A Triple Threat in the Making: Ella Grace's Journey in Entertainment and Beyond

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Can a child truly be a "triple threat" in the entertainment industry? Join us as we sit down with the remarkable Ella Grace and her mom, Lee, to explore this very question. From starring in commercials before hitting preschool to being a face of a Disney campaign, Ella's journey is nothing short of inspirational. We chat about her pursuits in fine art, ballroom dancing, and songwriting, alongside the challenges of maintaining a balanced life amidst the thrill of show business. Lee gives us a heartfelt glimpse into the early days of Ella's passion for performance and the pivotal role of a supportive family in navigating the spotlight.

Our conversation ventures into the vibrant world of entertainment, uncovering what fuels Ella's aspiration to grace Broadway and collaborate with Disney. Inspired by icons like Zendaya, she shares her dreams of becoming a versatile performer while balancing other interests such as aerial silks and fashion design. We also highlight the importance of maintaining authenticity and managing public attention as a young actor, discussing the value of tools like IMDb in showcasing one's career and the evolving role of social media as a digital scrapbook. With Ella's infectious enthusiasm and wisdom beyond her years, we celebrate the joy of creativity and the excitement of following diverse dreams.

In a charming twist, the episode offers a peek into the unique lifestyle of a homeschooled sixth-grader immersed in the entertainment world. Ella opens up about her flexible education through Florida Virtual School, allowing for seamless travel to auditions and acting gigs. Her stories about fast-paced adventures, such as a whirlwind trip to California, provide a candid look at the life of a young star. Alongside these tales, we explore the grounding influence of family and the importance of nurturing passions outside the entertainment industry, from rock climbing to envisioning a future in animal care. Join us for an engaging discussion that celebrates the multidimensional nature of talent and the beautiful blend of youthful dreams with the wisdom of experience.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Local Celebrity Brevard.
My name is Jesse Hall, I amyour host today and in the
studio I have one incredibletalent.
We're lucky to have her as alocal talent and, of course,
here on the show we love to goahead and showcase and share
some of the behind the scenes,some of the local lifestyle that

(00:24):
some of our celebrities enjoyhere on the Space Coast, and
with us is Ella Grace.
She has one heck of a career sofar.
She has other interests thatwe're going to dive into, and
joining her in the studio is hermother, leigh, and I'm so
thrilled to have these two inhere.
It's been a long time coming.
I feel like we've been chattingabout this podcast episode for

(00:47):
a long time, but with such abusy career and demanding career
, their calendar is always tiedup.
So to have them finally in here, I'm just super excited, and
we're kicking off 2025 withLocal Celebrity Brevard with
them as our first episode.
Ella Grace Lee.
Welcome to the studio.

Speaker 2 (01:09):
Man, you guys are busy yes, we are, and we're
thrilled to be here you arethrilled to be here.

Speaker 1 (01:14):
Um, but let's just get started real quick, ella.
What have you been up torecently and what?
What are just some, some of therecent accomplishments?
And we'll just dive in just sopeople get to know you, and then
we're going to get a deep diveinto your background.

Speaker 3 (01:31):
Okay, so I do a lot of fine art.
So, I've been doing a lot ofart, and then I've been sewing
recently too, a new hobby.
I finished making my firstdress from a pattern, which was
super cool.
I keep doing ballroom dancing.
I have a competition coming upin january and you know, let's

(01:52):
see, you're writing a song.
Oh yes, I'm writing a song, myvery first song.
We wrote, I recorded it and wemade the music video for it yeah
, I completed my second song,I'm finishing up my third song
and I'm just doing someauditions for acting right right
there's more.

Speaker 1 (02:10):
That's just what she remembers well, and that's what
that question was for, just toget just a general idea of, like
, who you are.
And if nobody's ever heard ofyou, they probably didn't know
that.
They've probably seen you insome national campaigns and even
some feature films.
So we'll dive into those aswell, because you know what

(02:30):
makes you a celebrity here.
You know, and for some peoplelisten, it's a nice area to hide
.
You know you're not in the bigepicenters of production like
you know Orlando, or you know LAand even Georgia.
You know Atlanta, or you knowLA and even Georgia.
You know Atlanta's, you know,kind of become a big production
hub, so you're not really in anarea where most actors would

(02:52):
feel like at home.
You know, like Beverly Hills orsomething you know of that
nature.
You're a Brevard celebrity, yeah, you know.
And what does that mean, right?
So you're here here, but youhave to do a lot of traveling to
do all of this, because there'snot a whole lot here in brevard
to actually help with this.
This career choice, right?
Yeah, not much, right?

(03:12):
So let's start back from thedrawing board.
Um, what was your firstproduction?
Where did mom get you, uh,invested into this type of
career choice?

Speaker 3 (03:23):
you might want to start with that one a little bit
.
She might be too young toremember.

Speaker 2 (03:26):
I do.

Speaker 3 (03:27):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (03:28):
Well, actually it's always interesting the way that
question is phrased, because Ididn't get her into acting Right
.
She showed an incredible loveof performing from the time she
could make sounds.
There's actually a video onYouTube, and I'm so grateful
that we I just put it up.
When she was 22 months old shewasn't even two yet telling me

(03:51):
to stop helping her sing a song,and so I wouldn't remember A
little sassy.
Yeah, oh yeah, I wouldn'tremember that moment if I didn't
have it on video.
So I'm glad that we saved it.
And then we got her intomusical theater.
We thought that would be agreat outlet and it was the
perfect place for a child likeher, because it involves singing
and dancing and acting andworking in a group.

(04:11):
And, um, her first time on astage was three years old, when
there's also a video of that onYouTube of her teacher having to
come escort her off the stagebecause she was just continuing
to bow and enjoy the audienceapplause, and so my husband and
I, who are extreme introverts,looked at each other and said I
think she's in the right place,you know, on a stage.

(04:33):
So that's where the performingbegan.
And then we were told youshould get her an agent in
orlando and she can docommercials and earn some money
for college.
So we did the.
The response was great.
She started doing commercialsat age three.

Speaker 3 (04:47):
Wow.

Speaker 2 (04:47):
Huge one for Disney at age four that they're still
using clips of her today sevenyears later I was in the Oscars.
She's been you've seen Ella inthe Disney commercial during the
Oscars, the Super Bowl, all ofthe major primetime things that
have been on ABC.
She's had a little clip of herface in there.
So that kind of launchedeverything.

(05:09):
And then I don't know if youwant to talk about, well, like
the big time, but Well, we'redefinitely talking about the big
time.

Speaker 1 (05:16):
She went big time so quickly.
So I Huey Halloween came out.
I remember that, that scenewhere this adorable little girl
I think was dressed as HarleyQuinn or something walked up and
stole all the candy and it tookme a second time to watch it.
And then I think you guys hadmentioned it like, oh, you know,

(05:38):
this time of year, duringHalloween, you know, we get to
revisit this one scene thatelegrates.
I mean it was adorable and cuethe B-roll because I want to
revisit this one scene that wasadorable and cue the B-roll
because I want to show this andlet everybody see what we're
talking about.
But certainly it's a greatlittle scene and I love Adam

(05:58):
Sandler movies.
I can't believe you guys got tobe there with him he's awesome
I know.
So maybe there's a story or two,some anecdotal stuff working
with just the Happy Madisonproduction, just all of them,
for sure, they're such a greatcast.

Speaker 3 (06:15):
I mean everyone I've ever worked with.
I've never encountered someonewho was not nice or was not
friendly to me.
Everyone is so amazing.

Speaker 2 (06:26):
Including Adam.
Including.

Speaker 1 (06:27):
Adam of course.

Speaker 3 (06:29):
Right, he's so funny, I love him.

Speaker 1 (06:31):
Yeah, any talks of maybe being featured again?

Speaker 2 (06:36):
Not that we know of yet.
Okay, yeah.

Speaker 1 (06:39):
Because I guess there's a happy Gilmore 2 coming
out, there is yes.
Oh, my goodness, Wouldn't thatbe a yes.
Yeah, that'd be so much fun.

Speaker 2 (06:46):
Yes.

Speaker 1 (06:49):
But yeah, but listen, you know, just to be in his
company and to be on such a funset, I mean, you know, I mean I
love Halloween, I love doing aHalloween-style movie.

Speaker 2 (06:57):
Oh yeah, yeah, it's a blessing that she's in now
what's probably considered aholiday classic film.

Speaker 1 (07:02):
It is a holiday classic, it's something people
watch every year.

Speaker 2 (07:05):
They've already told us so she's now part of
Halloween tradition, which isher dad's favorite holiday.

Speaker 1 (07:12):
So he's thrilled.
Yeah well, your producer andhost right now is thrilled
because there's a little pieceof the Space Coast, you know, in
the form of Ella Grace hereblessing us with with her.
Uh, with that one scene and itwas like I mean it just, it just
fit the part also I get.
I think you guys have uh beenfeatured in a public's campaign.

Speaker 3 (07:36):
Yes, tell us about that I recently did a public's
commercial.
Actually it was last year, nowalready.
Well, yes, yes, last year 2024and that one that was a lot of
fun I had.
I gotta run around and eatcookies stay up sprinkles rain
from the sky.

(07:56):
Oh yeah, I was standing in akiddie pool and I had to hold
the rainbow sprinkles cookie inmy hand.

