Meet Kelsie McDonald | Actor, Writer, Producer

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

Hi Kelsie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My Mum always said I popped out of the womb as a storyteller. And it’s true, I put on my first theatre play, which I also wrote and directed and starred in, at the age of eight, at my school assembly. Then at fourteen, I convinced my school teachers to let me use my “career development” class to film my first proof of concept. After completing my Master’s Degree at the Guildford School of Acting, UK, I co-formed a devised theatre company and began co-producing and starring in indie films with my fellow GSA grads.

It’s funny, one of my main writing/producing partners had always encouraged me to start my own film company, but I was always happy working under his company and focusing more on my acting role. I never felt like I needed the ownership myself. But once I moved to LA and my work was elevating, I began to realise how few female-driven film companies there are in Hollywood, and that it’s of huge benefit to the entertainment industry for more women to be at the forefront of productions. I became inspired by actresses like Reece Witherspoon, her film company Hello Sunshine, and my fellow Aussie Margot Robbie with LuckyChap Entertainment. After having lived in four different countries and being stuck in Guadalajara, Mexico for fourteen months of the pandemic, I knew that I wanted to share untold stories and give voices to those we have not yet heard. I want to celebrate humanity in all forms and ultimately create films, series and theatre that can empower, enlighten and inspire an audience. Thus People Power Pictures came to fruition.

It’s still very early days for this young company of only two years, but I am so excited by what’s to come!

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.
Wow, so many exciting questions to answer! So, I’m an Australian Actress who has been hustling as an actor ever since I can remember! I was born and raised in Brisbane, Australia before moving to Melbourne to “chase the dream” after graduating high school. Being so young, I spent all of my money producing a film… literally all of it, so was forced to move back in with my parents and save again. During that year, I won a scholarship for the Atlantic Acting School, NYC and took my first overseas trip. I fell in LOVE with NY and wanted more than anything to move to the USA but simply didn’t have the finances… or the visa. So instead, as my grandparents were British, I applied for a UK ancestry visa and moved to London a few months later. I was lucky enough to be accepted into the Guildford School of Acting and graduated in 2016 with my Master’s Degree in Acting. For the next couple of years, I created fringe theatre and indie films that took me all around the UK, Rome, Paris, Mexico and Australia. But in 2020 I was in Guadalajara, Mexico for a friend’s wedding when the pandemic hit and within days my UK visa went “tits up”, Australia closed its borders and I found out that after ten years of applying, I’d won the USA green card lottery!!! I had to wait in Mexico for 14 months for my visa interview, which honestly was a blessing as I had the chance to star in two feature films at that time, one of which I co-wrote, but I was THRILLED to move to Los Angeles with a green card… Might I mention that I had never been to LA before I moved there, I just knew that it was where I was meant to be for my career. In June 2021 I moved to West Hollywood with only a suitcase and I started building my life again from scratch.

When you move to a new country, you really do start again, it’s a lot of work, particularly to build a reputation for yourself as an actor or a creative in general, to build connections and a support group. But I vowed to myself that when I set foot in the USA I would not let a day go by without doing something for my creative career. I’m proud to say that in three years I’ve not only been cast in some really exciting projects, and teamed up with my dream representation, but I’ve launched my first-ever production company, People Power Pictures which has developed two shorts, two tv pilots, a one-woman theatre show!

It’s crazy how you can work and work and work and not see any material results and then suddenly, all of the pies you’d had fingers in start to pop out of the oven at the same time!

I am beyond thrilled to have so much going on right now. In February this year, I started writing a one-woman theatre show, very much inspired by my experiences as an Aussie waitress in Hollywood. It’s “a one-hour joy-ride through the chaos of restaurant life intertwined with Sydney’s personal escapades, offering a hilarious sneak peek into the secret world of your server.” The show will be Directed by my good friend, Pam Matew.

I’ll be performing the world premiere of the show at the Broadwater Main Stage this June as a part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival. My goal is to have this be the first of many runs of the show, I’d love to take it to the Edinburgh Festival and ultimately turn the concept into a comedic tv series… gotta dream big hey?

The Show dates:

Monday 10th June at 9.30pm
Saturday 22nd June at 10.30pm
Sunday 23rd June at 6pm

at: The Broadwater Main Stage
1076 Lillian Way
Los Angeles 90038

A couple of days after the show closes, my first larger-scale short film which I wrote, produced and starred in The Power Within will have its world premiere as an official selection in the Dances With Films Film Festival at the iconic Chinese Theatre!! I am blown away to be a part of this incredible festival as well as two other VERY exciting screenings in the coming months!! The Power Within is a female-driven superhero story that tackles issues of mental health and the repression of women. This was a film that pays tribute to my Mum, who sadly lost her battle with cancer at the young age of 57 in my second year living in LA. I was beyond thrilled to team up with female Director Bo Youngblood to tell this story with such a talented cast and crew.

And that’s not all! I’ve just completed a new proof of concept for a comedic TV series that I am pitching with my friend and co-writer co-star and hilarious stand-up comedian, Liz Zagone. This series is titled Womb Room and is a very LA story which I believe sooooo many people will be able to relate to.

So as you can imagine, life is rather chocker block at the moment! It’s been a real adventure getting to where I am now. A-LOT of mountains to climb, hurdles to clear and literal blood, sweat and tears. I’ve taught myself to live outside of my comfort zone and say yes to the things that scare me. And I will continue to push my own boundaries and enjoy every step of the journey. I am in Hollywood living the life I’ve dreamed about since I was a tiny little girl, my heart is full.

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.
If my besties were coming to town I’d first take you on a Runyon Canyon hike to see the Hollywood Sign. Then we would head over for a cheeky brunch at The Butcher, The Baker, The Cappuccino Maker for burritos and rainbow lattes. Then we might pop over to the Chinese Theatre to see a film… maybe even a premiere! For dinner, i’d treat ya to Laurel Hardware, the most delish dinner in town, in the prettiest fairy-light-filled patio! And finally, we would find ourselves in the Magic Castle for some late-night shenanigans. OOhh this sounds like the dream day… besties, you’d better get over to LA stat! Let’s do this!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am acutely aware that I am who I am and where I am because of the love, support and encouragement I receive from the incredible humans around me.

Shoutout to all of the strong, resilient, huge-hearted women in my life who continuously inspire me to reach for greater heights, and the men who have championed me to stand confidently in my full power.

Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4302135/

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

Other: Hollywood Fringe Festival: Who’s Serving Who (Show Page & Ticket Link): https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/10834?tab=details

People Power Pictures Instagram: @peoplepowerpictures

Image Credits
Bahareh Ritter, Katie Nolan