Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Elsas.
Hi Kelly, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Hi! Thank you so much for having me. I’m so happy to be here! I was born in New York City. I grew up in a little town in New Jersey. My parents actually still live in the house I grew up in! I’ve had the opportunity to live in a couple of really cool places — I lived in New York City for a couple of years, as well as Australia and a little in the UK. For the past four years, I’ve been living in Los Angeles, California. It’s so beautiful here!
To answer your question. I’ve always been really drawn to film. I remember growing up inspired by art, specifically after seeing movies. I was a total daydreamer as a kid, and for sure still am. Throughout my life, I remember reading about cinema and listening to interviews from different filmmakers and actors. I would usually follow one artist for a little, and it would vary by department. Some weeks, I would listen to actors, and then it would vary from directors to art directors to cinematographers. I was hooked, and I wanted to learn everything about the way these people worked.
I remember thinking the level of precision and detail every person brought into creating each moment was so beautiful. Everything on a film set is so intentional, and everyone’s role is vital to the final cut (aka what you get to see in the theater). To me, storytelling is really sacred. Images and film capture time and have the power to impact each of us differently based on our own experiences. I feel so lucky and grateful to be a part of it in any capacity.
Alright, story time. Before I worked in the film industry, I used to work for a public relations agency in New York City. I received my undergraduate degree in PR so naturally this felt like the best next step. It’s funny because it feels like a lifetime ago. I loved so many elements of PR, but I remember always trying to get on-set for client photoshoots. I literally used to look for them on our iCal invites and hoped my managers would send me. One day, I remember it was over the summer; we were shooting a video for a client in Midtown, Manhattan. The girl we hired to be on-camera came up to me and told me that she didn’t feel well and asked if I could fill in for her. Anyway, I was so excited and said yes.
In hindsight, I really should have called my boss at the time before saying yes to this. Looking back, she must have wanted to kill me, but you learn all kinds of valuable lessons in your early 20s. I remember vividly taking a cab back to the agency in Downtown Manhattan and thinking that this is what I was meant to do for the rest of my life. Two months prior, I hadn’t told many people because it felt like a huge risk at the time. But I had received an offer to go to film school to pursue my masters and move back to the Gold Coast of Australia. For context, I lived in Sydney for a little while in 2015. Luckily, I still had a couple of friends out there. It was the best. I have such great memories from that time in my life. It shifted my whole trajectory. If I never went, I wouldn’t be sitting with you right now!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
That’s a great question! Of course. For anyone with a loved one in the film industry, I need you to understand how much their schedule just changed drastically. I promise they haven’t changed and they don’t want to cancel on you; it’s just an unpredicted schedule. Especially during the first couple of years, I think it can be hard to explain to the people around you what is happening with your schedule. Trust me, I have close friends in the film industry, and I seriously thought I understood.
I can laugh about it now, but I had no idea. It’s a completely different experience when you’re in it. Things change by the minute with scheduling, scripts, concepts, casting, just everything. I love it and I’m really grateful for each opportunity. It’s an industry based on a balance of intensive planning and gametime decisions for sure. It requires constant change and adaptability until you hit that next level. I assure anyone reading this that they still love you, and once they know what’s going on with their schedule; they’ll make time for you. Please be patient with them, they’re trying to find their work life balance. They haven’t changed; it’s just their circumstances.
To end your question on a positive note, I’ve found the biggest challenges and setbacks in your life can be the most important parts of the process if you let them be. For myself, if there wasn’t failure or a setback at some point when achieving a goal; there’s a chance you probably didn’t learn very much.
Change can be difficult at any part of your life. For me, I know that no matter how difficult a situation may feel. I’m responsible for how I handle it and adapt in a way that aligns with my values. That’s the real lesson, not the results. The challenge is the part where you learn the most about yourself if you let it be. Also, a lot of your biggest setbacks will hit right before your biggest payoff. My advice to anyone looking to hit a goal at any capacity is to keep going. You’re closer than you think. The higher the mountain, the deeper the valley.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Of course, I’m currently an actress! I’m also signed to a modeling agency. It’s all really exciting. I’ve been lucky to work on some really amazing projects so far. There’s a couple more coming up that I’m really excited for you guys to see! I promise, when I am allowed to share more details that I will.