Speaker 1 (08:03):
Right.

Speaker 3 (08:03):
And they would drop sprinkles above my head.
And I have to act.
Super surprised and it was sofun it was raining, sprinkles.

Speaker 1 (08:10):
Right, it sounds fun.

Speaker 3 (08:11):
It is very awesome it is.

Speaker 2 (08:14):
It had to happen late and overnight because it's when
the stores closed, yeah, whenthere's no customers.

Speaker 1 (08:18):
Because it wasn't like on a set, like you guys
were in a store.

Speaker 3 (08:21):
We were in the Publix .
Wow, they got the kiddie poolsout and they just had gallons of
sprinkles and they were up onthe ladder and they just went
and you were finding sprinklesin your ears for the next couple
weeks.

Speaker 1 (08:37):
I think so.

Speaker 2 (08:40):
Well, I'm sure that's very rewarding, because I mean
not only is Publix aninstitution, but I'm sure that's
where you go shopping here inCentral Florida and she eats
those cookies and she eats themEvery time.

Speaker 3 (08:46):
Now I eat those cookies.

Speaker 1 (08:48):
Now they must have given you, like a nice little
spiff right Like lifetime supplyof cookies or something.
No, no, you just can't go andshow like you know your Publix,
you know MasterCard or something.

Speaker 3 (08:59):
They did give her a name tag.
They did give me tag.

Speaker 1 (09:01):
Okay, that's official .

Speaker 3 (09:02):
I can walk in there.

Speaker 1 (09:04):
That's official.

Speaker 2 (09:05):
It's very cool and I have to just say that it was
such a blessing to do thatcommercial, because it was in
Florida and.
Ella is a member of theSAG-AFTRA union, which means she
can't do non-union work, whichis the majority, which is mostly
what is in Florida now.

Speaker 3 (09:20):
So it was amazing, we only had to drive an hour to
Orlando.

Speaker 2 (09:24):
To work in her home state is a blessing, that's
awesome.

Speaker 1 (09:26):
Oh, I'm sure, yeah, and I don't want to get into,
like you know, where we're atwith production in Florida, but
I feel like it could be better.
I feel, like you know therewere some really good shows like
Bloodline and a couple otherones that were based here in
Florida, and Florida, just, youknow, georgia, is very I mean
they're, they're just taken over, you know, on the East coast,

(09:52):
um, they're, you know, they'revery complimenting to the
industry and I would just wishFlorida could be a little bit
more complimenting, but I thinkit's the theme parks maybe
having a little.

Speaker 2 (09:57):
But anyway, I don't want to get political and talk
about what's going on, but justsay I was a of film florida
right, which is a professionalorganization lobbying to bring
you know film incentives.
And, yeah, back to floridalet's do that.

Speaker 1 (10:10):
we have, I mean, we have the biggest coastline.
I mean we have, you know, justbeautiful resources um backdrops
, you know where people can tellall kinds of stories, and it's
just why wouldn't we want thathere, you know, I mean, I mean
it's gorgeous here.
I mean the weather's alwayslike pretty much, you know,
complimentary, you know sunnyskies, and anyway, I just feel

(10:32):
like, you know, there's a lot ofcool locations here in Florida
where Many there is yeah.

Speaker 3 (10:37):
Yes, we'd even drive by Orlando sometimes and I would
see this big water park tower.
I'm like what is that?
I've never been there and thatlooks so awesome.

Speaker 2 (10:47):
There's a lot of fun things in Orlando.

Speaker 3 (10:48):
There's a lot of fun things in Orlando and I'm like
we're right here, so we need tojust go there and spend a whole
weekend just having fun.

Speaker 1 (10:54):
Yeah, exactly.
So what's your idea of fun?

Speaker 3 (10:56):
Anything really.
I like to play video games withmy friends.
I like hanging out with myfriends and I love theme parks.
I went to SeaWorld with some ofmy friends.

Speaker 1 (11:05):
It's so fun.

Speaker 3 (11:06):
I'm a big roller coaster fan, so I love the big
scary drop rides.

Speaker 1 (11:11):
Yes.

Speaker 3 (11:11):
Up loop-de-loops, all those.

Speaker 1 (11:15):
I love them all and you just became tall enough to I
know I'm like I'm at the nextlevel here.
I'm like yes.

Speaker 3 (11:21):
Yes, yes, I'm like.
Yes, yes, I get to ride thescary one now.
Yeah, you're a daredevil ohyeah.

Speaker 1 (11:27):
So do you see yourself doing any Marvel
characters Doing stunts one day?
Oh yeah, I definitely want todo my own stunts.

Speaker 3 (11:33):
I do not want a stunt double, for sure I will jump
off and do a backflip intothings.

Speaker 2 (11:38):
Mom, I'm sure the production would not allow some
of that Right but it's kind of acool story she used to do.
She's a little on break rightnow from it, like the aerial
silks Right.

Speaker 1 (11:50):
That was you know where you can do and she.
It's like vertical trapeze orsomething.
Yeah, it's hanging there andit's very artistic.
It's very artistic.

Speaker 2 (11:59):
She's been doing that for a long time, yeah, and when
she was a series regular on anABC sitcom called United we Fall
.
And unfortunately it only hadone season.
It didn't get renewed.

Speaker 1 (12:10):
Right.

Speaker 2 (12:11):
And one of the producers had said well, if
there's another season, we mightwrite that skill into the story
.
Maybe we'll have you hangingfrom curtains or something Like.

Speaker 3 (12:21):
I was a crazy child and have me swinging from the
curtains, but it's neat Some ofher skills have been used in
some of her projects, likedancing and it's very exciting
when that happens.
Yes, I definitely had a lot ofdancing in my movie specifically
.

Speaker 1 (12:34):
Are you familiar with the term triple threat?

Speaker 3 (12:37):
Yes, I am.

Speaker 1 (12:38):
What does that mean?

Speaker 3 (12:39):
That means you have three different skills you're
good at, so I would be likeacting, singing and dancing,
maybe.

Speaker 1 (12:46):
Well, those are the three.
When they call someone a triplethreat, it is you know, if you
can sing and act and dance.
Oh yeah, I mean you look atsome of the biggest ones.
You know some of the biggestperformers and these performers
they're always busy.
You know, you got a littlecomedy and then you really are,
just like you know, dominating.
But if you can do three ofthose, you know the Fred

(13:09):
Astaire's of the world and youknow going up and you know, and
even, like I mean there's likeso many talented you know people
, rosie Perez and.
J-Lo and a couple others.
You know, they started asdancers, they got into acting.
And then, you know, now theystarted as dancers, they got
into acting, and now they'rerecording artists.
And one just goes to the other,I feel like, and actors become

(13:32):
singers, and singers becomeactors.

Speaker 2 (13:33):
It gives them options and they're not bored.
I'm never bored.
You can never be bored.

Speaker 3 (13:39):
If there's any point in the day I'm bored, I'll go
sit down at my piano.
I'll write a song.
I'll practice my dance.

Speaker 1 (13:50):
I'll pretend I'm acting with my barbies.
Well, the screenplay too.
Yeah, I did, and you're writingscreenplays.
Well, I always, I alwaysthought that you know if you're
bored and you're, you know, onlyboring people get bored.
Right, if you're, I mean,because if you're someone of
with interests or hobbies for me, I don't have enough time and
enough time in a day to do allthe things I want to do.
I'm never bored.

(14:11):
I have to force myself to relax.
That's a character trait that Iwould definitely say hold on to
that.
Always find something ofinterest, always keep a couple
hobbies available.
You mentioned even finding morehobbies.
You're the most unboring personI've ever met.

(14:31):
Thank you.
Well, it takes a lot to notonly find skills that hold your
interest Because, mom, I knowyou met some other moms and
parents out there and they'rejust like I.
just wish my kid stuck to onething it's basketball this year,
it's soccer this year, it'stennis the other year, and you
know, now we're into, you know,go-kart racing and and it they

(14:51):
just can't.
Just, you know, find a one, youknow a passion, and stick with
it long enough just to get maybegood at it, maybe get
recognized for it, maybe youknow, uh, train real hard and
and compete in in a compete in afield or a discipline of sport
or interest or anything, becauseI think kids are just so

(15:13):
distracted.

Speaker 2 (15:14):
Could be.
You do have to give something achance.

Speaker 1 (15:17):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (15:18):
I do like to sometimes mix it up, because
it's like when I did pastels forpretty much three years and
then I got a sewing machine forchristmas last year.
I I love to sew now and my artteacher knew how to sew, so we
had sewing lessons.
We took a little break frompastels and now I'm getting back
into pastels and I'm stillsewing at home.

(15:39):
So it's I like trying newthings and then usually coming
back to the old ones if I reallydo like them a lot Again.

Speaker 2 (15:46):
The unboring lifestyle, yes, the unboring
lifestyle.

Speaker 1 (15:49):
Right, yep, so being with SAG AFTRA.

Speaker 2 (15:53):
AFTRA, aftra, yes.

Speaker 1 (15:56):
And the Florida Film.
What was that?

Speaker 2 (15:59):
organization Film Florida.
Film Florida.

