Elsa Lai
Producer
Other Roles: Editor, Independent Filmmaker
Areas of Focus: Documentaries, Feature Films
Organization: Next Millennium Productions
Website: https://www.nmpfilms.com/
Biography
Elsa Lai is a founding principal and President of Next Millennium Productions, the production company behind the NYC Field Guide, produced along with NYC Life. Elsa is a native New Yorker, she was born at Beth Israel hospital and attended preschool on the Lower East Side. She graduated from Benjamin Cardozo High School in Queens and received her college degree from New York University. Elsa holds a BA in journalism and economics with a minor in computer science.
Elsa began her production career at Rolling Stone Magazine and the then-startup Fox News Channel. There she discovered her passion for editing, coloring and graphic design and was stricken by the absence of women working in those roles. Elsa set out to be part of the change and, after receiving her Avid certification, went on to work on shows and independent films such as the Daily Show, Inside Edition, and Take Out before becoming a founder of NMP. She has since become an award-winning colorist and editor for numerous television programs, independent films and commercial campaigns.
In addition to overseeing the day-to-day operations of Next Millennium, Elsa remains a hands-on collaborator, editor, and colorist on client projects. She is the senior producer for NYC Field Guide. She draws on her experiences coming up through the industry to foster an atmosphere of collaboration and inclusion from every level of the production team.
