Meet Elias Benavidez | Screenwriter

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

Hi Elias, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
For the longest time, ambition was the premium fuel in my tank. If my foot wasn’t firmly pressed on the pedal, I wasn’t doing enough. If I wasn’t driven to write the next hit television show or great American novel, I was failing. After all, the entertainment industry was founded by hustlers, built by hustlers, and if I weren’t hustling like the hustlers before us, did I even stand a chance? It wasn’t until March of 2020, once the world stood still, when my perspective on balance started to expand.

Let me set the scene. Interior: My studio apartment in West Hollywood. No pets. No roommate. Just my trusty computer and scraps of groceries, swiped from my nearest supermarket. The streets were quiet. MSNBC was on round the clock. Social media was buzzing. At that very moment, I had a choice… I could be consumed by it all and hereby consume the entire case of hard seltzer in my refrigerator. Or… I could find balance in hard times. I could turn inward and find solitude, gratitude, and peace in a moment of struggle.

I chose the latter.

My relationship with balance changed significantly – not only surrounding my work/life balance, but my perspective on life, period. The good times and the bad times. The ups and the downs. The highs and the lows. How I reacted to the world around me was in direct response to how I balanced the reactions within me. In that moment, I realized I had a choice. I could follow the White Rabbit down that scary-ass hole – or I could stop, take a deep breath, and ask myself… “what do I truly need right now?” I turned off the television, joined an online meditation den, and opted for reflection. From that point onward, I made it my personal mission to hold space for balance.

These days, after the dust settled, the smoke cleared, and the world returned to go-go-go, I balance work with activities that bring me true joy. Yoga, travel, meditation, a really good book, a really bad movie, a Dungeons and Dragons game, a puppet making class, a trip to Disneyland, even simply listening to a Blondie vinyl. The list goes on, but whatever it is, I make it a priority to be present in that moment because I won’t ever get that moment back.

Don’t get me wrong, the hustle is still real. I would love to write the next hit television show or great American novel, but it’s no longer my primary motivator. Hustle no longer has a place at the wheel. Balance is now the main driver. Hustle can kick-it in the backseat.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Storytelling has been flowing through my veins for as long as I can remember. Ever since my dad recounted his experience in the Vietnam war – or when my mother shared the story about my grandparents’ voyage from Mexico. Every story shaped my curiosity.

Now, as a professional storyteller, curiosity is what fuels my creativity. It gives me reason to roll up my sleeves and hammer away at the keyboard. When I begin a story – whether it’s a television pilot, screenplay, novel or play – I ask myself, “what about this subject matter sparks curiosity?” As a student journalist, my main intention was to peel back the veil of the person I was interviewing. What makes this human tick? What’s their background? Why do I want to learn more about them? Every interview shaped my curiosity.

After graduating the University of Arizona, I abandoned journalism and trekked to Los Angeles where I vowed to make it as a screenwriter. Let me just say… it has been anything but easy. There hasn’t been an entry-level job I haven’t filled. Production Assistant, Executive Assistant, Showrunner’s Assistant, Writers Assistant. If it has the word “assistant” in the title, I had the job – and believe me, some of those bosses would make Miranda Priestley look like a saint. That being said… I wouldn’t trade these experiences for anything, not even a golden ticket, because every one of them shaped my curiosity.

It took me a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to learn this lesson, but I’m grateful for the rough terrain along the way. I’m grateful for the sleepless nights, the coffees fetched, the staplers thrown. You know why? It’s what makes my journey interesting. It’s what gives my character depth. After all, if it were that easy, there wouldn’t be much of a story, right?

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.
When I moved to Los Angeles, someone told me there was always something to do in the city. Any hour of any day, you were always guaranteed an adventure.

A chance encounter with Courtney Cox at Marix Tex Mex Café in West Hollywood. An 8-hour sleep concert in downtown’s Grand Park, conducted by German composer Max Richter. Shots of Patron at the House of Blues with Ke$ha and her backup dancers, followed by an after party at The Andaz. (Yes, I’ve really maximized my time here.)

So, when asked, “Let’s say your friend was visiting LA and you wanted to show them the best time… what are the most fun places to check out in the area?” Well, my cup runneth over. But that being said… I’ll do my best to fill our itinerary.

We first need to stretch. A Vinyasa class at SHIVA YOGA is the perfect first stop, followed by a hike along Runyon Canyon (you’ll also meet my French Bulldogs, Lily and Sophie.)

A quick smoothie from EARTHBAR before hitting up a museum. You have two options: THE BROAD, where they have a selection from my favorite contemporary artists, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Robert Rauschenberg, and Willem de Kooning (to name a few.) Or… if you’re feeling more misfitty, Burbank’s MYSTIC MUSEUM, where they celebrate some of the most iconic horror films of all time with interactive exhibits and custom photo ops.

Then, a “quick” round of Settlers of Catan at GEEKY TEAS & GAMES in one of their whimsical themed rooms before a matinee of ‘Critters’ at Brain Dead Studios, the perfect retro movie theatre for any retro film buff. Happy Hour cocktails at SCHMITTY’S, one of my favorite bars in the West Hollywood, where we’ll gawk at their wonderfully campy décor.

Then it’s time to begin our evening activities.

Honestly, this all depends on the night of the week and the time of the year. We’ll say it’s summer, then you get the choice of SHAKESPEARE IN GRIFFITH PARK, a star-studded event at the HOLLYWOOD BOWL, a concert at THE GREEK, a screening at HOLLYWOOD FOREVER CEMETERY, or if planned accordingly, we can attend the STAR PARTY at GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY, where we will try out a variety of telescopes from amateur astronomers on the front lawn (and likely reenact that infamous dance scene from ‘La La Land’.)

We’ll cap the night off with drinks and dancing at AKBAR in Silverlake, which has one of the best jukeboxes in the city. David Bowie and Talking Heads paired with Cher and Abba? I mean, c’mon! We’ll put in twenty bucks to curate the rest of the night.

As I mentioned, there are countless activities to do in our beloved city. I didn’t even skim the surface. Notice I didn’t even touch on sporting events, bookstores, record shops, vintage clothing stores, or restaurants? But my main advice when joining in on any one of these fabulous adventures? Enjoy every second of it.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
‘The Alchemist’ by Paulo Coelho comes to mind when I think about my own journey. You know the story… Santiago travels from Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried near the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a so-called king and an Alchemist, all pointing Santiago in the direction of his quest.

Like Santiago, the people I’ve encountered along the way, both professional and personal, have played a pivotal part in my own story and I wouldn’t be the journeyman I am today without them. Honestly, they likely have no clue they were key characters along my path, but the seeds they’ve sown have been my own unique treasure. A referral for a job, an offer to read a script and pass it along, guidance for an interview, beautiful words of wisdom that I’ve filed away and repeat to this day… all of it, pure gold, and that good fortune is never lost on me. I wholeheartedly intend to pay it forward to others as I continue the adventure.

My own personal alchemist is my friend, mentor and showrunner, Chris Sheridan, who has guided me along my path for four venturesome seasons on the sci-fi series, ‘Resident Alien’. Not only have I learned how to be a better writer and producer – garnering invaluable experience on set and in the writer’s room – but I’ve received a crash course in humility, active listening, humor, and the often-overlooked skill of leading with kindness. The journey hasn’t always been breezy. In fact, I’ve encountered my share of road bumps, stormy seas, and a rattle snake or two, but one thing is certain… it’s all been worth it.

Instagram: @eliasmbenavidez

Image Credits
Brittany Lum-Cho
Raphe Wolfgang