Ella Wissing
2023 Media Arts Scholarship Recipient
Ella is a junior at Lewis and Clark High School, in Spokane Valley, WA. She embraces her identity as a proud Slytherin, embodying the positive qualities of ambition and passion depicted in the Harry Potter novels. She strives to forge meaningful connections with like-minded individuals who share her desire to create something impactful, fueling her artistic pursuits. Recognizing that relationships play a crucial role in the film industry, Ella values the opportunity the Anthony Quinn Foundation scholarship has provided her to attend Prodigy Camp, where she can build connections with fellow aspiring filmmakers who understand the passion and dedication required for storytelling.
Ella's growth as a filmmaker is fueled by overcoming challenges. Through projects like "I Dream of Wildflowers" and "Undaunted," she intentionally sets creative obstacles to expand her skills and expertise. These challenges serve as catalysts for her growth, pushing her to explore different approaches to storytelling, from dialogue-heavy narratives to those driven by visual storytelling and audio work. However, her true inspiration goes beyond these challenges, drawing from a myriad of sources, such as songs, people, locations, and vivid mental images. Ella believes in the power of stories to provide solace, escape, and connection, and she feels a deep calling to bring these narratives to life, even if she may not fully comprehend their impact or significance at the outset.
In Martin Scorsese's Masterclass, Ella finds resonance in his words about the burning passion and unwavering pursuit of one's true calling in filmmaking. She wholeheartedly embraces this notion, recognizing that her path lies not where she thinks she should be, but where she must be. The calling to create movies, to tell stories through moving images and sounds, is a relentless drive within Ella that compels her forward. With an unwavering commitment to her craft, she knows that filmmaking is not merely a career choice but an intrinsic part of her being, one that she cannot rest until she fulfills.