Meet Eloïse Descleves | Producer

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

Hi Eloïse, why did you pursue a creative career?
When I was 14, I won a competition organized by Warner Bros. to celebrate the release of ‘Man of Steel,’ the Superman movie directed by Zack Snyder. The prize was a trip to LA to visit the WB Studios and meet Zack Snyder himself. After a week-long fight with my parents (since the prize coincided with the first week of high school) and falsely promising that we would fly in business class, they finally agreed to let me go.

When most people take studio tours, they are often disappointed upon realizing that everything they see on screen is fabricated. For me, however, it was like witnessing a marvelous magic trick—filmmakers could use cardboard and fake buildings to tell compelling stories that have the potential to change people’s lives. That experience was the moment I realized I wanted to make movies and TV shows for the rest of my life. Each winner got the opportunity to ask Zack Snyder one question, so I inquired about how to become a filmmaker. At the end of the Q&A, I asked for his autograph. He wrote, ‘Go do it!’… So, 10 years later, I moved to LA to go do it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
After meeting Zack Snyder, I dedicated every school holiday to working on any set I could find—short films, music videos, etc. This journey came full circle when I spent a year at Warner Bros UK in their digital marketing department, this time organizing competitions myself. Attending red carpet events for ‘A Star Is Born’ and ‘Fantastic Beasts’ was incredible, but my true passion lay in producing movies. I’ve always been passionate about bringing stories together and making things happen.

After graduating from Warwick Business School, I searched for “the best producer program in the world” on Google and discovered the Peter Stark Producing Program at USC, which is known for its selectivity. I was accepted to the program and about to move to LA when a not so friendly virus came around. Despite the challenges of COVID, which found me stuck in France, I seized an unexpected opportunity to work with Eleonore Dailly, a fellow Starkie producer, on the production teams for two features: ‘Dangerous Liaisons’ directed by Rachel Suissa—one of Netflix’s most-watched foreign language movies in 2022—and ‘I Love America,’ an Amazon Prime original directed by Lisa Azuelos and starring Sophie Marceau, filmed both in France and the US.

Eventually making it to the US, I worked full-time in development at Barry Films and Ubisoft Film and Television while doing the Peter Stark Program. Graduating during a strike was financially challenging, yet it provided a unique opportunity to produce several shorts, including ‘SOLID’ directed by Grace Gregory and written by Audrey Corsa and ‘Kitchen Talk’ by the Makovetsky brothers. The pinnacle of my career thus far has been producing my first feature film. Rachel Suissa invited me to produce her first American independent movie, where I was responsible for budgeting, scheduling, crew recruitment (which felt like assembling the Avengers), and overseeing the shoot in Florida.

Additionally, I worked with the French Film Bureau to promote US filmmaking in France, organizing a prestigious conference in West Hollywood. This aligns perfectly with my ultimate goal: to build bridges between international filmmakers and US audiences, highlighting diverse voices.

I am currently developing several projects and should have exciting news very soon.

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.
First, a mandatory visit to my favorite French restaurant, L’Appart, in Downtown is essential. The first time I went there, I was so overwhelmed with joy that I almost cried. True to European fashion, I favor districts that are pedestrian-friendly—like KTown and Culver City. Enjoying a pint and a meal in the Arts District would also likely be on the agenda.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to thank my family and friends for encouraging me to pursue my dreams, being there when things get tough, and enduring an endless stream of dad jokes and terrible puns.

Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12005101/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_0_nm_1_q_eloise%2520descleves

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elo%C3%AFse-descleves-349607128/