Speaker 1 (16:03):
I'd imagine and I didn't do my due diligence
because I know it's there yourIMDb, yes.
How updated and current is yourIMDb?
And tell me more about some ofthe ongoing projects that may be
added to your profile here verysoon, because aren't you
involved in a couple thingsright now?

Speaker 3 (16:22):
Yeah, I did make my music video and you can put that
on your imdb.
I need to add it.

Speaker 2 (16:29):
You need to add that.

Speaker 3 (16:30):
That's my responsibility, okay yeah, and
then I make some short films, sowe put that under me as a
director or a writer.

Speaker 2 (16:37):
I think I already have.
I have one of them.

Speaker 3 (16:39):
You have three.
They're all.
Three are up.
All three of them.
Yeah, they're all three upthere, of course they are.
All three of them are up there.
Yeah, of course they are Good.
Yeah, they're all three upthere.
Of course they are.
Yeah, and my IMDb is veryupdated.
She keeps it updated.
I've got to learn one of thesedays to give her a little break.

Speaker 1 (16:50):
Yeah, but.

Speaker 3 (16:51):
I have all my pictures on there.

Speaker 1 (16:52):
Good.

Speaker 2 (16:53):
Your reels, all my reels.
So there's clips, family clips.
That's Ella's first lead rolein a feature film.
Fun, and it was a comedy, shegets to use her comedy skills.
Did some ad-libbing and that'swhere I got to do some dancing,
dancing, yeah, what a fun filmthat was that?

Speaker 3 (17:11):
one was really great.

Speaker 2 (17:12):
So there's clips of that.
I upload some new photos everynow and then if she goes to a
red carpet or premiere or havesome back behind the scenes
things.

Speaker 1 (17:19):
Yeah.
And so, and ideally, they'regoing to be featured either
where I'm at, in this square, orsomewhere in this frame, so
people can see exactly whatwe're talking about.
For those, of course, listening, you're just going to have to
look up Ella Grace on IMDb tosee all these cool features and

(17:39):
B-rolls and other things thatthey've highlighted for you to
look at, because that is reallywhere you tell your story in
this industry, right?
I mean, if it's not on IMDb,that didn't really happen, right
?
Or are you really an actor?
If you're, if you don't have anIMDb, that's pretty much your.
You know before you knowFacebook or anything else.

(18:01):
That's pretty much where you,you know Facebook or anything
else.
That's pretty much where youfound talent.
That's where you learned aboutsomeone you know with an acting
career or doing anything else,because you really do highlight
all those things, no matter howbig or little the part.

Speaker 2 (18:14):
Everything's included , right, of course?
Yeah, it is the go-to researchtool for everybody, because if
you're watching a movie andyou're like, I know who that
actor is or what else have they?
Been in you just look it up andeverything's there, exactly a
movie and you're like I know whothat actor is, or what else
have they been in you?

Speaker 1 (18:24):
just look it up and everything's there Exactly.
It's like an encyclopedia ofactors and talent and everything
else.
Right, Everyone's on there.
There's something coming up inFebruary.
What can you talk about in theVOLGE today for our audience?

Speaker 3 (18:36):
Okay, so February 6th is season four of Sweet
Magnolias, so you do have sometime to binge and yes, I
personally think it's the bestseason yet it's really amazing.
A lot of surprises.
Every episode there's a newbomb and you go what.
It's really great.
The whole show is amazing.
The whole cast is amazing and Iwould really recommend watching

(18:59):
it.
It's really great.
Sweet Magnolias and it's onNetflix.
And how does Netflix treat you?

Speaker 1 (19:06):
you, oh I like netflix yeah they're, they're
nice, they're very nice.

Speaker 3 (19:09):
I've done two projects now, a tv show and a
movie in netflix, and netflix isusually my go-to and my dream
is to be on disney one day,because I love singing and
dancing, so I'd love to be inone of those musicals.

Speaker 1 (19:23):
I don't know how you're not already in it I know.

Speaker 3 (19:26):
I have auditioned for a few little things.

Speaker 1 (19:29):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (19:29):
But you know, gotta wait my turn, but I'll get there
.
I'm gonna get there one day.

Speaker 1 (19:35):
I mean because if you look at some of the history,
you know, I mean you just lookat some of the biggest stars
coming from that kind of cast.

Speaker 3 (19:47):
Her favorite is.
Descendants is my favorite andwhen they had the new movie come
out, I'm so loving it withKylie Cantrell and all those.

Speaker 2 (19:56):
Who's your favorite actress who came off a Disney
show?
It begins with a Z.

Speaker 3 (20:02):
Oh Zendaya, oh my gosh, she is my idol.
Igins with a Z oh Zendaya, ohmy gosh, she is my idol.
I only want to meet her.
She's been on my vision boardto work with her at some point.

Speaker 1 (20:11):
Well, keep that vision board.

Speaker 3 (20:12):
I will.

Speaker 1 (20:14):
What age did you just turn?

Speaker 3 (20:16):
I am going to be 12 in March.

Speaker 1 (20:18):
You're going to be 12 in March.
Yes, wow.
So you already have a visionboard as a 12-year-old.

Speaker 3 (20:25):
Yeah, I've had it for a few years I had it in 2021,
22, 23, 24, and this will be 25.
We're working on 25.
Yeah, we're working on 25,right now In the works.

Speaker 1 (20:38):
Yeah, why the smugness?
Because, I haven't had time toget around to it yet.
Time's a thing.
You need a 25-hour day.
I need a 25-hour day.

Speaker 3 (20:45):
Come on, you know that.

Speaker 1 (20:49):
Well, I'm sure it'll get completed here soon.
Be gentle on yourself.
It's only the what?
Ninth day of the year.
Ninth tenth, yeah, but beingthat you're actually in a studio
right now and you're stillcontinuing to work and keep the
momentum going on, that just Imean listen, it's probably not
going to change a whole lot ofthe vision board.
You know you may modify whatcar you want, and maybe you know

(21:12):
what house you want, or maybewhat vacation you want.

Speaker 3 (21:14):
I'm keeping what dog I want on there, yeah.

Speaker 1 (21:17):
But some things don't change.
Yeah, right, would you say thatyou've kind of been secure in
who you are as your identity,like your favorite foods and not
a whole lot has changed.
Right, you're still the same.

Speaker 3 (21:31):
Yeah, I'm still the same old me, the little
three-year-old that kept jumpingon the bed singing and dancing.
Let it go, you know, I'm stillme.

Speaker 1 (21:40):
Yeah, well, I guess that would be your era, because
you know, being that, you're 12In March.

Speaker 3 (21:46):
Frozen is.

Speaker 1 (21:48):
That's your era.

Speaker 2 (21:49):
Every day.

Speaker 3 (21:51):
I feel sorry.

Speaker 2 (21:53):
No, but thankfully it's great music because I
didn't mind listening to it.

Speaker 3 (21:58):
Or now she sings it Every day before school I would
watch it and if I had time Iwould go back to the beginning
and re-watch it.

Speaker 1 (22:06):
If there was a live adaptation of Frozen would.
How bad do you want to beinvolved?

Speaker 3 (22:13):
I auditioned for Anna and Elsa on Broadway, on
Broadway, oh.

Speaker 1 (22:18):
I know and nailed the audition nailed it, nailed it,
but didn't get it and that'sokay.

Speaker 2 (22:23):
It's okay, and we did see the original Broadway
production.
We did see it.

Speaker 1 (22:27):
It was amazing.
Yeah, so it has been adapted tolive theater.

Speaker 2 (22:29):
For live.
Yeah, yes, we saw it, not alive action.

Speaker 3 (22:32):
It was great.

Speaker 1 (22:35):
Well, maybe they're holding you out for the film not
Broadway, you never know.
Is Broadway even attractive?
I Is Broadway even attractive.

Speaker 3 (22:43):
I did Broadway once.

Speaker 2 (22:47):
But for how long?
It was just a week she was partof the tour of.
Waitress.
There was a little girl in thefinal scenes and she was very
blessed to be in the Orlandoproduction at Dr Phillips Center
.

Speaker 1 (23:02):
So off Broadway.

Speaker 3 (23:03):
No, it's official Broadway.
It was official Broadway.
Actors' Equity, she is so offbroadway.
No, it's official broadwayactors equity.

Speaker 2 (23:07):
She is eligible.
Has a little.
Yeah, she's official, that wasbroadway official.

Speaker 1 (23:12):
Yeah, so tell me more about um.
I mean because, again to be abroadway actor, that's like
every night you're working thatwas you know, weeks and months,
hopefully, hopefully, hopefully,whatever production you're
involved in does last a while.

Speaker 3 (23:28):
It was fun, I was four.

Speaker 1 (23:31):
No, you were five.

Speaker 3 (23:31):
I was five, okay, I was five at that point and it
was a lot of fun.
I didn't have many lines, I hadlots of giggles and I still
remember the main thing was Ihad boxes in front of me and
they would roll me out with thecart and I had to hide behind it
and then they'd spread themapart and I'd go surprise and
that was my favorite part when Iwas little just going to say
look at me.
Right, and then here I am and Ilove that was a lot of fun.

(23:56):
And then I had when we leftthere was a lot of people there
waiting for me to sign theirlittle playbook and I'm like,
wait, as a little five-year-old,I'm like, wait, you're for me.

Speaker 1 (24:08):
I'm like I don't know how to spell yeah like wait how
?

