Ellen has had a camera in hand since she was at least eight years old. Ask her parents. Growing up in the age of early YouTube and DVD behind-the-scenes featurettes propelled her interest in filmmaking to a profound degree. She wrote scripts, created shot lists, drew up storyboards, and enlisted her many cousins to act in her short films and talk shows.

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Many a music video was produced in her parent's backyard and uploaded to YouTube, garnering some real editing experience and resulting in a community of internet friends (some with whom she is still connected with!)

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When it came to deciding what to study in college, Ellen could not picture herself choosing anything else. While she learned a lot of beneficial skills and made valuable connections during her time in film school, her eye for composition and instinct for empathetic storytelling has remained the same. The value she places on human connection is evident in her current work.