Filmmaker Ella Greenwood Talks Creative Process, Mental Health, and Cadbury Eggs
At nineteen years old, Ella Greenwood’s occupation as a full-time actor, filmmaker, and animator is anything but expected. The same can be said of her work, notably Faulty Roots, a short film about adolescent mental health that she wrote, directed, and produced— and is currently being adapted into a feature-length film. Her other upcoming projects include Self-Charm, which is to star Bukky Bakray of Rocks. I had the opportunity to (virtually) sit down with the London native and discuss all things film industry.
How did you break into the film industry?
I started acting from a young age, I was signed with an agent, went to auditions, got involved, and went to film festivals, I worked on commercials and saw different sides to the industry, and then when I turned 18 I decided I wanted to make my own work!
What advice would you have for other people interested in doing so?
I would definitely say watch as many films as possible! I feel like people who want to work in film don’t watch enough films because you get swept away wanting to make your own; I definitely didn’t watch enough. You can get free software to write a script, you can shoot on phones—there are film festivals now for films shot on phones only!
Where did you learn how to screenwrite and direct?
Working on set as an actor, or even as a double—working on a British TV show as a stand-in I got to learn so much and work really closely with the director without the pressure being on me. With acting I’ve auditioned so much, I’ve been rejected so much, but you get to see different writers and scripts, and everything’s online—you can literally search how to write a script.
How do you find producers and other collaborators?
For my first short film I took on way too many roles—produced, directed, did the production design, it was a lot to take on! You can find people with online networking events, —the internet is so useful and people would be happy for you to reach out.
How and why did you come to focus on mental health in your work?
It helps if you write about something you have experience with, and I wanted it to be a good use of my time, and sort of change the narrative around mental health right now.
I see you’ve also done some animation. Do you have a preference among animation, acting, directing, and screenwriting?
I love variation, it’s so rewarding to do all of this. If I were to just focus on one thing, I’d put a lot of pressure into it, so I love it all equally!
I find that Hollywood’s monopoly on the film industry can be a bit constrictive. Do you plan on continuing to work as an independent filmmaker throughout your career?
I would love to do a range of things like TV and studio movies. I mean, having a big budget would be amazing, but I think indie film is incredible. Hollywood can emphasize wrong parts of mental health and overdramatize it. Indie film is so truthful and representative, so indie film is always something I would be happy to do; I would never abandon it.
Where can people watch Faulty Roots and your other projects right now?
Because they’re still at different festivals they’re not at online platforms right now, but those are finishing soon so I should be able to put it on a standard platform soon!
Do you have favorite directors and/or screenwriters, movies, TV shows? Any inspirations?
I love all sorts of genres of TV and film. I love This Is Us, it shows how everyone’s lives intertwine. I love Mike Flanagan, I love the first series of The Haunting of Hill House and his films, anything that sort of plays with your mind—work that gets you to think.
How would you describe your style of filmmaking?
With a focus on mental health it’s important for me for it not to feel like a film about depression and be completely sad, so I put in moments of humor and happiness throughout. I want to represent young people—with some stuff, you can tell it’s written by middle-aged people, and middle-aged people write dialogue teenagers would just never say. I don’t try to write like it’s a film—I’d rather just write conversations. So I would say, honest and young.
How do you think independent filmmakers are going to keep dealing with and recover from the pandemic?
We have amazing organizations like the BFI—they give money to independent film, and they still do that right now. Our industry really does value independent film. There are cinemas that have been given grants that run on independent film. People want to hear the stories that independent film wants to tell!
Here’s a question just for people to get to know a bit more about you as a person—what’s your favorite candy? I truly think the vast candy selection is one of the best aspects of the UK.
Ooh. There are these mini eggs by Cadbury— solid chocolate eggs, they’re great. They’re only available during Easter time so I always stock up!