Speaker 2 (24:10):
to spell my name.
She knew how to write her firstname.

Speaker 1 (24:12):
Did she?

Speaker 2 (24:13):
I think that's how she signed it, just, ella, yeah
just Ella.

Speaker 3 (24:15):
Now I have my special signature Aw.

Speaker 2 (24:20):
I'm glad you have those memories.

Speaker 3 (24:22):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (24:23):
I'm glad you have those memories.
That's amazing.
I may have to get Like you said.
You have your own signature.
I'm going to have you sign.

Speaker 2 (24:32):
I brought a headshot for you.

Speaker 1 (24:33):
I know right, I know I'm going to have you sign this
because then I'm going to showthe camera.
Okay, so let's see.
If someone says, may I get yourautograph?
Yes, and says, may I get yourautograph?
Yes?

Speaker 2 (24:44):
And then she has a different signature when she
signs her artwork, when I sign,my artwork.

Speaker 3 (24:51):
Yeah, oh, your little art, my little art, little
signature, yes, so the bottomone is my art signature and then
my signing signature is justElla Halton and script.
I'm still working on it.
But yeah, there it is, camealong nice.
Thanks, I didn still working onit, but yeah, there it is, came
along nice.

Speaker 1 (25:06):
I didn't know your generation was being taught
cursive.

Speaker 2 (25:09):
Well, we homeschool, so I don't know.
We went through a cursivewriting book a few years ago.

Speaker 3 (25:14):
Yeah, some uppercase letters I forgot though.
Yeah, it's okay.

Speaker 2 (25:18):
The Z is weird, the Z .

Speaker 3 (25:20):
What are you even talking?

Speaker 1 (25:21):
about there.
It's a little funky Z.

Speaker 2 (25:24):
What are you even talking about?

Speaker 1 (25:24):
there, it's a little funky.
It's a little funky as a curseof writing, because it's a total
departure from the regularscript right, yes of course,
let's talk about what the homelife is.
Oh yeah, is homeschooling fun?
Is mommy a good teacher?

Speaker 3 (25:39):
I'm going to be honest.

Speaker 1 (25:41):
Yeah, not really.

Speaker 3 (25:42):
Oh, no, well, she does Florida Virtual School, so
I do have a teacher that I cancall and text whenever I need
and of course she's doing herown work.
But if I do have a question,like she's a writer and I do
language arts, so half the timeI'll call her over and say I
have no clue what this means andyou're the writer.
And then my dad's the math andscience guy, so if I have a math

(26:03):
or science question I ask him.

Speaker 1 (26:05):
So what grade are you going into?

Speaker 3 (26:07):
I am in sixth.
I'm going into the secondsemester of sixth grade.

Speaker 1 (26:12):
That makes sense.
Yeah, yeah.
Sixth yeah.
Sixth grade, I know.

Speaker 3 (26:16):
I'm like middle school already I know it feels
like.
I was just in pre-K.

Speaker 1 (26:21):
I know.

Speaker 2 (26:22):
Well, she did go to a kindergarten and a pre-K and I
did go to register her for firstgrade in public school.

Speaker 3 (26:28):
Yeah, but they would not work with us at all.

Speaker 2 (26:32):
Right for our travel.
I explained the situation.
I said it's unpredictable.
We don't know how long shemight be gone for a job.
And they said you have ninedays of absence allowed and
that's it for semester.

Speaker 3 (26:43):
That's not going to work.
We had to leave three months ata time when we did Unendably
Fall Well and for her TV showSweet.
Magnolias, we were in Atlantafor three months, so obviously
we needed flexibility.

Speaker 1 (26:53):
Yeah, no, you need to be very flexible.

Speaker 3 (26:55):
Yeah, so homeschool I just take my laptop with me and
thank goodness for sixth gradeyou don't have to print the
pages out.
In fifth grade you had to printevery page and then scan it and
then submit it, but now we justgot to type it in.

Speaker 2 (27:07):
So I'm like yes, yeah , everything's digital and
mobile.
So, with Florida Virtual School.
We're really grateful for thatso do you?

Speaker 1 (27:13):
have any textbooks.

Speaker 3 (27:15):
I don't no, I just read my lessons.
That's so weird I click on mylesson button and they have
modules, so module four, andthen point lesson one would be
oh one or oh five, lesson five.
And then I click on that andthen I just go through my pages,
then I do my quiz or I'll typein my assignment, send it in.

Speaker 1 (27:33):
Boy, what a lifestyle .
Yeah, so you're just, as todaya director calls you Okay and
says get on, a plane, shootingstarts.
We got to do all this stuff.
I mean, you guys are thatflexible, you guys just up and
running.

Speaker 2 (27:49):
We've done it.
Oh yes, we've done a few.
Next day to California flighttrips.
We should.
I say you want to share themost crazy story of all.
Let's go crazy.

Speaker 3 (28:03):
So it was for a little commercial for q, it was
a covid test, yeah somethingduring the covid times yes, and
my manager was like you knowthey haven't given confirmation
but they're very close and likeI think you should maybe get
ready to get some tickets.
So we were up till 2 am packing.
We got in the bed.

Speaker 2 (28:23):
She bought us our tickets.

Speaker 3 (28:24):
I bought tickets like after midnight.

Speaker 2 (28:25):
Yes.

Speaker 3 (28:26):
And then we woke up at 4 am to take our bags and
leave and go to the airport fora 7 o'clock flight and then we
got there for a 3 pm appointmentCalifornia time for my fitting.

Speaker 2 (28:40):
Yeah, the same day.

Speaker 3 (28:41):
And I had a long nap after that.

Speaker 1 (28:43):
Yeah, no kidding.

Speaker 2 (28:44):
Yeah, the fittings are usually a day or two before
they shoot.
And this other mom that we know, a little girl book.
She looked at me walk in.
She goes no way, like we werejust in Florida and we woke up
in Florida.
And here we are.
So because you travel back intime three hours to California
is the only way we were able topull that off.

Speaker 3 (29:03):
If we were three hours, if we had to go three
hours ahead, it wouldn't work.

Speaker 2 (29:08):
Yeah, no it was also when there were a lot more
flights.
It was easy to get on a flight,really easy, out of Orlando to.
La.
It's a little harder now andthe costs are more.

Speaker 3 (29:17):
But the time traveling did help.
So time traveling is real, it'sreal, it is real.

Speaker 1 (29:25):
Going back in time.
Yeah, I mean taking off at 7 amand landing at 8 am.

Speaker 2 (29:31):
Yeah, you know it's kind of like fun, pretty much
Like it's 9 am yeah.

Speaker 1 (29:36):
Like 9 am it's crazy, but where you just left is like
1 pm or whatever.

Speaker 3 (29:42):
It is Like 1 pm Exactly, and then we just stay
with the time zone, kind of aswe fly, or sometimes little kids
.

Speaker 2 (29:49):
So it's fun, it's cool.
We've had some interestingadventures.
It sounds like it yeah.

Speaker 1 (29:54):
Hence your social media adventures with Allegra.

Speaker 2 (29:59):
I had no idea when I established the name of her
account how adventurous her lifewould be.

Speaker 3 (30:05):
That's a legit Was that a little forecasting, a
little foreshadowing, going on Iknow, my very first post was me
splashing into the littlekiddie pool I had writing off my
slide going what?

Speaker 2 (30:19):
Yeah, the first person who we talked to about
taking photos and getting intothe commercials and all that
she's like you've got to getthis kid on Instagram.
I was like, what?
Like, what is Instagram?
And so I was like, okay, we'llhave some fun and just post some
photos.
And then obviously now it'sbecome like a yearbook.

Speaker 3 (30:40):
Like I go back to see when things happen, you know,
to research.
It's a good log.

Speaker 1 (30:42):
I know I shall spend hours on a video and I'm like
well, because, because it isgoing to be used as, essentially
, you know, if you're employingsocial media to be, you know, an
accountable calendar of youknow, even like a yearbook or
even like um journal of likewhat were those adventures in
2024?
.

Speaker 3 (31:00):
You know what I?

Speaker 1 (31:00):
mean, and if they're all there and well cataloged,
yeah, you kind of want to spendsome time make sure the photo is
just right or the you know,cause no one else is doing it
for you.
A B, you got one time to prettymuch do that.
I mean, no one's going to goback 30 years and edit.
You know those videos and soyou know where you're at is

(31:22):
where you're at essentially andyou got to.
It's up to you to catalog thosethings and do the best you know
you can with highlighting allof these momentous occasions.
And it's kind of fun to seewhere it all started, because as
you grow in your career and onemomentous occasion becomes even
eclipses, another look, youknow, but you have to see where

(31:45):
those humble beginnings started.
You're going to be like thisall happened because of where it
all started and again, it'sgoing to be like a time capsule.
It's going to be great and allyour fans and everybody else
they'll be able to kind ofrelive all those moments with

(32:07):
you, Like, wow, this girl isn'tlike overnight success.

Speaker 3 (32:11):
She's been grinding for years.

Speaker 2 (32:13):
Oh, yes, since.

Speaker 3 (32:13):
I was three years old .

