One-On-One with Rising Star Elliot Frances Flynn

An up-and-coming actress, Elliot Frances Flynn is making her mark on the indie film scene. On March 26, audiences will see the young star make her feature film debut in Stephen Kijak’s Shoplifters of the World alongside Helena Howard and Joe Manganiello, and then we can expect her to appear in several other upcoming films opposite award-winning talent.

Currently residing in Hudson Valley, New York, Flynn is defying the odds and the challenges of COVID to chase after her dreams.

Flynn took some time to chat with OFM about Shoplifters of the World, what she hopes to accomplish with her platform, and some of her other passions such mental health, coming-of-age stories, and LGBTQ issues.

Hi, Elliot! Thank you for taking some time to chat with me. You will be making your feature film debut in the Smiths-infused comedy-drama, Shoplifters of the World, which is scheduled to release in March. How exciting is this for you?
It is very exciting! Being my feature-film debut, this is something that I have dreamed about for a long time, and it is even more exciting because I am a fan of The Smiths. The Smiths are very important to me. Like, first romances, first experiences with depression as a teenager, The Smiths are all these firsts for me, and now, they are a part of my first film. I cannot describe that excitement.

Without spoilers, can you give us a brief film synopsis?
Sure. The film takes place in 1987 Colorado, and it tells the story of these group of friends reeling over the sudden breakup of The Smiths. At the same time, an impassioned fan decides to hold a radio DJ at gunpoint and force him to play The Smiths all night.

What do you hope audiences take away from Shoplifters of the World?
It is certainly going to be a nostalgia trip for people who love The Smiths. People who came of age in the ’80s and witnessed that fanaticism in real time. I really think that anyone, regardless of if you are a fan of The Smiths or not, they will see a story about community and the strong bonds between friends and people are of the same community.Since this is your first feature film, what have you personally taken away from this experience?
I have been on set before. I had been on television as a child, but this was my first experience on set by myself. When I started acting as a child and teenager, I was doing a lot of projects with my siblings. I am a triplet. So, we would do these little projects together, like a Mary Kate and Ashley type thing. This was my first time on set by myself where I was the one singular Elliot.

I learned how to conduct myself on set in a new way. I was a young adult, someone who takes my craft seriously, and someone who really wants to make a good first impression. I learned how to navigate that in a more chill way. It is interesting to look back on it because I have made a number of films since then, but there were a lot of technicalities that I was getting exposed to for the first time on set.

Have you worked on any projects during these times of COVID? If so, what was it like for you?
I have worked on four projects during COVID, and each project was a little different. That difference quite honestly came down to budgeting and it was up to you as an individual to make sure that you were being safe. The network projects that I worked on, which I cannot get really specific about, the network was taking care of us. Like, I showed up to my fitting and my initial COVID test at the studio, and they gave me a goodie bag with a whole pack of wipes, a pump sanitizer, and a face shield. They also had us there days in advance to quarantine in the area. In a situation like that, you are in really good hands. Thankfully, I could concentrate on my work and put COVID on the back burner.

Since the pandemic began, indie films have been leading the way in Hollywood. How significant would you say that is?
I think that is incredibly significant and important because a lot of films are getting a moment to shine when they otherwise would not have. In 2020, I was exposed to a lot of films where the director and producers would have conversations and talk-backs about the film. One director was saying that the film got distribution from a company that had passed them over but had to come back because they were trying to fill their slate for the year.

There is no such thing as sloppy seconds in that situation. The opportunity really presented itself to see more films. I mean, we went an entire year without a Marvel movie, which is kind of crazy, but I think it allowed for people to watch a lot more. I have a friend who would have never picked this out for himself; we watched Sound of Metal together. He was like, wow, I never really would have watched that. I think that this moment that indie films are having creates such an opportunity for stories about marginalized identities and by marginalized identities to come to the forefront.

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Can you tell us how your passion for acting began?
I was a very shy and quiet kid, and the thing that allowed me to get creative and kind of come out of my shell was storytelling. I loved to read, and that was incredibly important to me. Having that passport into fictional and imaginary worlds was something that really struck me. I was fanatical about it. If I wasn’t going to go to Hogwarts, what was the next best thing for me? That evolved into acting.

You are just starting out. What do you hope to accomplish with your platform?
I really hope to be part of coming-of-age stories that say something new and add to the conversation about the experience of young women and young people.

I heard you are passionate about feminism and LGBTQ issues. What are you going to do to ensure that diversity is represented?
I think making sure that stories come from a place of authenticity is something that I will do. The conversations that the general public and the industry is having about stories of marginalized identities is evolving and changing for the better into something more nuanced. We are leveling up from coming out stories that are like, I was born a boy, but I am a girl inside. Things that we now know are very elementary and somewhat offensive in ways of telling those stories. We are moving past that to stories and representation itself that is more real world, more nuanced, more shades of gray than black and white. I think that is very important.What advice can you offer to those who would like to break into the business?
Prepare to work hard. Every person’s journey is different. We hear stories all the time about people being plucked from obscurity, but if you just pray really hard to be plucked from obscurity, that is not really a good plan.

Working hard is the way to go. Study your craft. If you are passionate about breaking into the business, it will not feel like work. I love watching movies; I love watching TV shows. I love reading the trades. Like, who are we all talking about right now? What kind of movies are being made? I love networking with people, and there is no reason not to when you realize networking at its core is just having conversations with likeminded people. All those things will not feel like chores. They won’t feel like work.

Another one of your passions is mental health. Can you talk more about that?
Yes. I think mental health is often overlooked, especially in the queer community. Of the percentage of adults who have mental illness, queer people account for almost half of that percentage. So, I think a focus needs to be put on the queer community in relation to mental health. I had a very wonderful opportunity in taking part in this short film that tackles queer mental health. It is called the Memories of Rain by a young filmmaker, Elizabeth Mehling.

It was this stop-motion, live-action Alice in Wonderland-type hybrid about a young woman named Ava, played by me, who must confront this villain who is the physical manifestation of mental illness in order to win back her memories, her life, and the love of her partner. I think that the film, though it is fantastical in a lot of ways, it really does have something to say about mental health. I am pleasantly surprised and really pleased with the conversations that we have had following some of the festivals we have shown at. These beautiful dialogues about mental health come up, and that is exactly what we want the film to do. Get those dialogues going.

Before we wrap up, are there any other upcoming projects or anything else you would like to mention or plug?
I will say that I am really hoping to merge my acting career with my first love, writing. I am working on developing some screenplays about issues that are important to me, issues about young people, sexuality, and social media. In my writing, and generally, I do want to be part of projects that say something new and important about coming of age.

I am happy to say that Shoplifters of the World is not going to be my only release this year. There is not much more I can say, but you will see me in other films that are coming down the pipeline, hopefully very soon. I am very happy to say those films do include next level representation and conversations about sexuality. So, stay tuned!

To stay up-to-date with Flynn, follow her on Facebook and Instagram, or visit her IMDB page and official website. Shoplifters of the World will be available on VOD March 26.

Photos Courtesy of Nick Wheelehon Photography