Elise Jackson
Photo by Adam Hendershott
Ok there are a lot of people who I have interviewed who I have just clicked and connected with and who work I believe in and Elise Jackson is one of those people. She is an incredible acting talent, straight from the heart, incredibly beautiful and really just a joy to interview. I really love what she does as an actor and have become friends with her because of the site. So when I said are you up for some more Parx-e questions to answer, this what she had to say.
1. How has having a child helped you what you are doing?
I’ve found that since I’ve had my daughter I connect with characters on a totally different level. There is really no comparison to the love you have for your child. And you need that love because man, having a child isn’t easy! Especially in the beginning when they are so dependent on you and you’re completely sleep deprived. Acting-wise I’ve become far more picky with film projects I’m submitted for. Before, I would submit for anything and everything (within reason) just because I wanted to work all the time. Now I try to stick with characters I’m really excited to play.
2. Was it hard getting back into the swing of things?
It was definitely hard getting back in the swing of things. Having a child completely changes your world and I really wanted to enjoy those first few months without being stressed out about getting to LA for auditions or making a deadline. So I took it slowly and figured out how my mommy world and my professional world were going to mix.
3. What have you been up to recently?
I’m now in pre-production for Legally Blonde and Willy Wonka which I’m producing for my theatre company and waiting to see the final product of a pilot I shot.
4. Are you happy how your theater company has been doing?
Yes! We have the sweetest and most talented kids you can imagine and some of them are just coming into their own this year. It’s always fun to watch a performer find his or her stride on stage. We took on two huge shows recently, Mary Poppins and Wizard of Oz, which were challenging on all fronts because they were just such huge shows. For Wizard of Oz we were actually able to rent the set and costumes from the professional revival at Madison Square Garden. Some of the performers found famous names sewn into their costumes and got a big kick out of it.
5. Have you been writing any screen plays lately and what has been inspiring them if you have?
I’m working on a coming of age story right now. It’s loosely inspired by some of my work with my theatre company as well as the recent death of a teenager I knew. I’m a sucker for happy endings though so even though it’s a drama there will be comedic bits and it’ll have a hopeful and happy ending.
6. Have you done much acting? if so what have you been working on?
I recently shot a pilot that I believe will be released as a webseries if it doesn’t get picked up. My character is totally nuts so it was a really fun role to play and quite different from the sultry, dark characters I often get cast as. It’s funny because I kind of play a highly-caffeinated and inappropriate version of myself.
7. What do you hope 2016 will do for you?
I hope in 2016 I will be able to take on a few fun and interesting characters, finish my newest screenplay and get some production interest in it, and keep growing my theater company.
8. What have you seen recently you have really enjoyed?
I really liked The Revenant. Aside from the amazing performances by all involved, I absolutely loved the cinematography. The locations they used on that film were stunning and Alejandro González Iñárritu’s choice of not using
