Elliot Frances Flynn is an actress, an artist, and a passionate advocate for storytelling. With her feature film debut in 2021 and her work with Collective Focus, Flynn has established herself as a multifaceted artist and a voice for positive change. She’s an inspiration to aspiring artists and a role model for young women. Her breakout performance in the film earned her praise from critics and fans alike. She is also set to appear in two feature films coming soon to theaters — “Linoleum” and “Confession.” But Flynn’s work goes beyond acting. She’s an artist, a philanthropist, and a passionate advocate for storytelling. Flynn is a founding member of Collective Focus, a donation-run artist collective operating a Resource Hub in Bushwick, NY. The Collective Focus Resource Hub provides space for artist-driven projects, workshops, and events that help foster collaboration, foster creativity, and create positive change. Continue reading as we explore the journey that has led Flynn to the forefront of the acting world and her work off-screen.

Where are you based?
I live in Brooklyn, NY.

You are an emerging actress and filmmaker, what inspired you to get into this industry?
As I kid I was really into fantasy. I was constantly reading, and I was really bummed that I couldn’t go to Hogwarts or Narnia. Acting emerged as the next best thing to entering a fantasy world.

What is your favorite aspect of filmmaking?
My favorite aspect of filmmaking is that every person there is working within their expertise to make something wonderful.

You have an upcoming role as Francoise in ‘Linoleum’ starring Jim Gaffigan and Rhea Seehorn. Can you tell more about this Drama/Fantasy film?
Linoleum is about a sort of has-been Bill Nye type who decides to build a rocket in his backyard as his life is seemingly falling apart. But it’s all much more than it seems. It’s a really wonderful movie, and I’m very excited for its release.

You have a lot of films in the works right now, but we really want to talk about ‘Confession’. Wow. Just wow. Very powerful film. Can you tell us a bit about it without giving too much away?
Thanks for saying that. Confession is really special to me. The film is about a young female District Attorney who becomes very involved with proving a woman’s claim that she was sexually assaulted by a group of guys, and that they’re serial rapists. It’s a crime thriller, but it’s also a deeply emotional story and journey about finding closure.

How did you get involved with this film?
A casting director, who I’m very close with, sent me the materials to audition for this character Whitney.

You play Whitney Higgs, a sexual assault survivor in ‘Confession’. While she is not a lead, Whitney plays a very important part in the story. Can you tell us a bit about this character and what it was like playing her?
I really understood her emotional core effortlessly. Even in the audition — though the audition scene talks about so many things that I didn’t have the context of. As an actor, when that happens, you have to fill in the blanks to sell the story. I found Whitney very effortlessly, and I think she felt so part of me that I felt very zen about whether I got the part or not.

When I showed up to meet with the casting director, and with Dayna Hanson, the director, we were talking about the character. Whitney is a survivor, she’s afraid, and she feels so torn up about what has happened to her and the steps she’s taken to survive and to sleep at night since then. But in talking with Dayna, it was the first time that I thought: Whitney isn’t just afraid; she’s also strong. That realization really affected me, both as an actor embodying the character and as a woman myself.

How do you feel about ‘Confession’ being so well-received at the Woodstock Film Festival?
It’s always really nerve-wracking to see the film with an audience for the first time, but I was so wowed by how people reacted to the film. There’s a lot of action going on in this film, and some other stuff that I can’t give away, but what people wanted to talk about at our Q&A, was sexual assault and surviving. And everyone who came up to talk with me after were sharing something deeply emotional with me. It kind of knocked me off my feet, actually.

What do you hope audiences get from this film?
I hope that audiences see that we’re all fighting something. “Every person is fighting a battle you know nothing about” — that’s very true.

It feels like we are in a weird place these days as women. The #metoo movement it seems opened up the conversation, but all the anti-abortion laws, what’s happening in Iran, and the fact that women are not getting elected enough is a bit heartbreaking. How do you feel we are as women in the world? Are we moving forward or just off to the side?
“Weird” is one way to put it... I guess I don’t really know how to answer that. Women’s empowerment, and what it means to be empowered, or even autonomous, is something that I’m trying to explore for myself. Writing helps.

You have a desire to act in films that put women at the forefront and speak to the issues they face. Can you tell us why this is so important to you?
I, as a woman, feel like I have a lot to say, and it isn’t all shiny. It’s not the feminism or women’s stories that are, so to speak, pop-culture approved. It’s important to me to work on projects that show that.

In addition to taking on tough roles, you participate in a donation-run artist collective operating a Resource Hub in Bushwick, NY, Collective Focus. Can you tell us more about the work you do with them?
Finding the Hub really allows me to be a part of my community. In NYC, you move around a lot, and it feels tough to make an impact. At the Hub, I take part in weekly food rescues. Bakeries and groceries will donate food to us that would otherwise be thrown out. We package it and put it in our community fridges, which are public, full-sized refrigerators that sit on the sidewalk. Anyone can take food, at any time, and we don’t ask for anything in return.

Food insecurities have become an even bigger issue since covid. Can you tell us a little bit about this and why you wanted to get involved with this issue?
I think during Covid we all saw just how easily we could be cut off from the things we need. My personal understanding of the definitions of and causes of food insecurity are just coming together. But I know that that very real potential threat, of being cut off from your necessities – including food – really affected me. So I decided to get involved. Really, the bottom line is: food should be free. That was something I didn’t understand at first, because it goes against everything we’re taught, really, as Americans. But I’m happy to be learning and helping my community.

How can people help your group?
There are a lot of different ways to help, whether it be donating time or money, or resources. Checking out our site would be a good place to start.

Do you have any other exciting projects that are coming up that you can tell us about?
I will be stepping into the director’s chair this year, actually. I wrote a short that I’m passionate about — those imperfect women’s stories I mentioned earlier. That’s a slow process, and stressful, but it’s something I’m really focused on.

It has been a rough few years, how have you been staying positive?
I have never been closer to my family, my friends, and my loved ones. Every time I spend time with loved ones feels like a gift. Practicing gratitude has helped me — and the keyword is practicing. I’ve found that finding something – anything – to be grateful for at the end of the day has had a really wonderful impact on how I feel. Reading is also my absolute favorite thing to do.

What is your motto in life?
“What is meant to be will not pass you.” I feel like I’ve been sharing this as my motto for years, but if it was a fleeting mantra I guess it wouldn’t be a motto, right?

To learn more about Elliot, please follow her via the platforms below:
Instagram: @elliotfrancesflynn
Collective Focus Resource Hub

Photo Credit: Nelson N Castillo

Elliot Frances Flynn - Making an Impact on the Film Industry