Elisha Miranda

Elisha Miranda is a published novelist, filmmaker, entrepreneur and cultural activist. Self proclaimed Boricua Chola that was born and raised in the working-class “Mission” district of San Francisco, California and has been residing in New York City since 1998.

>> I’ll be talking with Eisha about her growing up years and what lessons she learned from that time in her life.

In 1992, Elisha graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a dual BA in Ethnic Studies and English, as well as her single subject teaching credential. After years of working as a teacher and an Executive Director of a non-profit organization on issues of multi-cultural education, youth empowerment, police brutality, immigrant rights, and HIV/AIDS, Elisha received the prestigious Community Fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the Department of City Planning and a BRICK DO SOMETHING AWARD. She graduated with her Master’s in City Planning (MCP) from the Massachuseetts Instiute of Technology where she honed her skills in strategic planning, public administration and finance.

>> What did she gain from her work in these fields, and what can she share with us about her experiences?

In 2003, Elisha earned her MFA in directing and screenwriting from Columbia University. Her short films CORPORATE DAWGZ and BLIND DATE have screened and garnered awards nationally and internationally. Currently, she is in development with her feature script OUTSIDE THE WALL about a Puerto Rican graffiti artist struggling to be the next Frida Kahlo. OUTSIDE THE WALL garnered many awards, including the 2005 Tribeca-All-Access Award, The Astraea Foundation, National Association of Latino Independent Producers Lab 2004 & 2005, NALIP Writers Lab 2004 & 2006, VOY Picture Lab finalist, Sundance Screenwriting Lab Finalist, Creative Capital finalist and a finalist at the Outfest Screenwriting Competition. Elisha was feature in 2005 as one of HISPANIC MAGAZINE’S, “Emerging Latina Voices in Filmmaking.”

>> What does it mean to Elisha to be a Latina filmmaker, and how does she position her art?

Elisha’s essay, “Vieques, Puerto Rico: A Baptism By Fire” was featured in the anthology THE FIRE THIS TIME, edited by Viven Labeton and Dawn Martin, Anchor Press, 2004. Her novella a KISS FOR LARES appeared in the JUICY MANGOS anthology (featured in Latina Magazine), edited by Michelle Herrera Mulligan in July of 2007 by Atria Books. Under her pen name, E-Fierce she wrote her debut novel, THE SISTA HOOD: ON THE MIC (the first book in a four part young adult series) now on its second printing, about a multi-racial, all female hip-hop crew, published in July of 2006 by Atria Books an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Currently, Elisha is working on LOVELINES, a commercial fiction novel and her second book in the SISTA HOOD series.

>> As a writer, what myths can Elisha bust about being a published author?

She is a Co-Founder and current Board Member of Chica Luna Productions, a community-based organization that supports young women of color in popular media. Chica Luna has been a recipient of the prestigious Union Square Award and participant films have gone to screen at major festivals such as Sundance and HBO. She has also sat on the funding board of the Paul Robeson Fund at the Funding Exchange and the Latino Educational Media Center.

>> What does it mean to Elisha to make popular media for young women of color?

Elisha has also been a part of the producing team of award-winning short films such as A-Alike (Student Academy Award Gold Medal Winner / DGA East Coast Student Winner), Viernes Girl (HBO), Bad Behavior (Cinequest Best Short), Corporate Dawgz (Student Academy Award Grant Winner) and Blind Date (Angelus Award).

In 2006, she launched Sister/Outsider Entertainment along with her creative partner, Sofia Quintero where they’re currently in development with MIO.TV on an original webseries called SANGRIA STREET and a series of short and feature films. Elisha’s work has been featured in the Summer 2007 issue of Ms. Magazine, “Harlem to Hollywood” and the August 2007 issue of Colorlines Magazine, “Mujeres Making Movies.” Elisha was also the creative director for the off-Broadway production of PANDORA’s a multimedia theater show about the Queer Latin/o experience. Sister Outsider Entertainment also produces commercials, music videos, and original BOOK TRAILERS for authors that want greater visibility and profitable sales for their fiction and non-fiction novels.

>> Given the variety of Elisha’s experiences, what can she share with us about identity, representations, and meaning?

Elisha has also been an instructor at the City College of New York in Screenwriting and is a current Artist in Residence for he National Book Foundation’s Book Up NYC. She is a member of the Lavin Agency, a highly selective speakers bureau for artists, activists, academics and celebrities. Elisha is represented by Jennifer Cayea of Avenue ‘A’ Literary.

Email contact: Elisha@sisteroutsider.biz

Websites:
www.sisteroutsider.biz
www.myspace.com/soebooktrailers
www.pandorashow.com
www.thesistahood.com
www.myspace.com/thesistahood
www.chicaluna.com
(Facebook Personal) http://profile.to/elishamiranda/
(Sister Outsider Facebook) http://companies.to/sisteroutsiderentertainment/