Speaker 2 (32:18):
Well, and there's a person that we follow and know
pretty well who coaches onsocial media for actors
specifically and she encouragesthem to focus on a few specific
things that they excel at.
Because on social media if youfind someone who cooks, you want
to see recipes.
Someone who sews, like Ellalikes to see projects that they
make.
And I said to her I'm like Ella, does she have too many things

(32:39):
going on for social media.
We can't really focus on justthree of them?
And she's like no, that's justwho she is.

Speaker 3 (32:46):
Yeah, and my Instagram helps me sometimes get
jobs because they see what I do.

Speaker 2 (32:52):
Yeah, the Derek Jeter commercial, if you want to talk
about that one.

Speaker 1 (32:56):
Yeah, I want to hear about Derek Jeter's commercial.

Speaker 3 (33:05):
So that was actually really great.
When we got it, they said Ididn't have a part, I played
myself, I wasn't a character andmy bead bracelet when I was
four to five.
Four to five when I did thatcommercial.
Oh no, you were six.
I was six years old when I didthe commercial.
They said set up a little boothand then you have your bead
bracelets and we're going tohave someone come surprise you.

Speaker 2 (33:21):
So the reason she got the commercial is because, we
would give money back from eachbracelet to the Children's
Hunger Project.
Yes, Beautiful.
That got noticed and theycontacted us and said oh, we'd
like her to be herself in thiscommercial and tell her story.
They didn't tell us that DerekJeter was going to be showing up
, walking down the sidewalk.
Sit down and make beadbracelets with her.

Speaker 3 (33:43):
I had no clue.
Right, I was six years old and Ionly knew.
My mom's whole family loves theYankees.
They're from New Jersey, sure.
So I just knew the team.
I didn't know that he was aplayer, I didn't know what they
looked like, even what theirnames were.
So he comes up and he asks mehey, can I help you?
I'm like, yeah, sure, and I wasa 6-year-old, you know, got

(34:05):
really, yeah, stranger coming up, going to lose my bracelets.
For sure, let's go.
But I knew it was going to befun.
He was so tall and we had a lotof fun.
He asked fun.
He was so tall and we had a lotof fun.

Speaker 2 (34:20):
He asked me what my favorite team was and I said the
yankees, because that's theonly one I knew and he's like
great.
Yeah, I'm like how's this?
Good answer, good answer.
Meanwhile, I'm over on thesidewalk dying, I know don't say
anybody about the yankees.
I know she's like I was likeshe had no idea who he was.

Speaker 3 (34:31):
It was pretty funny, I just remember seeing her with
the headphones on and going oh,like I knew who he was.
Yeah I'm like I guess he'ssomeone.

Speaker 2 (34:41):
Yeah, that was an amazing, memorable day that was
a surprise that was shot inmiami that one was awesome.

Speaker 3 (34:46):
Yeah, I, I loved set and I just loved the cameras.
And then there's people walkingby with their dogs and then
they're like, oh, what's goingon here?
And I guess it feels good tofeel like a celebrity sometimes
and, you know, feel appreciated.

Speaker 1 (35:04):
So let's talk about that.
Yeah, well, being appreciatedand having that little bit of
celebrity, you know, havingpeople like, hey, can we do
anything for you?
Hey, you know, you were reallygreat in that one spot, you know
, I mean just being recognizedis one thing, and at one spot,
you know, I mean just beingrecognized is one thing.

Speaker 3 (35:18):
Yeah, it's a little less.
I want to do stuff for you orgive you things.
It's more I appreciate yourwork and I know you're a good
actor and you're just thecompliments of people that are
not super close to me, becauseof course you'll say nice things

(35:39):
to everyone but someone whodoesn't know me.
They don't have to say anything.
They they can mind their ownbusiness.
But if they come to me and theysay you know I follow you and
we had somebody when we werewalking into the aldi's somebody
say you know I follow you oninstagram, say you know doing a
great job, great actress andjust, and it lightens my whole

(36:00):
day.
So I guess that's another thingI like about acting is when
people see you and then theyrecognize your acting skills.
It just makes me feel amazing,like I did the right job.
That's how I want to feel.
I'm verklempt.

Speaker 1 (36:19):
Oh, very sweet, that is very sweet, and and and
having unsolicited, you know, uh, admirers are, you know, and
people complimenting you.
I mean that's got to feelvaluable it does yeah.
Do you think it'll ever get old?
Cause I feel like you know,sometimes, you know you'll see
like some of these, you knowpaparazzi getting these.
Yeah, you've seen Zendaya andTom Holland walking on the
sidewalk.

Speaker 3 (36:37):
You're like you know, sometimes you know you'll see
like some of these, you know,paparazzi getting these.
Yeah, you see Zendaya and TomHolland walking on the sidewalk.
You're like picture, picture,picture.
But I don't really want that.
But sometimes I might not mindthat, like in events, If I'm If
you're on a red carpet, youexpect it.

Speaker 1 (36:53):
If I'm on a red carpet, yeah.

Speaker 2 (37:00):
I'm like like you know I'm here, sure, but if I'm
out going to aldi's, and youknow, sometimes I want to
private a little privacy.
That's what we like living here.

Speaker 3 (37:04):
Sometimes it can be a little scary.
We had a one incident at theairport.
We were heading somewhere, Idon't know.
I think we would have been whata rhode island for the.
And someone said are you thegirl from Sweet Magnolias?
And she was, and my mom was inthe bathroom.
I usually wait outside if Idon't have to go to the bathroom

(37:27):
and she was in there and I waslike, yeah, and I thought it was
cool at first, and then shestarts telling everyone that
walks by, this is the girl fromSweet Magnolias, go watch it.
And it was kind of creepy.
The girl from Sweet Magnolia,let's go watch it.
And it was kind of creepy and Iwas like that is a little
cringe.

Speaker 1 (37:39):
It is In the women's bathroom.
She was like where's your?

Speaker 3 (37:41):
mother and I'm like, oh, she's in the bathroom.
She's like you know what, I'llstay here until she comes out
and I'm like you know, I'm okay,but thank you, I probably have
a flight to.
She tells everyone this is agraph of Spidey Magnolias and it
was very creepy.

Speaker 1 (37:58):
That is cringy, that is I mean.

Speaker 2 (38:00):
I'm in the stall.
This is in the women's bathroomshe wasn't out in the airport.
I wasn't out, it wasn't like aguy that was you know yeah.

Speaker 3 (38:09):
But yeah, I felt safe knowing there's other women
around and other people aroundas well.

Speaker 2 (38:15):
She was never in an unsafe position, but other
people around as well.

Speaker 3 (38:19):
She was never in an unsafe position, but it was the
first time.
It was a little strange.
It was a little strange.
You're like no, I will just beright outside your stall the
next time.

Speaker 1 (38:26):
Yeah, because things you know, especially with child
actors.
You hear about some stories Idon't want to take the
conversation to that, but thereis something to be said about
Hollywood and child actorshaving a little bit more
exploitation, maybe gettinginvolved in adult settings, that

(38:50):
maybe they shouldn't have beenincluded, invited to that party
or gone to that studio that dayor whatever.
And you hear about these thingsand it's like you know, I'm
glad you have, you know,hopefully a manager that looks
for your wellbeing, of courseyou know she's.

Speaker 3 (39:08):
she's kind of like a mother to me.
Yeah, mama bear, you know she'sgoing to protect you, you know,
and stuff like that.

Speaker 1 (39:14):
And you know, as you're getting into your
adolescence, I'm sure there'sgoing to be some compromising
requests for you to.

Speaker 2 (39:22):
There have been yeah, and we've turned down many.

Speaker 1 (39:24):
Really Auditions?

Speaker 2 (39:25):
Yes, okay, actually this past year, a record number
that we said no to Really.

Speaker 3 (39:29):
Yeah, the content is.
What kind of?

Speaker 1 (39:31):
content Like, can you divulge.

Speaker 3 (39:34):
Well, I can be.

Speaker 2 (39:35):
I don't know, maybe some things you know.

Speaker 3 (39:37):
Sure, because we said no to them, yes there was one
where I had to pretend to smokea cigar.

Speaker 1 (39:44):
A cigarette, a cigarette.

Speaker 3 (39:45):
Yeah, I had to be like pretending to do it and I
don't want to be associated withthat.
And there was one where I hadto kiss another boy.
I'm like no, I'm not doing that, I'm not even 12 yet.

Speaker 2 (39:56):
Yeah, so, and there's there's some other compromising
situations I don't want topretend to be abused.
Yeah, those are just some goodexamples.

Speaker 3 (40:04):
Those are just things that I don't really want to be
associated with, and sometimesin horrors I will say no, I
don't like horrors in general,but sometimes I just don't want
to be associated with certainthings.
I just don't want to beassociated with certain things.

Speaker 2 (40:18):
Yeah, there's definitely some films where the
directors have put notes in andsaid we're going to film this
like the child.
We pretend a bear's chasingthem and they're running away.
And that's not what's reallyhappening in the film and they
edit it later.

Speaker 3 (40:32):
Or I have to pretend my creepy doll is walking away
and I'm scared, but you know.

Speaker 2 (40:37):
Ella's a comedian, I'm a comedian.
So, she's auditioned for somehorror films.

Speaker 1 (40:42):
I have.

Speaker 2 (40:43):
But then there's some where we could tell it was
going to be too unsettling andwe've said no, yeah, gotcha.

