Ella first fell in love with movies when her Dad showed her Hong Kong 80’s action films that he starred in. She later went on to graduate from Toi Whakaari and quickly built a successful career coaching actors in mainstream TV shows and feature films, but only when she wasn’t acting in them.

Ella’s first narrative short “Mary Mary,” which she wrote and directed, was selected for the prestigious Clermont-Ferrand Festival and adored at The Sydney Women’s International Film Festival.

Committed to making work that centres on women and illuminates and celebrates everyday people, Ella discovered the joys of creating her own films. As co-founder of award-winning indie collective “Don’t Shoot Films,” her 8mm film work has scored numerous awards internationally.

In 2023, Ella was selected by the NZFC to be the Director’s Attachment for Rob Sarkies on his upcoming feature film “Pike,” directing the film’s 2nd Unit in Greymouth. Ella was also selected by DEGANZ to partake in the ‘Emerging Female Directors Incubator’ and was the sole applicant selected for “Write Room Wellington.”