We had the good fortune of connecting with Jacqueline Elyse Rosenthal and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jacqueline Elyse, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
The key to success is believing in the unique contribution of your voice, and then the path appears.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
When I was 22, I had moved to New York City to pursue my dreams of being on Broadway. I was broke, wild, free, and depressed. I watched people walk by with purpose and meaning, fast-walking with a place to go, in their gorgeous European tailored blazers and Brooks Brothers suits – the life of Midtown Manhattan.

And I remember one day in particular, I felt that life would be too hard. Chasing this hamster wheel of making art that would impact people. I was young with my whole life ahead of me, but stuck mentally in this dark pit of insatiable ambition. And as the train pulled forward and my mind drifted to dark thoughts, I made a choice…

…if I was going to live, if I was toing to go through the painful steps of this life that make us human – then I was going to dedicate my entire being to making art the lonely, the unseen, those who go day through day without a clear understanding of whether they will ever be seen. But they do it anyways.

I would live my life for them, I would make films for them, and that is what I do.

________

My latest film, speaks up for our environment – our oceans in particular. Something we don’t take care of.

The film, Europa, is a research and development grant through USC’s Entertainment Technology Center as a Co-production with SONY.

If you have the means, please consider donating to our film at the link below.

It is a Student Film that a lot of people volunteered their time on, and we want to raise funds to finish it on time and compensate our VFX animators fairly for their talent and time.

LINK:

https://www.cinematographyforactors.com/fiscal-sponsored-projects/europa

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Breakfast at Beachwood Cafe or Cafe Gratitude, rent a convertible on Turbo and head down the PCH to the Country Mart for a Smoothie at SunLife (Shoutout to now relocated, cater-to-order Country Mart restaurant “Real Coconut” that was incredible and inspired community. Hope you come back!!), then a drive down the coast to Santa Monica, a stroll on the beach, and dinner at Casa Del Mar to watch the 360-degree sunset. Maybe drinks at the Victorian or if it’s Thursday Salsa Night!!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are too many people to thank – but I’ll start by thanking my grandparents, who are looking over me, and my father who reminded me to tell my stories for myself but also for other people craving to be seen and understood.

I’d like to thank mentors: O’Shea Myles, Sandrine Cassidy, Paul Sloop, James Coyne, Jennifer Warren, Charles Mastropietro, Stephen Chbosky and my managers, agent and lawyer for helping me navigate the landscape of the entertainment industry.

Website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56Rbs5_HoLU&t=4s

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacqueline.director/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqueline-elyse-rosenthal-2b76667a/

Other: https://www.cinematographyforactors.com/fiscal-sponsored-projects/europa

Image Credits
Photo credit: Rielle Li

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