We were lucky to catch up with Ellodee Carpenter recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ellodee, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

Flashback to 2005 before I had any interest in being an actress, I found myself in one of those right place right time situations.

I was 6 years old and the little sister in a family of actors. Accustom to the hustle, a typical day consisted of going to school, getting picked up in the green Ford Explorer
Mom-mobile and heading to Hollywood for whichever audition my sister had that day.

I was sitting in the waiting room oblivious to the girls rehearsing, when the casting director cooed in my direction.

“Omg she is the sweetest! She would be perfect to read for ‘Young Chloe’!”

My mom laughed brushing off the offer. She knew my secret. Although I was charming, I leaned more on the moody side of young children and definitely couldn’t be trusted to take direction.

I guess my cuteness overrode the motherly warning because Miss Casting Director whisked into my first audition without hesitation.

I remember chewing on my hair and shyly swaying as she pressed record. One thing led to the next and to everyones surprise I booked the job. Sorry sis, step aside.

We shot the feature in Pasadena at the most beautiful house with a big backyard and giant metal slide. My co-stars banned together to flag down the neighborhood icecream truck when we had down time. Spongebob popsicles on the sidewalk are some of my most exciting memories. Beach scenes at Point Dume in Malibu offered whale sightings and my discovery of the holy Rice Krispy Treat from the krafty truck. I was mesmerized by my on-screen mothers luxurious flowing red locks but scared when the director called action on a scene of me walking with a flaming birthday cake.

I wasn’t aware this was my first time earning a dollar as a creative. To me, this was just another adventure and it definitely didn’t feel like work. My memories were focused on the childlike beauty between the film making.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Born into a quintessential Los Angeles acting family, growing up was nothing short of entertaining. From an early age I observed the exhilarating highs and heartbreaking lows this industry spits out. I listened to my older sister memorize lines for the most popular shows. Sat on couches next to clients at my moms callbacks when I was too young to wait outside. Visited my dad on movie sets and occasionally saw my family members advertising products on TV. These were all normal day to day occurrences. Nothing out of the ordinary and life as I knew it.

For a long time I resented the idea of myself in front of the camera. I thought, thats what they do and I refuse to have anything to do with it. When I started getting more auditions around age 8 there was a 50/50 chance I’d cry when I got there. Boy am I sorry for all the stress, LA traffic, and parking tickets I put my mom through! Little did I know a force had already been created. My parents were both young ambitious actors when the met in Los Angeles. United and raising two daughters, storytelling was part of my DNA whether I liked it or not. Although I tried my best to fly under the radar, I landed my first movie role as a flook – Spotted in the waiting room at my sisters audition.

It was in that moment when my journey as an actress began. Unlike my resistant younger self, I now love what I do. Being tapped into the new age of Hollywood brings me endless joy and curiosity. Everyday I’m grateful for the talented artists I get the opportunity to meet and work with. It’s all so exciting, I wouldn’t trade it for the world!

As I grow older the drive to tell impactful stories also amplifies. I find it more important that ever to use our voices as a positive influence. The power of film has created timeless legacies that I hope to contribute to. One of the best perks about this industry is the family you build. You start seeing familiar faces and every person on set is equally essential. Bringing their own unique skills; you truly couldn’t create a movie/ tv show/ or commercial without every crew member involved.

In many ways I feel this life was waiting for me. I don’t identify with the masses who come to LA with a dream of being the next best thing. Los Angeles has always been my home and I think that sets me apart from others. I’m aware how lucky I am to be born in the City of Angles. My friends share their experiences moving across country to pursue a creative life somewhere new- Living in cars, draining their savings, and trying to balance unsupportive families. My heart aches for the extra challenges thrown at my peers and I often find myself wondering if I’m working hard enough. As I reflect, I feel extremely fortunate for my foundation. Being able to come home to a strong, encouraging, family who understands how frustrating this path can be is priceless.

I still have a long road ahead of me with ambitious goals and hobbies waiting to be discovered! Aside from acting I love modeling, photography, horses, traveling, and diving into any artistic endeavor.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Welp, I’ve been acting on and off for the majority of my life now. And with all these years you’d think it would be a piece of cake. That is definitely not the case. I’ve been dropped by agencies, told I had no stand out qualities, and left on the cutting room floor of commercials/episodics. Those are just a few skin thickening moments that come to mind. I have no doubt I’ll face more but that’s to be expected. I think every true artists understands there’s no such thing as an “overnight” success.

The anticipation of waiting for good news starts to feel less daunting. Friday comes and it’s time to move on . Mondays back with the chance to put yourself out there again. At least you’re still in the game, right?

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect for me has always been the people who come with it. I’m a social butterfly so whether it’s giving advice to someone who just moved to LA or trying to keep my cool shaking hands with Beyonce, I meet so many creatives who inspire me. Actors, dancers, directors, photographers, singers, stylists, writers… the list is endless. And so are the opportunities to collaborate.

I love being a fly on the wall in situations where I can learn from people I look up to. This path has led me to life long friends I cherish & will be cheering on forever <3

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @ellodeecarpenter

Image Credits

Warren Remolacio
Ron P Jaffe
Chase Yi
Madeleine Robertson
Naomi Christe