According to the team at IMDb, I’m most known for playing Christina Grimmie on the show “Death by Fame” for Investigation Discovery. It was an absolute honor to be a part of that project. For anyone listening to this that might not be familiar with the case, Christina was a finalist on Season 6 of The Voice. Her life ended abruptly due to a gun violence case. A fan pulled a gun on her during a meet and greet after one of her concerts. I know, it’s absolutely terrifying.
During filming, I knew her family was going to be involved with the documentary. I researched her as much as I could. I tried to embody the energy on-set that she had in real life. I hope her family is happy with the work and that she’d feel that she was portrayed accurately if she were alive today! She deserves all of the support and love that her life would have had if she were still here.
I’m currently working on a project right now that I’m really excited about. I can’t give too much away, but it’s set to start filming early next year. My character is based on a true story of a licensed marriage and family therapist, former Playboy model, and author in Hollywood. She also had her own private therapy practice in West Hollywood and wrote a book for women surrounding physical and sexual health. She had a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology, a Ph.D. in Human Sexuality and made major waves surrounding mental health resources for professionals in the entertainment industry. Her life was also cut short unexpectedly after a former boyfriend broke into her apartment and ended her life.
I’ve said this in a previous interview. But, if you look at her story, you’ll notice the press surrounding her is mostly focused on her death, attached to Playboy or linked to her habit of dating men on television. In developing this story, it’s meaningful to tell the story of her achievements while she was on this earth. For example, she established vital mental health resources for professionals in the entertainment industry.
It’s an absolute honor to portray her. Projects like this require so much dedication. Honestly, I’ve read literally everything I could about her. As a result, I learned so much about the law, restraining orders, and domestic abuse cases. I’ve spent a lot of time with women in situations similar to hers. Restraining orders are meant to protect you; unfortunately, they don’t always. There’s always room for improvement to make sure that women feel safe in their day-to-day lives. I know there’s an opportunity for me to make a change and make sure that this doesn’t happen again.
What sets me apart is a good question. I think learning about both of these women and a couple of other experiences has led me to be really passionate about working with organizations that can make a real change to create more safety in the day-to-day lives of people dealing with similar situations. This project has highlighted the urgency that I feel in my soul to make a real change for women and men dealing with situations similar to this in their everyday life.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I love hearing new ideas! I’m very collaborative.
I’m lucky to have such an amazing internal team that you can always contact me through. There’s my manager, Daryoush Ashtary-Yazdi, my agents, Justin Gray, Pierre Patrick and my publicist Nabeela Aysen.
They keep me on track. When I have a free moment, I always make the time to read emails and direct messages and give thoughtful responses. Especially if someone sends me their works, such as a song, script, concept; the list goes on.
To me, If someone sends you something that they made; it’s important to treat it with time and respect. There’s something sacred about someone trusting you with their art, whether it’s print, music, film, writing – it’s very vulnerable by nature.
If you’re just starting out; It’s normal to feel shy about sharing a new idea with someone. Some ideas are ready to go and won’t require a ton of edits; others take time to develop. Invest the time, stay focused, and I promise you it will happen. Sometimes, it’ll even come out better than expected!
I’m so grateful for any kind of support. I hope people want to support me! But, I have no expectations and know that it’s mutual. Just as much as you support professionals in the film industry, we’re here to support you in any way that we can. At the end of the day, I really hope my work helps create work that brings an elevated understanding of someone’s own life and compassion for the people around them. That’s my ultimate motivation before each job.
Thank you so much for taking the time to interview me! Your team has been great each step of this process. I hope to see you guys again soon!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kellyelsas.com
- Instagram: @kellyelsas
- Other: www.imdb.me/kellyelsas
Image Credits
Photographer: Sophia Cadena