Speaker 3 (40:49):
There's a few I can remember from when I was little
that were intense.

Speaker 1 (40:53):
Yeah, we don't want her to be scarred from just an
audition or reading a script orwhatever, you certainly don't
want to be scarred, but you alsodon't want to be typecast,
because that's a thing as well.
It is.

Speaker 3 (41:04):
And I do audition for some horrors.
I just want to make sureeverything's fine.
There's nothing like abusing issomething that I really don't
want to be associated with atall, or especially even if I'm
in a room full of people withcigars.

Speaker 2 (41:22):
That's just like even if it's fake and even if
they're going to edit somethinglater.
Right, do you want that to liveforever associated with for
everyone?

Speaker 3 (41:30):
so that's what we take into account and they see
I'm in a room with people fullof cigarettes, even though I
wasn't in a room with peoplefull of cigarettes.
Do I want to be with that right?

Speaker 1 (41:40):
yeah, so because, I mean, these are all things that,
unfortunately, not everybodyhas the fortitude to be like.
No, I won't compromise mycharacter.
I won't compromise my career.
I won't compromise what I'mtrying to do, even though, you
know, yeah, maybe I could reallyuse that money.
Maybe I could really use thatmoney, maybe I could really use
that opportunity, maybe this isthe big break that will get me

(42:02):
to another.
You know.

Speaker 3 (42:04):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (42:04):
And so, yeah, I mean so some people do have to make
those choices to compromise whothey are.
But I'm glad you have thatfortitude to make sure that, no,
you're going to remain yourselfand you're going to do what you
feel comfortable with.

Speaker 3 (42:19):
Oh yeah, and I always think of it, if there's a job,
like kissing a boy, that I don'twant to do and probably other
people don't want to do.
You may want to do it in acouple years, yeah, things will
change but if somebody elsewants that role, then okay, then
that can be theirs.
Or if they want to pretend tobe scared while their father's

(42:41):
abusing them, well then that's.
That's your type of role,that's not mine.
So I mean somebody else canenjoy that role and get that
fame because they're in thattype of fame.
I'm in this type of fame, so wegot different compartments?
Yes, because there's a lot ofkids that audition for each role
.
Every time I get one I think wow, because there must have been
at least sometimes a thousand athousand sometimes right and to

(43:05):
think that I was the one thatgot picked out of all these kids
, that's gotta feel tremendous,it is and you know it.
Sometimes that happens for areason, like if I got this wolf,
that's the movie and they hadthe premiere, oh yeah.

Speaker 2 (43:23):
She auditioned for this.
Yeah, a lot of things.
But one of them was this movieWolfman, which was supposed to
have a premiere, and thepremiere got canceled because of
the fires in California.
But then, we said oh, if shehad been in the movie, we would
have been at our friend's placeand we would have probably had a
lot of that we think might haveburned down.

Speaker 3 (43:39):
Yes, so it would have been a lot, we would have
stayed at her place.
That's really the place we go.
So it's very scary and I alwaysthink if I don't get a role, if
I do get a role, it happens fora reason, right, because that's
the way it's planned.

Speaker 2 (43:55):
So but she gives it her all every year.

Speaker 1 (43:56):
I like giving them all, yeah, anyway for sure man,
I'd love to put you on the spotand just have you, like, do the
most, like silliest face, orsomething, but I don't, I'm not
gonna do that because nobodylikes that.
Oh, you're an actor.
Oh, like, act scared, like youknow.
You know you're not gonna dothat, um, you know, bet, we

(44:19):
could find all kinds of examples, um, of your work and you know,
and, and I hope that whenpeople do see this, they're
gonna I'm gonna have all kindsof b-roll, so everything that
we're talking about, all thesedifferent features that you were
included in, and and so on,derrick jeter and public
sprinkles and all the others.
You know, I'm gonna have that,hopefully, somewhere living in
the broadcast so people canactually see what we're

(44:42):
referencing to, and I think wehave pretty much all my
commercials.

Speaker 2 (44:46):
Oh yeah.

Speaker 3 (44:47):
And they're also on her website, which is
ellagraceheltoncom.

Speaker 2 (44:50):
People can watch her commercials ellagraceheltoncom.

Speaker 3 (44:54):
Yes, so my name.

Speaker 1 (44:56):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (44:57):
And then, yeah, she put pretty much every.
I think I've done 19 or 20commercials.

Speaker 2 (45:03):
She's filmed 19 commercials.
One or two of them never werereleased or we couldn't find.
But yeah, all the ones that wecan find are on there.

Speaker 3 (45:10):
We did one for a toy bear, a Hasbro.
A Hasbro, one of thosemechanical bears.
I had a brother in that one.

Speaker 2 (45:18):
Yeah, it was at Christmas and we never saw it,
so it may not have ever beenreleased.

Speaker 3 (45:21):
But they paid her for it.

Speaker 2 (45:22):
So you know the job was done.

Speaker 1 (45:24):
Yeah, no, I mean, you did what you had to do.

Speaker 3 (45:27):
I think I had another one for Invisalign.
Yeah, we didn't see it.

Speaker 1 (45:31):
But you know it's all right.
No, absolutely.
There's going to be plenty ofprojects like that.
There's going to be that, justyou know, as they say in the biz
, end up on the cutting roomfloor, Although they don't
really cut film no more.

Speaker 2 (45:48):
Everything's digital.
Digital, although, like whenHubie Halloween came out.
I didn't want to startpromoting it on social media.
Until I had confirmation thatshe was in it.
You know yeah we went toMassachusetts and she filmed the
two scenes and I had hermanager manager like can you
just confirm so I can startcelebrating and telling people
to watch this film?

Speaker 3 (46:06):
Yeah, because I did have a short role and sometimes
if they have too much footageand they only have this amount
of time for their budget, thenthey gotta cut some things out,
and I didn't know how necessarymy scene was, so you know it was
necessary, apparently, becauseit made it, yeah, and sometimes
it's it was necessary,apparently, because it made it,
yeah, and sometimes it'supsetting because, like in sweet
magnolia, season three, therewas a few scenes you're like, oh

(46:27):
, we don't see it in there likedang it.

Speaker 1 (46:29):
That was a good scene , right, but especially when you
spend a lot of time and youlearn those lines and you did
what you had to do.
It's like wait, you're notgonna omit that, come on.
That's like that was my besttake that was my best take of
the day, and I've been here for12 hours and you're not even
using it.

Speaker 3 (46:44):
I get 30 seconds yeah , because it's.

Speaker 1 (46:47):
Because that is.
That is reality.
People understand.
Like actors, you know you'restanding by on set, you gotta
wait for the scene change.
You got hair and makeup peoplehovering all around you, you got
wardrobe people changing intodifferent damn things, and so
one one day of shoot you couldbe doing like three different
scenes and you're hanging aroundfor 16 hours, for sure, for
sure.
And you got to be like go whenthe director is ready for you.

(47:10):
You can't just be like yeah,but I just and I'm not sure.

Speaker 3 (47:15):
The hardest thing is when you have to go to the
bathroom, because sometimes yougot to, you have a little bit of
break sometimes in between theshots and you better go and you
better come back and be ready.

Speaker 1 (47:24):
Exactly.

Speaker 3 (47:24):
Yeah, sometimes I'm like you know I gotta go to the
bathroom but we have like a twosecond break but I'm learning,
so do you think your futurewould be more in film, TV or
theater?
I'm actually going to sayalmost none of those.

Speaker 1 (47:42):
Oh.

Speaker 3 (47:43):
What Breaking news?

Speaker 2 (47:47):
What else is there?

Speaker 3 (47:48):
I would probably still keep acting as still my
big job, but not my main job.
That would just be something Ilike to do for fun, but when I
get a job, that is my job.
But, auditions and all that'sjust kind of the side job.
I personally don't really knowwhat I'm going to do yet, but

(48:08):
when I am 13, I'm going tovolunteer at the Brevard Zoo.
I've been counting down thedays.
I love the zoo and animals.

Speaker 1 (48:16):
I know some good people there and that aquarium's
coming, I know.

Speaker 3 (48:19):
I'm like I would love to work there, anything coming.
I know I'm like I would love towork there.
Yeah, anything.
Personally, I love the zoo.

Speaker 2 (48:23):
She loves animals.

Speaker 3 (48:24):
I love animals, huge animal, person.

Speaker 1 (48:26):
So I don't know, maybe yeah, they got the new
lion habitat I learned about.
I know we need to go check thatout.

Speaker 3 (48:36):
We haven't been there yet.
I know we have passes, so wegotta go at maybe other places,
I don't know.
Or I'm very into sewing now andI like creating my own designs
and that's always been a dreamof mine, so I might make my own
fashion company and then thatmight be something else I do.
We'll see, Wow.

Speaker 2 (48:53):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (48:53):
Hey, she's got options.

Speaker 1 (48:55):
You do have lots of options.

Speaker 3 (48:56):
I'm like I can go to singing, I can go to acting, I
can go to dancing, I can go tothis and that and that and this.

Speaker 1 (49:02):
So when is your music video being debuted?
Or is it ready, or is it beingedited?

Speaker 3 (49:08):
It's being in the process of being edited right
now.
We're going to go through allthe footage.

Speaker 1 (49:13):
Maybe a summer launch .

