Lolis Eric Elie | |
|---|---|
 Elie at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival | |
| Born | April 10, 1963 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Education | Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (B.S., Finance and Economics, 1985), Columbia University School of Journalism (M.S, 1986), University of Virginia (MFA, Creative Writing, 1991) |
| Occupation(s) | Writer, filmmaker |
| Notable work | Faubourg Treme: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans, Treme (TV Series), Hell on Wheels |
Lolis Eric Elie (born April 10, 1963) is an American writer, journalist, documentary filmmaker, and food historian best known for his work as story editor of the HBO drama Treme and story editor of AMC's Hell on Wheels.
Elie was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is the son of Lolis Edward Elie, a civil rights attorney[1][2] and Dr. Gerri Elie, a school principal and university professor. He has an older sister, Migel Elizabeth Elie.[3]
Elie is an alumnus of the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) and a 1981 graduate of Benjamin Franklin High School.[4] He went on to attend the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where he graduated in 1985 with a B.S. in Finance and Economics. In 1986 he received his M.S. from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, later becoming Alumnus of the Year in 2012.[5] After graduating from Columbia University, Elie went on to receive an MFA in creative writing from University of Virginia.[6]
Elie began his career as a business reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He then went on to become the road manager for jazz musician Wynton Marsalis. In 1995 he became a columnist and reporter for the New Orleans Times-Picayune. During this time he wrote several books, including Smokestack Lightning: Adventures in the Heart of Barbecue Country, a book that gained a cult-like following among food enthusiasts.[7] Elie also wrote and produced the award-winning documentary Faubourg Treme: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans (2008), which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival,[8] was a winner at the 2008 San Francisco International Film Festival, and which made its TV debut on PBS in 2009.[9]
After leaving the Times Picayune in 2009, Elie became the story editor for HBO's Treme.[10] He wrote the episodes "I Thought I Heard Buddy Bolden Say", "Shame, Shame, Shame" and "Santa Claus, Do You Ever Get the Blues?" for which he won an NAACP Award.[11][12] In 2013, Elie moved to Los Angeles where he became the executive story editor for AMC's Hell on Wheels.[13] His work has appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, Saveur,[14] Gourmet, Bon Appétit, and Smithsonian magazine[15] and he has been featured on NPR,[16] CBS News,[17] and 60 Minutes.[18] His work is included in Best African American Essays[19] and Best Food Writing: 2008. He is also a contributing editor to the Oxford American.[20]
Elie has been featured several times on Travel Channel's No Reservations[21][22] and The Layover, both hosted by Anthony Bourdain.[23]
Elie is one of the founders of the Southern Foodways Alliance.[24] On July 23, 2013, his book Treme: Stories and Recipes from the Heart of New Orleans was released. Saveur named the book as one of the Best July Food Books.[25]
