Today we’d like to introduce you to Elise Frances Garner.
Hi Elise Frances, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m Elise Frances Garner, a filmmaker originally from Memphis, Tennessee. My parents are my best friends and I am very grateful for them and their support. I’m the oldest of three girls and a lifelong Girl Scout, so I’ve pretty much always been the director, even before I knew what that meant. As a kid, I was obsessed with building worlds. I’d rope my sisters into little iPad movies, turn my backyard into a set, and treat every homemade film like a blockbuster.
That early passion turned into something real. I studied film in undergrad. Along the way, I worked at Walt Disney World, giving tours as a Jungle Cruise Skipper and on Kilimanjaro Safaris. These jobs that taught me a lot about storytelling, improv, and making magic out of thin air. I then packed up and moved across the country to California to pursue my MFA at USC
Now I’m in my final semester at USC, chosen to direct my thesis film Goldie, a gritty, gothic horror set in a crumbling 1930s circus. I’ve always been drawn to stories that are bold, visual, and a little off-kilter, and I love collaborating with people who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty and make something unforgettable.
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?
I fell in love with storytelling before I even really knew what filmmaking was. I struggled with dyslexia growing up-it wasn’t even officially recognized in my state until I was a senior in high school. While reading was hard, I worked twice as hard just to keep up. I remember struggling through Harry Potter, sounding out every word, rereading lines again and again. It was slow and frustrating, but the images in my head were vivid. I could see everything: the castle, the magic, the characters. When I finally watched the films, it was like stepping into my own imagination. That was the spark. I realized that even when words were hard, I could tell stories visually. So I picked up my iPad, cast my sisters, dressed up the dog, and started making movies, bringing my own worlds to life, just like the ones I had once only seen in my head.
Later, when I started college, I told a professor I wanted to be a director. He told me I should be a news anchor because I was “pretty” and that directing wasn’t a job for women. I was 18. That moment really stuck with me, but it didn’t break me. It made me more determined. I transferred schools to University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, found mentors who believed in me, and eventually got into USC’s film MFA program. Now I’m directing my thesis film.
I think I’ve always been chasing that original feeling, that moment when a story feels bigger than the screen. And now, I get to be the one calling “action.”
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As a director, I’m drawn to stories about obsession, identity, and performance, especially ones centered on women with big feelings and even bigger ambition. My short film “M1M1CRY” explores the pressure to meet impossible expectations in the film industry, told through a surreal, dark lens. I’m currently directing my thesis film Goldie. It’s my dream project.
As a production designer, I love creating spaces that feel alive and emotionally loaded. I’ve designed for films like “At What Cost?” , a USC thesis set in a post-apocalyptic world ruled by addiction and invention, No Loose Ends, a stormy film noir, and more.
What sets me apart is that I don’t believe in throwaway choices. I’m hands-on, collaborative, and deeply invested in storytelling from the ground up. Whether I’m behind the camera or behind the paintbrush, I direct with a designer’s eye and design with a storyteller’s heart. I care deeply about the world of the film, but even more about the people in it. I thrive in detail-driven environments where every choice, every color, costume, and composition serves the emotional truth of the story. I’m most proud of the spaces I’ve built, the characters I’ve helped shape, and the teams I’ve led with clarity, care, and heart.
What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is meaningful storytelling. Work that’s emotionally honest, visually bold, and built with intention. I care about creating films that don’t just look good, but leave something behind. That make people feel something, even if they can’t explain exactly why.
But just as much as I care about the work, I care about how we make it. I’m driven by collaboration, by being in the room with other creatives who are just as passionate, curious, and weirdly obsessed with the details as I am. I believe the best sets are the ones where people feel safe, respected, and challenged to do their best work.
At the end of the day, what matters most is that we’re having fun. Isn’t that what it’s all about? All the late nights, the passion, the caffeine, the chaos, the hard work, it’s worth it because we love it. Because we get to tell stories for a living. And I don’t take that for granted. Not for a second.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elise_frances_garner/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr#
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elise-frances-garner/?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Other: https://seedandspark.com/user/garner-elise-01jx87wxfy8pa1jhc5f70hf01k
Image Credits
Caileigh Gold
