Meet Ezra Edmond | Writer, Director, Animation Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ezra Edmond and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ezra, how do you think about risk?
I think that when I have a dream, passion, or interest, it’s worth stepping out of the comfort zone and trying something new to see what I can learn and accomplish. I always have believed in learning and being curious, and many times when I start a new job or project, I know what I want the end result to be, and the “risk” that I am taking is trusting myself to observe, take critique (and self-critique), and do everything I can to deliver a quality final product that can sit on the shelf near the past work or people that have inspired me.

When I began working on my short film, Blewish, while I had experience with animation, I had never told such a personal story before. Doing that in animation, with no dialogue, and hoping that the story and final product would resonate with viewers and find an audience was a huge risk! Even though the film is under five minutes long, it was still a very big task. The whole production process took over a year—from script to final, completed animation. Along that whole journey I was filled with self-doubt: “What if the final film doesn’t work?”, “What if the story doesn’t resonate with people?”, “What if this is all for nothing and just a waste of money and the time of these talented artists?” You name it; if there was something to be anxious about, I was anxious about it. I did my best to use that anxious energy in a positive way to study other films that had inspired me, review every step comprehensively to make sure I was respecting the artists time, and make sure that even if I didn’t know what the final outcome was going to be, that each stage felt right to me—so regardless of the final product, I would know that everyone who worked on the film collaborated well and made something unique and special, which is all you can really ask for. But it turned out even better than I could’ve hoped and has now been featured in over twenty film festivals and countless educational programs, which shows the risk was even more worth taking than I originally expected!

When I started writing my children’s book, My Friend LeVar (Charlesbridge Publishing, released October 1st, 2024), I had never written a children’s book before. However, reading was one of my biggest childhood passions, and I had always wanted to write a book of my own. Writing and submitting the manuscript was a risk, but I thought about all of the books I had loved as a child, and the story that I wanted to tell—one that was authentic to me and something I was passionate about sharing. I learned so much during the writing, editing, and design/layout process—especially when it came to word count. It was a real challenge to not only tell a decent story but also make it fit within the page count and word count limitations for a book of its target demographic. But learning those details and how to preserve the story I wanted to tell while making sure the formatting matched the needs of the publisher was an incredible experience. Again, like with Blewish, I had the same fears of the story not resonating once complete (though working with a publisher helped me feel more confident in that area), but now that the book is complete and released, I am so happy that I took the time to work in a new medium and learn as much as I could during the process. It makes me look at other children’s books with so much more appreciation of the craft now, especially revisiting the ones that inspired me growing up. Another risk well worth taking, and I look forward to the next one I take as well!

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.
I just love making things and being a part of making things. Whether it’s directing, producing, animating, writing, or just doing crafts at home, the joy of making something new is what motivates me the most. It also lets me stay versatile when it comes to finding work and creative expression. While I have always loved animation and writing, I’ve never been someone who wanted to do just one thing. While nothing has been particularly easy, I always like to keep my eyes and ears open for new opportunities and moments to learn. I try to find something positive in any job I have or project I am working on, and I always love exploring and embracing the new. I do my best to keep busy and always try to have multiple pans in the fire at once, so I’m not relying on one specific thing or putting all of my eggs in one basket. For me personally, I think its always best to make sure options exist so that I don’t get too stressed about needing to make sure one thing is perfect. In a strange way, staying busy is what lets me feel like I can relax and deliver my best work.

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?
I’m a San Fernando Valley native, and while I love some of the new things that have appeared in LA over the past few years, there are some old classics that are always must-visits. I’ll never pass up an opportunity to eat at Found Oyster in Little Armenia, or stroll through the Huntington Gardens in Pasadena for some fresh air and beautiful surroundings. On the 3rd Sunday of the month, a trip to visit Walt’s Barn on the Burbank side of Griffith Park is always a fun “I didn’t know this was here” to take friends to, followed by hanging out at 8-one-8 Brewing (Canoga Park) or McLeod Brewing (Van Nuys). I love a morning walk around Lake Balboa, or stopping by the Encino Japanese Gardens (currently under renovation), and having a dinner at the original Salsa and Beer in Reseda or one of the many sushi restaurants on Ventura Blvd. One of my favorite things to do is give a history tour of different areas of LA, from San Fernando to Downtown LA, sometimes on foot if my friends feel like walking or from the comfort of the car if they don’t. LA is a fascinating city full of so much to do and see, and I love any opportunity to explore a new spot, or share my favorites.

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?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to the following people: My family, especially my wife, Sarah and our dog, Sherman. My parents. The Blewish animation team, including Thalia, Samuel, and Associate Producer Jess. Karen and the Charlesbridge Publishing team. Many great friends who always provide honest, helpful feedback, encouragement, and support. Honestly, this list is endless because there are countless people to recognize: teachers, writers, filmmakers, family, and even people I’ve just met in passing and have had amazing spontaneous conversations with. My story wouldn’t be what it is without the moments and sparks that those people have brought to my life.

Website: https://ezraedmond.com/

Instagram: @ArtofEzra

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ezraedmond/

Other: Blewish Short Film – https://blewishshortfilm.com/
Blewish Instagram – @BlewishShortFilm
My Friend LeVar – https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/720120/my-friend-levar-by-ezra-edmond-author-jenna-nahyun-chung-illustrator/