater degree, but didn’t dare venture out that way because it didn’t feel practical. I’m still blazing my own path though, so the only advice I feel qualified to impart on a deep level, is to take that risk. Push and push hard towards the thing you want most. “Leap and the net will appear”.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://seedandspark.com/fund/brain-spotting
- Instagram: @chelsisneato
- Twitter: https://bsky.app/profile/brain-spotting.bsky.social
- Other: https://chelseaspirito.com
