We recently connected with Elissa Nelson and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Elissa, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I have been blessed to work with a multitude of amazing creatives all over the world. It’s difficult for me to pinpoint one project to highlight above the rest. The first one I would say would be First Man, which was directed by Damien Chazelle who’s won several Academy Awards as a director. As an aspiring award-winning director/writer, this experience was pretty special, mostly because you realize how human these people are and how achievable something is when you have the vision for it. Not to mention First Man had Ryan Gosling as Neil Armstrong and we re-created the moon in Atlanta, it was epic.

The other project I would say would’ve been a series of shoots I’ve done with J Balvin, prior to the creation of “El Niño de Medellin”. I believe we shot the music video for “Veneno” right before it was released, and when I watched the documentary (which I didn’t work on), it made me really emotional and grateful for all of the work I do. But to work with someone who is that influential, but also that delightful and humble is beautiful and amazing and the documentary really touched me.

Those two examples aside, I believe I’m still presently working on the most meaningful project — me/mine. I am writing a screenplay based on my chaotic life and writing a self help book that will highlight how to thrive in chaos. I love my work with big directors and world-renowned shows and movies, but creating my own work for the world is the most meaningful of all.

Elissa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I went to the University of Georgia (GOOOO DAWGS! Back-to-back National Champs!) and graduated with a degree in Mass Media Arts (or Telecommunications) and minored in Statistics (because I just like math, through statistics is the worst math). Prior After I graduated college, I interned on a charming indie film that I had fun as the directors assistant, “+1”; and soon after I interned on another charming indie film called “Spectacular Now” with Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley, directed by another legendary director, James Ponsoldt. The film industry in Atlanta really popped off as I graduated and it wasn’t long before my career snowballed into success as a thriving Production Assistant on many different shows and movies.

Before I finished my days to apply to the Director’s Guild of America (DGA) as an Assistant Director, I moved to Miami just to see if I really wanted to commit to film. I was in Miami a year or two before I moved back to Atlanta to finish my days and join the DGA. And then I moved back to Miami, I know, it’s a lot of back and forth. You see, if I have an inclination in life, I just go for it. And I learned and gained something with each and every one of those moves.

I got comfortable in the music video and commercial world that we have here in Miami, enjoying the freedom that the sporadic shoot days offered me, but recently I’ve grown to realize that I want even more, and yes, different. I realized that I was neglecting to put effort into the actualization of my own words, as a writer. I also crave a higher purpose of connecting people to their passions in some way as a coach, so things are shifting for me again. Right now, I’m writing a self help book and a screenplay, and figuring out how I can share my knowledge with others to help them grow closer to their passions, so stay tuned!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I am very driven by happiness and fulfillment. If you know the Japanese concept of “Ikigai”, you’ll understand. It’s essentially the amalgamation of what you’re good at, what you enjoy, what you can be paid for, and what the world needs. It’s your dharma, or purpose, soul mission, however you want to look at it — that’s what you’re supposed to be doing on this earth. I think most people have some of that but they can’t figure out how to have it all, and I want to be an example and teacher of figuring out what that is and executing it in order to live the most fulfilled life that is beneficial to the world.

I truly believe that we have desires for a reason and they guide us towards our dreams, which are our dreams because they call to our hearts. And we’re supposed to follow our hearts and be our authentic happy selves as the most service to the world. My mission is to live out my soul purpose, which is helping to enlighten the world to their magic, to their purpose.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I think most people struggle with the thought of living a creative life because there is so much uncertainty. You’re not sure where your next job is coming from, you have problems with self worth because you’re not getting calls or they picked someone else other than you. But I think that it’s important to realize that none of this is personal. Everyone is doing their best to execute their vision, and sometimes you’re a part of it and sometimes you’re not. Nothing is inherently wrong with you when you’re not working, that’s time for self-reflection and evaluation.

I also think that there are actually few certainties in life and getting comfortable with the uncomfortable is a way to fast-track your way to success because you will be embracing change. And we cannot grow if we stay the same. Any “no” is redirection, which is always just directing you where you are supposed to go. You are always taken care of and being directing to have the best outcome for your soul growth and we’re all in this together. Everyone struggles, and if you’re a storyteller like me, you’ll understand that the hero cannot triumph without adversity.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.youtube.com/@whoiselissanelson
• Instagram: Www.instagram.com/eeleesuh
• Youtube: Www.youtube.com/@whoiselissanelson
• Other: Working on my website now, so we will see if I can get it up before you put this interview out haha <3

Image Credits
@daniknowsbetter @murph_aye