Meet Emma Jean Scott | Actress/Writer/Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emma Jean Scott and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emma Jean, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I always knew that I needed to do something creative. From the time I was little all I was doing was writing stories, drawing (poorly, I might add), and singing around the house. I remember when I was in elementary school my friends and I used to parade around the playgrounds pretending we were characters from ‘Harry Potter’- casting spells at innocent bystanders who simply stared at us while we were completely engrossed by the fantasy. Soon after that, my grandpa started taking me to see musicals and plays at local colleges/theaters. It was a touring production of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ that I have my most vivid memory: I was sitting in the front row of the balcony, leaning (dangerously) over the edge to get a better look at the performers. It was at this moment that the chandelier dropped- and at this theatre they had it swing out over the audience. I was AMAZED. The audience had such an intense reaction and the actors on stage made it seem so real. It was in that exact moment that I knew I wanted to be a performer. Of course, I grew up and did a whole lot of theater. More recently I’ve been branching out into directing and circling back to my early days of writing. Being creative really makes me feel free, and I wouldn’t give it up for anything.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I honestly find myself doing a wide variety of things within my ‘art’. I adore being on stage and being able to tell a story in real time- it is one of my favorite things in the world to do. Then of course when you throw in a little singing and dancing, I am SOLD! More recently, I have been delving into the world of film. I’ve been writing and directing little short films with my friends, many of which I am very proud of. It was really fun to be able to learn about this whole new sector of art, because I had always been comfortable in front of the camera, but the feeling of being behind it is something entirely new. Getting to where I am now was a very long journey with a lot of blood, sweat, and tears. Mostly tears. I feel as though the biggest hurdle to overcome was competing for the Oglethorpe theater scholarship, because without that I would not have been able to continue my exploration of art. With that opportunity, I have been able to do so much and I wouldn’t trade these experiences for the world. Some of my proudest moments have been in just my last few years at Oglethorpe- most notably my two big directorial projects. The first being my directorial debut on the stage with ‘She Kills Monsters’ on the main stage at Oglethorpe University, and the second being a short film entitled ‘Leave a Light On’ that I made with a single camera and some friends. Both of those really taught me a lot about my art, but also about people. It was a huge challenge to manage and direct such a large group of people- especially for a stage play. There was definitely a learning curve, but my team was there every step of the way. I truly would not have been able to do any of this without the people who helped me, and I am so so grateful to each and every person who worked on those projects.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If you know me personally- you know that I love nothing more than planning a little outing, so this is my DREAM question 🙂

1. Wake up and go to Ria’s Bluebird for some pancakes! They have the BEST pancakes I have ever tried, and all of their breakfast food is mouth-watering. 10/10 would recommend.

2. Go spend a few hours at the Swan House or any of the other incredible historic sites in Atlanta. I love going to historic houses, museums, and such, so the Swan House is just a lovely little spot for me. Plus, the Hunger Games was filmed there so it is super cool to stand in President Snow’s backyard.

3. After working up an appetite, go grab some lunch at Krog Street Market! They’ve got tons of options, and it’s a bit smaller than Ponce so I feel like it’s more inviting. It gets super busy at night, so I prefer to go there for lunch. I would recommend the bao buns- they are to die for!

4. AQUARIUM!!!!!!!! I. Love. The. Atlanta. Aquarium. It is so fun, and there are so many places to explore in there! I would recommend getting an early/late lunch and going to the aquarium during normal lunch time. I’ve found that that is when most families leave to get lunch or are congregated in the food court.

5. Dinner at Ponce City Market. I clearly love places with options, because I am very indecisive myself. So, why not try it all!

6. End the night with a ride on the SkyView. It is such a peaceful ride and it is a gorgeous view at night. I would highly recommend.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost, my family. My mom and dad have always been super supportive of my passions and what I want to do in life- even when they don’t completely understand it. My parents are both super creative and passionate about what they do, and I’m so grateful to them for giving me the space to create that life for myself. Secondly, I have possibly the most amazing and supportive group of friends you could ever ask for. They are always there to cheer me on and more often than not they are right there with me working hard to make my ideas come to life. I am also so so grateful to my wonderful partner, Brody Young. He is my biggest supporter, and I don’t think there is a thing he wouldn’t do for me. He is so wonderfully talented as a writer, director, cinematographer, and performer. He is always willing to help me out, and the moment I say ‘hmm…I’d love to play a character like this-‘ BOOM! He’s got it written and he’s ready to shoot. He is truly incredible.

Of course, I can’t leave out Oglethorpe University and Matt Huff. I was very generously selected as one of our full ride scholarship winners for theater, and it is a gift I am thankful for everyday. I would also like to thank RRC for allowing me to make my directorial debut with ‘She Kills Monsters’ just a few weeks ago, as well as Actor’s Express who allowed me to take on my most difficult role to date. I am so grateful to each and every one of them.

Finally, I would like to give a special shoutout to ‘Greenlights’ by Matthew McConaughey. The stories and lessons in that book fundamentally changed how I viewed success, and how I maneuver the creative world. If you haven’t read it, I would highly recommend.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmajeanscottofficial/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNn7ascNGtOs1OYsKGu6Q4w

Other: Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma._.jeanius/

Image Credits
Casey Gardner Ford (All photos of Urinetown and 12 Angry Jurors) Barrett Carico (Photo of full cast of She Kills Monsters) Kevin Harry (Photo of me on the ground with gloves)