By Mason Vargas
Elle Seguin, a stellar senior at Westmont High, has a huge passion for film. Along with being a filmmaker, she’s also involved in the school’s theater program. When asked about how she first got into film, Elle shared, “After watching La La Land for the first time, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in film making. The ending of that film breaks my heart every time, and I hope I can make a film one day that affects the audience in the same way that movie has impacted me.” Like most artists, Elle has faced challenges in her journey. “The biggest hurdle I had to overcome when I first got into making films was editing. The horrifying Adobe Premiere Pro, a program that seemed impossible to figure out. I felt like I had great footage with no means to edit it. Now, I have been working with editing software for a couple of months, and I am really proud of what I have been able to teach myself. I think overcoming the hurdles and technical parts of film making train me to work hard as a problem solver.” Despite these obstacles, Elle has developed her style and enjoys working on various genres of film. Elle stated, “I am still finding my niche within film making, but I love telling stories about girlhood and women in general. I want to explore as many genres as I can, in hopes of finding a genre I really resonate with. Right now, I am experimenting with a Western-style screenplay featuring a female cowboy heroine.”Elle’s involvement in theater has also played a big role in her film making. When asked about how theater has influenced her work, Elle said, “The theatre has brought me a passion for all art forms, especially film. The thing I love most about theatre, is the long process of rehearsing and building, before the final show. I find a similar process takes place in the production of film. My theatrical experience has taught me how to direct a large group of artists, how to utilize actors, problem solve, and work towards an end goal. These are all principles I use when I am shooting a film. ” Her experiences on stage have helped her bring characters to life in her films, showing how both passions connect. Elle has worked on several film and theater projects that have shaped her skills. When asked about her favorite projects she has worked on, Elle said, “My favorite projects that I have worked on all shot in Los Angeles. I remember shooting a short film called ‘Endgame’ at a producer’s house, her name was Holly Weirsma, and she had about 10 dogs running around her house. Almost every take got cut short because a dog parked or walked into frame, no one on set could stop laughing. However, my favorite productions were films entitled, ‘Belle,’ (See it here: https://youtu.be/JgFiG7ASn4Y?si=9_993hSk1SBlzy1d) that I directed, wrote, and shot and a film called Drawn Together, Torn Apart that I shot and produced. ” Recently, Elle released a short film which impacted me persoanlly. The short film was about a mother who suffered the loss of her daughter due to being in the car with a drunk driver. It left me feeling chills and understanding the message of the film. This project captures the talent that Elle has in film. Looking ahead, Elle hopes to keep pursuing her love for film. With her creativity and dedication, Elle is certain to succeed wherever she goes!