MEET ELIAS

Award-winning filmmaker and UCLA alum with a passion for storytelling across indie film, Hollywood consulting, and branded content. From screening at Cannes to demystifying finance on social media, I bring stories to life that connect, clarify, and inspire.

MY STORY

My love for storytelling developed while growing up in Oakland, California and was honed at the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television where I concentrated on video production and screenwriting. At UCLA I received numerous honors including the Samuel Goldwyn Writing Award, Motion Picture Association of America Award, and the Frank Glicksman Award for Artistic Merit in Film Directing.

My first feature film, Against the Grain, which I wrote, directed, produced, and edited, screened at film festivals around the world including in Cannes, France. It received multiple awards such as the Favorite Audience Award at the Los Angeles Pan African Film Festival, the Jury Prize at the Rome International Film Festival, and the Filmmaker Award at the Gasparilla International Film Festival. I also marketed and guided the film through the festival circuit until it secured worldwide distribution. It is currently streaming on Amazon Video.

As a storyteller, my goal is to create work that resonates and inspires. I’ve brought that same creative drive to client work, including producing many videos for Liberty Group, a financial firm focused on retirement and wealth planning. I wrote, directed, filmed, and edited educational and marketing content for their website and social media channels, helping explain complex financial topics in a clear and engaging way.

I’ve also created content for startups like Q Cigarettes, a company focused on nicotine replacement therapy, and I’ve worked as a story and script consultant for major Hollywood producers. At Participant Media, the company behind numerous Academy Award winning films, I provided story, dialogue, and character analysis on screenplays under consideration. I also evaluated each project’s social relevance and commercial potential using data from comparable films in the marketplace.

When I’m not creating stories or consulting, I love to read, travel, work out, hike, attend Toastmasters meetings, and spend time with my family.