Editor Insights: Lessons in Glamour, Grace and 'Chosen Family'
Would you spend 17 hours flying on three planes from two airlines through four states to watch a movie?
That’s what my daughter and I did the last weekend of April. The hullabaloo was not intentional, of course. It was supposed to be a simple two-segment flight plan to the small coastal Central California airport in beautiful San Luis Obispo (SLO) for the 30th Annual SLO Film Festival. But treacherous tornado-spawning weather in our stopover city of Dallas tossed those plans into the wood chipper.
At age 11, my kiddo, Ella Grace Helton, has an acting career that already spans eight years, with work in feature films, episodic TV shows, commercials and a Broadway show. She’s also written and directed two of her own short films that have screened and won awards in youth categories at festivals. She even won the Independent Spirit Award at the Space Coast's own 25th Annual Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival for her film "The Muralist."
She loves bringing characters to life, which has led us on many adventures. Ironic, I had no idea when I created her @adventuresofellagrace Instagram account years ago to what degree the kid’s life would live up to the name.
Her first film role was opposite Adam Sandler in “Hubie Halloween,” but she had her first lead role in a feature film shot in 2023 and due for wide release at the end of this year, appearing opposite actress-turned-filmmaker Heather Graham in the drama-comedy “Chosen Family.” Heather wrote, directed and stars in the film. Heather is not only the nicest human on the planet, but the consummate professional who values her actors’ input and who brings decades of experience working in an industry that has always undervalued women. And still does.
We zig-zagged across the country — leaving Atlanta between Ella’s filming days for “Sweet Magnolias” and while I was on deadline for this magazine — not just to watch a film. We had seen “Chosen Family,” after all, at its world premiere at the 39th Annual Santa Barbara Film Festival in February (we flew direct from Orlando to Los Angeles and drove up the coast — without incident!) But when we heard that Heather was being awarded the King Vidor Award for Excellence in Filmmaking at the SLO Film Festival, we knew we had to be there. Some people are genuine and kind. Heather is that, magnetic and so much more. And so deserving.
In the panel discussion Heather sat down for, hosted by “The Hollywood Reporter” Senior Writer Chris Garner, she was open about her parents not supporting her dream of acting. She, in fact, shared that she had to turn down the iconic film “Heathers,” or risk being kicked out of her home. She became financially independent at age 17, after starring in “License to Drive” and has been independent ever since. Now, at 54, Heather is a vision of glamour and grace. She radiates joy, and emanates pure love for those who support her.
That’s what “Chosen Family” is about, as the title declares. In the film, Ella plays the precocious role of Lily, a young girl who challenges Heather’s character Ann — leading to a showdown that reveals the importance of those we choose to call family.
As Ella and I sat in the front row listening to Heather talk about her prolific body of work, career choices, eccentric co-stars, the dams put up for women in the industry and her determination to start her own production company, I welled with pride as Ella applauded with fervor. She recognizes a dream that needs to come true.
Later, Ella stood on stage after the film screened at the historic Fremont Theatre in San Luis Obispo, fielding questions in her own Q&A session. The poise and grace this mama witnessed led to a salt-soaked face. We had never practiced or prepared for such an event. It was just Ella speaking from her heart, baring her old soul.
I forget sometimes that not only do I lead by example in my actions and teaching as Ella’s mother and life manager, but in who I choose to allow to influence Ella. The rocky travel we endured to get to San Luis Obispo (with my motion sickness issues in full miserable effect) is now a story we can tell, infused with humor. We didn’t do it just to watch a movie, but to watch the historic events unfold all around this movie. To be there as Heather was recognized for a lifetime of pursuing her passions, with little support in the beginning, but now with the love and support of her chosen family, and now with clear goals to continue paving the way for women and young girls who have ideas and stories to share.
While stopped over in Dallas as dangerous weather swirled around us, I had to come to peace that we may well have had to turn back to Atlanta and not reach our intended destination. But the universe got us to SLO, to Heather, and allowed Ella to write another chapter in her adventures. The lengths we go for the right reasons may be treacherous when traversing them, but they yield the deepest etchings of our personal stories.
It’s all for you, kid.
Connect
Ella Grace Helton
EllaGraceHelton.com
Instagram: @adventuresofellagrace
Facebook: /adventuresofellagrace
IMDb: imdb.me/EllaGraceHelton
Lee Nessel
Instagram: @Lee_Nessel
Facebook: /leenessel
Meet Our Managing Editor
EverythingBrevard Managing Editor and proud word nerd Lee Nessel is an award-winning journalist. She thinks best through her fingertips and started churning out iambic pentameter as a kid. She embraces last-minute cross-country travel and also works as a junior publicist thanks to her daughter Ella Grace Helton’s child acting adventures. She prefers to operate behind the scenes, shining the spotlight on the uplifting stories of the people making an impact on the Space Coast, as well as upcoming talent in the entertainment industry. Lee loves the barbell, home cooking and can’t stop tapping her foot to the great rhythms of being a ballroom dance mom.
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