Eleni was born n' raised in Seattle, WA. She grew up working in a series of her father's restaurants (in addition to half-heartedly attending school).
In her pre-teens, Eleni ran around with a tape recorder and questions.
Sometimes she would ask too many questions, and was thus told: "You ask too many questions."
This did not deter her (longer than a decade); in her 20s she compiled a list entitled "BIG talk"
with a series of inquires to make when faced with the banality of little talk.
This list has saved her from lonesome meteorological observations and conversational employment probes more often than should be allowable.
In accordance with What Am I Going to Do With My Life? Eleni attended the
University of Washington while working full-time,
graduating with a Bachelor's degree in English (with a writing emphasis). Following this episode, and in celebration of the above question,
she spent several years as a Human Resources Manager, then onward as a Legal Advocate for individuals
with disabling conditions.
In 2004, Ms. Vlachos started the project that is now the documentary Seeing Through the Fence by purchasing a Canon Mini-DV and hitting the streets of Seattle with a list of questions.
In late 2005, she and her husband packed up their van and moved from Seattle across country to Durham, North Carolina, in search of sunshine.
There they worked on restoring their old 1920's craftsman house. Following partial restoration, she worked as a technical writer while conducting more interviews, then finally editing Seeing Through the Fence.
Ms. Vlachos finds that truth appears most in the spontaneous answers of unprepared subjects. It is to this end that she also spent the last four years of her life asking random people and family members questions about a topic close to our mouths but far from our hearts: our food.
The unexpected and eclectic group of individuals interviewed bring humor and poignancy to Ms.
Vlachos first documentary, Seeing Through the Fence:
a careful balance of despair, celebration, and hope. It is this mix that inspires Ms. Vlachos to continue asking questions,
with a belief that action might follow the answer.
Ms. Vlachos also recently completed a 12.5 minute documentary short entitled Backpack Drumset. The film is currently being submitted to film festivals.
In addition to documentary filmmaking, Ms. Vlachos is also known as "Eleni Binge," half of the rock duo Beloved Binge.
Outside of work, documentary filmmaking, activism, drumming, and asking questions, Ms. Vlachos helped organize the Cleveland Holloway neighborhood,
and when in town, volunteers in the community. She also likes to cook a whole lot.
To inquire about arranging a screening in your area,
contact us at porchlifeproductions (at) gmail [dot] com.