Today we’d like to introduce you to Elyse Davis.
Elyse, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
It all started with my afro. When I cut off my permed ends back in 2011 to set my curls free. I fell in love with my hair in its natural state. I thought to myself, “This would be perfect with a winged liner and a red lip!” That excitement spurred a love for makeup, which I dove into mastering for myself, and eventually others. Soon, I had a business. As a makeup artist, I love stretching and learning. I connected with Synthe Maria, a renowned makeup artist, body painter, and educator during a demo, and started gleaning all I could from her as my new mentor. In July 2016, she put me on the first film set with Indie Film Loop’s 48 Hour Film Project. The star of the film we created was Black Lightning’s, Jason Louder. Fast forward to March 2018 where I’m touching up the lead actor Joshua T. Shipman on the feature film set of A Family Betrayal. By now, I’ve resigned from teaching after 15 years to pursue my passion for makeup artistry and editing. Joshua tells me, “Elyse, you know you’re an actor, right?” Taken aback, I respond, “Whatchu talkin’ bout, Willis?” After he tells me that I’ve got the look, presence, and personality for it, I file that in the back of my mind until May 2018. At an Indie Film Loop mixer, I reconnect with that film family I created two years ago, and Jason Louder asked me to do make up the next day for a movie anthology called Sour Milk. I show up on set, handle business, and receive an email from Anthony Page, one of the executive producers, with a casting call. In my response I thank him, letting him know I’ll check it out, I also ask in curiosity, “Why are you sending this to me?” His reply was simply, “Instinct. You’re an actor.” Currently, my mentor, Anthony R. Page was the first person to put me in front of the camera, and since then, I’ve discovered a talent, hunger, and love for acting that I never knew existed.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Just like anything worth doing, my journey as an actor has been full of ups and downs. Rejection from auditions come with the territory. Long hours on set and traveling back and forth for rehearsals put wear and tear on the body, mind and gas tank. Time away from my four young kings, I’m raising hasn’t been easy either.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about ExE Squared – what should we know?
I like to call myself a multi-passionate creative. Under the umbrella of ExE Squared, I operate as a freelance makeup artist, actress, and editor. With makeup, I specialize in film, making sure actors are camera ready with naturally flawless looks and special effects like bruises, gunshot wounds, blood, and cuts. I also love glamming everyday women for photo shoots, weddings, and special occasions. As an actress, I enjoy the overly dramatic, in your face performance of theatre, as well as the quiet subtleties that make film authentic. Having worked as an editor and proofreader for over a decade, anything in print, I’ll make perfect–books, blogs, websites, magazines, and even screenplays and scripts.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.elysedavismua.com
- Phone: 4043721786
- Email: creativelyse@gmail.com
- Instagram: @eclectic_elyse
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ihaventfinishedmybook/
Image Credit:
Lacienda Portraits
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