Meet Elissa Shay | Actress, Screenwriter & Entrepreneur

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

Hi Elissa, how does your business help the community?
Everything I do I try to give more than I take. I think I’ve known what it felt like to be on the outside. I’m half-Korean. So I’m not quite Asian and I”m not quite white, so I was always floundering trying to figure out which code of rules applied to me, and how to make it work in a world that didn’t make much sense. So how does this tie into my business and helping the community or the world? I am always looking to lift people up. No one gets through life unscathed, so I don’t think it’s my duty or responsibility to make the world any more difficult than it already is. In fact, I think it’s the opposite and I take on as much as I can (safely) take on, to move things ahead and hold space for people to grow.

I always hire the misfits and broken toys, one might say. It doesn’t always make things easier for the overall project, but it certainly helps me get through the days when it feels almost impossible, because I remember that I’m doing a good thing, regardless of the end product.

If you can pour into people, they typically get full and go out and pour into other people. This helps the world.

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.
Being an artist is crazy. It sounds cliche to say it at this point, but especially now with the threat of the human experience under AI. (I do think there is a harmonious balance that could take place with the machines, but the protocols and forward thinking seems to be lacking in their reckless use… bummer).

I have always chosen the hard way when it comes to my career in film. I started out just acting, and had I just put my head down and only done acting maybe I would’ve moved a bit faster, but I couldn’t watch how ineffective the industry was. I’m really type-A, so producing kind of came naturally to me, but this industry will break your heart over and over again, and producing wasn’t the thing that got my up in the morning to come back for more.

Screenwriting was born out of need. I’ve always loved writing, but never thought I could own the title of “screenwriter.” But I was ranting about my frustrations at the time about not seeing films I thought were special, and the quality of auditions I was getting wasn’t resonating with my “why” and someone challenged me to write the role I wanted. And thus FRACTURED was born. This film is my baby. It was the first feature I ever wrote, and the first of my features to be produced. I starred in it opposite Bruce Dern and Julia Ormond. It changed me forever as an artist. I no longer needed to search for validation of my talent, whatever happens next.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I think part of what’s most beautiful about LA is while everyone is far, it makes traveling just outside the city the same as crossing town. I like to get into nature. Perhaps a walk on the beach at sunrise, or a hike in the valley before it’s too hot.

I’ve been dying to get back to Malibu Farms. I think their food is delish, and the chill but upscale vibe always puts a smile on my face.

I’d probably look for an art exhibit or see if any of my friends are playing in a spot around town. I’m big on showing up and supporting my people 🙂

I might also spend a day at Artha, or someone similar. Red light sauna, float tank, cryo and hot yoga… I mean, yes please! AND these aren’t things you can find evey where.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shoutout to my family. We aren’t perfect, in fact, far from, but there’s no battle we wouldn’t walk into arm in arm when it really counts.

Huge shout out to my husband, Franck. He’s taught me so much about “being strong” and has been open to learning about how to also “be soft.”

And Coco Bean my 16 year old jack russell/corgi rescue who has been with me every step of the way in my journey in LA.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elissa_shay/