Speaker 3 (49:15):
Most likely.
Well, it is kind of like asummer video, it is.

Speaker 2 (49:19):
And also she just enrolled in this music mentoring
program because when shestarted writing music.
I've just spent the last eightyears learning the entertainment
and film industry and now I'mlike, oh, I have to learn the
music industry.
So we are trying to get someoneto mentor her on how to release
her music, how to just handleit, because I don't yet know the

(49:41):
answers.

Speaker 3 (49:42):
But we're learning.
My biggest question is I havethe song, I have the music video
.
Now what do I do with it?
What is sabrina carpenter andarna grande?
What do they do with your music?
Do you put on spotify, put onyoutube?
Where do you.

Speaker 1 (49:55):
Yeah, there's, there's the places, but we felt
um I feel like I have a coupleanswers for you, a couple
mentors.

Speaker 2 (50:01):
she had a vision to make the music video and because
she's a filmmaker, it wasnatural for us to just go ahead
and make the music video, andthat's how it will be released.

Speaker 3 (50:08):
I think the biggest dream would one day be able to
go on tour like SabrinaCarpenter's Short and Sweet and
Taylor Swift's Heiress Tour.
One of those.

Speaker 2 (50:17):
Big dreams, big dreams.

Speaker 1 (50:18):
Boy I know big dreams boy, I know why not I got the
next.
Taylor Swift in my studio todaybig dreams.
I know, listen without dreams.
What are you working towards?

Speaker 2 (50:30):
what do you?

Speaker 1 (50:30):
wake up and what's going to fuel that motivation
you've got to have.
And, again, I've always likedthat.
I think it's less of a cliche,maybe more of a metaphor, but if
you aim for the stars, you mayjust hit the moon right or

(50:51):
whatever you know.
But they always say like aimhigh, because even if you just
aim for like the most far outthing, if you fall short, you're
still pretty much doing youmuch doing a lot more than most
other people.

Speaker 3 (51:04):
Oh, and one more thing that I don't know, but it
could be a future thing, is meand my dad have been getting
into some rock climbing recently.

Speaker 1 (51:14):
Oh.

Speaker 3 (51:14):
And my friend is actually the number one rock
climber in Florida for her agegroup.

Speaker 1 (51:20):
Well, that can't be hard, because there's no
mountains in Florida.

Speaker 3 (51:23):
Yes, and it's super amazing.
I love all these people whojust do all these hard climbs
like upside down.

Speaker 1 (51:32):
Yeah, the indoor climbing stuff is really intense
.

Speaker 3 (51:35):
Yeah, me and my dad go all the time and we like it.

Speaker 1 (51:39):
Let's see that hand grip.
Let's see those hands.
Yeah, you've got some goodhands.
Let's see that hand grip.

Speaker 3 (51:42):
Let's see those hands .
Yeah, you got some good hands.
You got some long fingers.
I still got some blisters inthere.

Speaker 1 (51:45):
I still got my blisters in there A couple
calluses, yeah, a couple ofthose.

Speaker 3 (51:48):
Yeah, those will turn nice and you know, you know I
got the chalk, and then I got itall over my clothes.

Speaker 1 (52:00):
Oh do, and I get to do it with my dad.
Well, it's important, you know.

Speaker 3 (52:06):
I spend every day, all day, with my mom.
She's my driver, momager, andshe does a lot of things with me
, and it's fun to have somethingto do with my dad, because he's
great.

Speaker 1 (52:17):
No, you have to have daddy time.

Speaker 3 (52:18):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (52:18):
You've got to be daddy time.
I know, because there's goingto be a time very soon in your
future that now you're turning12.
The next four years are goingto be a roller coaster and by
and then you get a car and alicense and then you don't even
need your parents, no more.
You're going to be like thisfree radical girl like I, gotta
go you know and with yourlifestyle today you know, and

(52:39):
then and then, time with yourparents gets less and less.

Speaker 3 (52:42):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (52:42):
So you really got to cherish this time and, yeah, be
physical, because I mean, that'sa good part of being a balanced
you know creator.
You know, and nobody wants tohave an actor that falls asleep
or, you know, doesn't have theenergy level.
So you got to build up thatstamina, you know.
You got to, you know, do yourbest and physically fit is just

(53:03):
that's a lifestyle in itselfthat I would tell anybody,
because if you don't have yourhealth, you don't have a whole
lot and something I would sayfor other child actors to be
doing all this and how I do.

Speaker 3 (53:16):
Everything that I do it's actually mostly not from me
, it's from my mom and my dad.

Speaker 1 (53:22):
Right.

Speaker 3 (53:23):
Because if they went into the office every day, they
wouldn't be able to take me inand take me places, and she's
flexible with her job, and mydad, thanks to COVID.
I'm actually very thankful thathe gets to stay home, because I
would go all week and not seehim, and he'll take me to dance
class sometimes.
Or, yes, now we go rockclimbing.
And it's because of my parents,right, if I didn't have them, I

(53:52):
I can't drive myself for a timeof 16, and then how am I
supposed to know?
What am I?
How do I get a manager?
What do I do this?
How dancing?
What is that?
Right, like we facilitate, yeah, it comes within them so well
it's a team effort.

Speaker 1 (54:04):
Yeah, it is, it's a big.

Speaker 3 (54:06):
It's not always yourself.
It's a parent's commitment,yeah, it's a team.

Speaker 2 (54:11):
It's a parent has a strong team.
So I've said that you know shehas interests and passions and
it's our job, as her parents, toclear the path for her to
explore those passions andconnect her with mentors in her
different areas of interest, andwe're very fortunate that the
Space Coast has some incrediblementors that we found for her.

Speaker 3 (54:30):
I have the best music teacher, the best art teacher,
the best dance teacher.
They're amazing, I couldn't askfor anybody better.
And now she has a filmmakingmentor.
I do, and, oh gosh, what elsedo?

Speaker 2 (54:42):
I got she's joined a sewing club.
Oh yeah, a sewing club Withpeople that are very nurturing,
that's amazing, so I.

Speaker 1 (54:49):
So you're not going to sew like quilts.
You want to sew I'm sewingoutfits.
You want to sew like gowns andthis.

Speaker 2 (54:55):
She wants to make her own ballroom gown actually
Ballroom, actually ballroomdancing gowns.

Speaker 3 (54:59):
They're very expensive, Very expensive, but
so fancy and they're socomplicated.

Speaker 1 (55:05):
They got all the rhinestones.
You can't find any more.

Speaker 3 (55:07):
I understand why they're so expensive, because
they have every littlerhinestone that they put on
there and it's so complicated.
I'm like I got to start goingnow and then, by the time I
outgrow it, I'll be finished.
I'm going to do it again, butit'll be fun, good practice and
all.

Speaker 1 (55:23):
No, it's great practice.
And then you'll have a wardrobefor another you know perhaps a
young dancer Because then you'llhave, like all the ones you
made throughout the years, thatyou no longer fit, that you can
just hand me down or sell youknow yeah.
Because I guess, if they'reexpensive, might as well make a
profit on it.

Speaker 3 (55:38):
Yeah, you might as well make a profit on it, yeah,
or sometimes even with the dancegroup.
I have a lot of friends thatdance.
We do some hand-me-downs.
We had a girl who moved away toGeorgia but she gave me her
dress and somebody else gave meher shoes, because they outgrow
it.
There's another little girlwho's a little shorter and
younger than me, so I would handmy stuff down to her and it's

(56:03):
just we kind of pass it allaround and it's nice and that
makes sense.

Speaker 1 (56:04):
Because, listen, if you're, if you're going to
compete in a tango, are youalways going to use that tango
dress?
Yeah right, because if you'regoing to do a waltz for another
dance, that's you know, then youwant to, you know, then you
want to dress for that and forthe jive, you definitely want a
different test.
Yeah, yeah, so, so, so, everycompetition, every dance, you

(56:24):
know, and you don't want to beseen in the same dress.
So I feel like there should belike a natural, like rotation of
wardrobe.

Speaker 3 (56:31):
There is.
I've had three dresses so far,my very first one I only wore
once.

Speaker 1 (56:37):
It was a pink one, I'll crew it.

Speaker 3 (56:39):
And then I wore, I had a bright green dress.
It was nice and velvety.
And then the one I'm wearingnow, it's a beautiful dark blue.
It has some lace on the top.
It's gorgeous.

Speaker 2 (56:49):
Blue is my favorite color, so I love blue Noted, and
she almost outgrew it, and soshe's making her own alterations
to just extend it a little.

Speaker 3 (56:58):
Yes, we're extending it because my shoulders kind of
want to go in on it Getting alittle taller.

Speaker 2 (57:03):
Getting a little taller.

Speaker 3 (57:04):
Thankfully that growth spur.
I can feel it coming.

Speaker 1 (57:17):
That's so charming man.
How difficult has it been beingso cute all these years With
that smile, that cute laugh.
I know I mean just that bubblypersonality.
You're really a special.
Like you know, in the industrywe call them hams, thanks, but
you are a special little talent.

Speaker 3 (57:31):
Thank you, and I'm so glad you're well-rounded.

Speaker 1 (57:34):
It's so refreshing to know that like oh well, if you
can't sing, you know, becauseagain you're talking about
growth spurts, mm-hmm, thataffects your vocal cords.
Yes, you may not be such a goodsinger.

