Michelle Ehlen is a renowned independent filmmaker and actor, celebrated for creating the pioneering lesbian comedy trilogy, consisting of Butch Jamie, Heterosexual Jill, and S&M Sally. Her creative endeavors are deeply rooted in her connection with the queer and DIY filmmaking movements, often employing satire to challenge and subvert societal norms surrounding gender, sexuality, stereotypes, and identity. Her impressive body of work has been showcased in over 100 international film festivals, garnering a total of 20 prestigious awards. Her films have also been acquired by prominent streaming platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, HereTV, and many others.
Born in San Juan Capistrano, California, Michelle began her journey in the performing arts at the tender age of eight, taking to the stage with unwavering enthusiasm. After attending Powerhouse Theater to hone her acting skills at Vassar College at the age of seventeen, she made the bold decision to pursue higher education on the east coast, ultimately choosing Smith College to study both Sociology and Film. Upon graduating, Michelle relocated to Los Angeles, where she worked as an editor and enrolled in the prestigious L.A. Film School. Her thesis short film, Half-Laughing, gained national exposure on LOGO and was later distributed by Wolfe Video as part of the DVD compilation, "The Ultimate Lesbian Short Film Festival."
In the years that followed, Michelle founded her production company, Ballet Diesel Films, a name that cleverly captures the essence of both masculinity and femininity, a recurring theme that permeates many of her films. Her debut feature, Butch Jamie, is a groundbreaking gender-bending comedy that tells the story of a butch lesbian actor who lands a role as a man in a film. This critically acclaimed film earned Michelle the Best Actress award at the Outfest Film Festival, among other accolades. Encouraged by the success of her first feature, Michelle went on to write and direct two more films featuring the same characters, Heterosexual Jill and S&M Sally. She affectionately refers to Butch Jamie as a satire on gender, Heterosexual Jill as a satire on sexuality, and S&M Sally as a satire on relationships. All three films enjoyed a lengthy festival run, with Michelle being invited to participate in screenings in various locations, including Taipei, Seoul, Tel Aviv, and the Yukon.
Currently, Michelle is busy developing a character-driven dramedy titled Maybe Someday. She also continues to work as a freelance editor, director, and producer on a diverse range of projects, including music videos, documentaries, and independent features.
