Camillia Monet is an American actress and film producer. She began her career in acting, appearing in films such as War of the Worlds, directed by Steven Spielberg, playing opposite Tom Cruise, and Seabiscuit, opposite Tobey Maguire. Monet is the CEO and founder of Esperanza Productions LLC, located at Hollywood’s Paramount Studios. The company produces films, television, short form content and commercials on all platforms.
Education and career
Education
In her youth, Monet attended the high school for creative and performing arts. She was later chosen to attend the Pennsylvania governors school for the arts. As an undergraduate, Monet attended at The University of the Arts to study acting on a full scholarship. She went on to receive her masters from the prestigious Yale school of drama. While working alongside Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg she was inspired to continue her filmmaking education and graduated from UCLA’s Producing Program.
Acting career
Monet had her start in theater, working at theaters such as The Roundabout Theatre with Bill Irwin, originating the role of Celestina in “Cloud Tectonics” at Playwright’s Horizon, and becoming a member of the Blue Light Theatre Co. She has had a successful career in film and television, appearing on shows such as Law & Order, Saving Grace, Cold Case, and the Emmy Award-winning The Shield. Monet has also worked as a private acting coach, professor at New York University and Woodbury University, and adjunct professor at UCLA.
Current Career and Esperanza Productions
After graduating from the UCLA producers program, Monet founded Esperanza Productions. Monet is responsible for the over-all artistic agenda at Esperanza: story development, attaching talent, sourcing and securing financing, implementing schedules and over-seeing and maintaining budget. Since its inception, she has guided Esperanza through the production of over twenty projects, most recently Devil May Call, which was acquired by Lionsgate and distributed through mainstream digital platforms such as Netflix and Redbox. Monet has been named one of the top female entrepreneurs of 2015 in Hollywood and was praised for her work in female empowerment by Splash Magazine. She appears as a Guest Artist and Speaker at UCLA, Rome University, and Scuola Di Teatro in Bologna, Italy.
Both parents of Monet moved to the United States in the early 1960s from the US Virgin Islands. Monet was born in Philadelphia, PA, the daughter of Esperanza P. Sanes, for whom she named her company. She is the youngest of six siblings: five sisters, all in various aspects of law enforcement, and one brother, a freelance artist. Monet married Daniel Chisholm on May 30, 2006 In Taormina, Italy. She is the cousin of Tony Vega, a salsa singer and band leader. When asked what makes her company and philosophy stand out, Monet replied, “Of course we invest in the product, of course we invest in the content, of course we invest in the distribution; but our absolute number one goal is, we invest in the people. That’s who we are."
