Meet Elle Jae Stewart

Today we’d like to introduce you to Elle Jae Stewart.

Elle Jae, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have always credited my mother as the person who introduced me to acting. She is a lover of old black-and-white films so naturally, on one of her movie nights, she popped in a VHS tape of Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte starring Bette Davis! I was in love. In love with that “thing” Bette Davis was doing. I could not explain why, at that time, I was so intrigued and even to this day reflecting on that moment which changed my life forever, I still can not explain why, at the age of eight, I was dead set on being an actress! I was never interested in fame but what I am interested in and passionately in love with is the process. How it works. How the machine which creates, create. So it is no surprise that my palate grew from actress to writer, director, producer, and teaching artist. To aid my curiosity responsibly, I majored in Theatre twice and earned a BA from Alabama State University and an MFA from Penn State University.

Humbly ranking myself as a multi-hyphenated artist, it is rewarding to be known as more than an actress, but a “creator and performance maker.” My first original-content creation was a successful one-woman stage-play, JUNIOR, which was quickly adapted into a screenplay. JUNIOR had a successful run on the 2017-18 independent film festival circuit, affording multiple BEST ACTRESS Awards: Deep in the Heart Film Festival, Bronze Lens Film Festival and International Black Film Festival Nashville. JUNIOR was nominated for Best Short Film, Best Narrative Short, Best U.S. Short, Best Drama Short and Best Cinematography, winning 2nd Best International Short Film in India, Best Editing, Honorable Mention and Juror’s Choice. Following the success of JUNIOR, I continued with creating original content serving as an Executive Producer and co-writer on DUALITY, a short film about two women opposite in nature and their dealings with the effects of trauma, loss, and hope. Most recent projects include PUBLIC RELATIONS, a suspenseful episodic, LOVE IN THE CITY OF ANGELS, an all-female web-series and much more. Recent directing credits include SEDUCTION (An Experimental Film) and a music video starring Neek Shavon ft Fuzz Rico, CATCH THE VIBE.

Has it been a smooth road?
Has it been a smooth road? Absolutely not! Nothing about exposing your truth in an artistic fashion is smooth, however, the growth and immediate gratification of staying true to oneself are worth all the moments. When I made the choice to follow my passion as an artist, I made the choice to become an entrepreneur. Being in control of my talents, my creative eye, discovering its profitability, failing to succeed to fail again is the name of the game over here. I feel like I’m just getting started although I’ve been at this for years. I will never feel like I have all the answers nor do I want to. I love being a student of my craft and an authentic vessel of my voice and the voiceless. So in essence, the struggles are apart of the game. They are specific to each project, never the same because with each struggle is gained knowledge and the opportunity to get better and better.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I serve as the Creative Director for The WAZI Group, a premier production company that is committed to the development and distribution of original content produced by its members. What I am most proud of is my involvement in creating authentic content and the freedom to explore different voices without strict boundaries. What sets us apart is our partnership model which is a revolutionary management system that provides individualized compensation options for its members. I am also a Teaching Artist focusing on the fundamentals of acting, scene study and monologue preparation for scholastic auditions and competitions.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Los Angeles is the entertainment capital of the world, hands down. Everyone knows that. Residing in this city as a creative has been the wisest decision thus far, now with that being said, because this city is known for making your wildest dreams come true it is also riddled with dreams deferred and bitter souls. Depending on your awareness, you can smell a load of disappointment in the air but depending on your enlightenment you can appreciate the journey and feel inspired that you are the driver of your own destiny. To keep me on my toes and positively focused, I am building a village, an authentic village. It is important for me and my sanity to have the right people in my life and in my corner so what I like least about the city is the traffic which impedes much-needed wine and vegan-cheese dates with my tribe!

Pricing:

• I charge $75 an hour as a Teaching Artist with a 2 hour minimum, 4 hour maximum

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thewazigroup.com / www.ellejaestewart.com
• Phone: 818-732-1021
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @ellejaestewart
• Twitter: @ellejaestewart

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