Speaker 3 (57:45):
And then I can dance instead.

Speaker 1 (57:46):
Hopefully.

Speaker 3 (57:47):
Hopefully.

Speaker 1 (57:48):
If you don't roll an ankle.

Speaker 3 (57:49):
Yeah, if I don't roll an ankle.

Speaker 1 (57:50):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (57:50):
But I like, I guess.

Speaker 1 (57:53):
But being well-rounded, you know, having
that sewing background and allthese other interests, yes, if
you're no longer able, you knowto dance or lose interest.

Speaker 3 (58:03):
You have so many other things yeah, and I like, I
guess, staying young for what Iam, because some of my friends
now they don't play with theirbarbies anymore.
They don't, they don't playdress up and I'm like, well,
that's the fun part and I guessI don't know if it's because I'm
sure if that helps a little bit.
But I still feel like I stilllike to play with my Barbies, I

(58:26):
still like to open the littlesurprise dolls and see, oh, I
got this one.

Speaker 1 (58:31):
And I'm still Don't lose that kid in you.
No, don't lose it, I won't.

Speaker 3 (58:36):
Hold on to that I will.

Speaker 1 (58:37):
Yeah, just, even if I grow those clothes, just keep
wearing them until it is fallingoff at the seams, no, but, but
I could see that you reallyembrace, you know, this whole.
You know growing up in allthese different talents and
having all of this access andand just remaining humble and

(59:00):
modest and adorable Like that's,that's so, I mean, commendable.
You know what I mean.
I can't praise you enough forjust hold on to that, and I'm
going to give mom, you know,some credit for there too,
because, yeah, um, this, uh,this industry can compromise a
lot of kids and they grow up waytoo fast and they want to be

(59:21):
included in all these things andyou know it's like you know.
No, slow down, please don'thurry and I still.

Speaker 3 (59:29):
I still like to talk with adults and I like the
conversations, but I don't mindgoing out for ice cream and
getting it all over amen, amen,yes she does like to be in adult
conversations, but loveshanging and playing with kids.

Speaker 2 (59:44):
It's a good balance.

Speaker 3 (59:45):
It's a balance.

Speaker 1 (59:47):
And such is life.
Life is a balance, and I'dreally like for you to be able
to listen to this interview inlike five years and be like wow,
I've grown so much, but yet Ihaven't, because that host told
me not to grow up and that's whyI still have barrettes in my
hair and I play with my dolls tothis day.

(01:00:09):
No, I, but I would really likefor this to be a really cool
time capsule of sorts, you know,for you to look back and be
like, wow, I've grown but I'vekept my integrity.
I didn't compromise who I am.
I'm still on a path of doingeverything I've wanted to do.
My sewing has become this, myfine art has become this, and
now you know, and it just likethat and that's my hope, and

(01:00:30):
maybe in like, maybe not evenlike five years, maybe in a
couple years, you come back andgive us an update and, um, let
us know where, where, wherethings have changed and you know
24, 36, 48 months, whatever youknow.
Whatever 24, 36, 48 months,whatever you know, whatever it
is, because I think the audiencewould really like to keep tabs
on where's she going next.
The Adventures of Ella Grace.

Speaker 3 (01:00:51):
Every day there's something new.
I was just saying I had theidea of making a book club, so
I'm getting that work with myfriends.
Stop it.

Speaker 1 (01:00:59):
That's something I can join.

Speaker 3 (01:01:00):
Yes, yeah.
And then the next day it was Iwant a sugar glider now.

Speaker 2 (01:01:05):
She's making a whole case for bringing a sugar glider
home.

Speaker 1 (01:01:10):
Mommy should do that.

Speaker 2 (01:01:11):
She really, really should.
She convinced us that it'seasier than taking care of a dog
.

Speaker 3 (01:01:16):
I don't know if that's true, because we do
travel a lot Because you knowthe cars takes up a lot of room.
If we're gone for six months orflying, it's hard to fly with
them.
But speaking of flying, thesugar gliders like to fly.

Speaker 2 (01:01:27):
Right.

Speaker 3 (01:01:28):
They will just be a little fun thing in the car, in
the little bag.

Speaker 2 (01:01:31):
We're doing our research.

Speaker 3 (01:01:32):
We're doing our research and I'm getting that.

Speaker 1 (01:01:34):
You know, yeah, but they are a full-time thing.
They are and they can get lostand everything is a predator
yeah you know the, the snake inyour garden and, uh, the red.
You know shoulder hawk on thefence post.

Speaker 3 (01:01:50):
Everything is going to be after that little guy.

Speaker 1 (01:01:51):
That's fine, yeah you're gonna do with that.
Where's my spatula?
No, but what would you?
What would you name your sugarglider?
Oh, I already thought of thenames.

Speaker 3 (01:02:04):
Yeah, let's go If it's going to be a boy.
I want to name it Maui.

Speaker 1 (01:02:07):
I don't know why, oh, I like that I just thought that
was kind of cute.
This just rolls off the tongue.
It's fun.

Speaker 3 (01:02:10):
Maui.
And then I'm a big Wicked fan,so if it's a girl, I'm going to
name her Glider.

Speaker 1 (01:02:16):
Glinda the sugar glider.

Speaker 3 (01:02:18):
I like it.

Speaker 1 (01:02:20):
Glider, glinda.

Speaker 3 (01:02:22):
There you go.

Speaker 1 (01:02:24):
But Maui sounds like fun too.
Maui, I love it.

Speaker 3 (01:02:26):
Maui, get back here.
Where are you at?
Yeah, whoa, yeah.
Always a new adventure everyday.

Speaker 1 (01:02:34):
Yeah, oh, man, sugar gliders.
Well, on that note, get yoursugar glider.
Okay, name her Glinda, tell usall about her.
I mean, it sounds like she mayneed her own Instagram page.
You know, yes, she does, withall these new adventures hanging
out with her mom and hersurrogate.
You know, because I'm sureyou'll be a good surrogate mom

(01:02:55):
too.
Oh, thank you.

Speaker 2 (01:02:55):
Yeah, she did have two pet mice.
Those were her first, I did.

Speaker 3 (01:02:58):
Schmincke and Midnight were my two precious
babies, and she had an.

Speaker 2 (01:03:01):
Instagram account for them I do.

Speaker 1 (01:03:03):
Should I even ask where they're at today?
Oh, they don't live long,they're in heaven.

Speaker 3 (01:03:09):
Yes, but they only live about two years and
thankfully I had one of themlive for two and a half years,
which is great.

Speaker 1 (01:03:16):
That is a long life for a mice.
It is, and I'm surprised youkept them without all those
predators I just mentioned.

Speaker 3 (01:03:22):
Yeah, I kept them in the cage and if a snake comes by
I'm grabbing my spatula.
That time Let them have it.
Yes.

Speaker 1 (01:03:29):
Well, we'll look out for the next season of Sweet
Magnolias and we will look outfor your music video.
Yeah, I'm so excited, and youcan pop back over here at the
Space Coast Creative Center andSpace Coast Podcast.
This is fun.
I like it, and at any time Imean well, not only should you
be a member because you're acreative person, but I would

(01:03:50):
also allow you to even hang someart.
Yeah, of course you know I'm abig fan of art.
I have all kinds of stuffaround here.
All those murals are signed butyou could, um, even, you know,
I'm sure I I could talk tosomebody about maybe featuring
some jewelry up in the lobby orart, just some things, you know,

(01:04:13):
yeah, so, so we're gonna bedoing lots of networking, but
but ultimately, with all yourinterests, yeah, if there's
anything that, um, we could, youknow, help showcase for you,
you know, let let us know.
And, of course, if you everwant to hang something in the
studio for people to look at,you're more than welcome to do
that.
You guys have been a treat.
Thank you.
I think everybody learned a lot.
If you knew nothing about thisyoung lady and what she's been

(01:04:37):
up to, then I hope you prettymuch know all about this girl by
now.
I certainly learned some more.
And thank you to Mama Bear.
Thank you, mama Jer, I learnedthat.

Speaker 2 (01:04:49):
That's a takeaway I never heard of.

Speaker 1 (01:04:51):
Mama Jer, I like that .
That's so fitting, and you guysreally told a beautiful story
and kept us abreast of what isgoing on in your lives, and it's
so exciting to hear all thesethings.

Speaker 3 (01:05:06):
Yeah, no, of course I definitely want to come back.
This is fun.

Speaker 1 (01:05:09):
I like we'll do a followup because, you know,
things change so fast and maybesooner that you know.
I mean, all it takes is aSpielberg call and you're going
to have to talk about it, andyou're going to have to talk
about it.
The studio is always availablefor you.

Speaker 3 (01:05:23):
Yes, yeah, all right.

Speaker 1 (01:05:25):
Well, with that, guys , thank you so much for tuning
in.
This has been another episodeof Local Celebrity Brevard.
Tune in next time and again, ifyou haven't watched any of our
other episodes, definitely givethose a look and a listen,
because you know, here on theSpace Coast we offer a lot more
than just the rockets going offand other things.
Celestial-wise, we do have somestars of our own.

(01:05:45):
So until next time, thank youso much, and we'll catch you
later.
Thanks so much, Bye.