Laya Gelff
- Talent Agent
- Executive
Laya Gelff is a professional woman with accomplished diversity. She has
many achievements and successes in the creative and business areas of
the Entertainment Industry. Laya was the first woman to hold the title
of Awards Director for the National Emmy awards television shows, who
also has been a Producer, Writer, Director and Talent Agent. She began
her entertainment career as associate producer for NBC News. As
President of The Laya Gelff Talent and Literary Agency in Los Angeles,
she represents actors, directors and writers for employment in films,
television, and in the theater. Laya's agency is franchised with SAG,
AFTRA, AEA, WGA and DGA. For the stage, she produced, directed and
co-wrote two major one-man shows, starring nationally acclaimed actor,
Ed Metzger: "Einstein: The Practical Bohemian" and "Hemingway: On the
Edge." She produced these shows at many major theaters throughout the
country, including The John F. Kennedy Center for The Performing Arts,
Washington DC; Off-Broadway, NY; Reichhold Center Theatre, St. Thomas
USVI; The Grand Opera House, Galveston Island TX; Cal Tech's Beckmam
Auditorium, and hundreds more. Laya regularly serves as a Blue Ribbon
Panel Judge for the Emmy Awards, has been a Judge in the selection
process the Television Academy's Internship Program. She has been a
guest lecturer at various university Theater Arts departments
throughout the country. She is a member of The Dramatists Guild,
Association of Arts Presenters, Women In Film, Western Arts
Association, and The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Laya
collaborated with Ed Metzger to present "Close Encounters With
Einstein," a nationally acclaimed interactive school out-reach program
for all public school students, including kids who are
socio-economically under-represented. Major corporations graciously
provide sponsorship for presentations of this dynamic program. The
focus of the program is to stimulate interest and curiosity in science,
technology, engineering and math. Laya and Ed created "Drama Camp," a
Theater Arts program for students in middle school, high school and the
university level. The program teaches basic acting techniques as a form
of expression, and culminates in an evening where the students perform
their scenes on stage in front of an audience. This Theater Arts
program has also been adapted for youth-at-risk as a valuable
therapeutic tool to enhance their self-esteem as they discover a form
of expression. Laya is one of the original working Mom's when it was
not fashionable. She masterfully juggled her high-powered work at the
same time while solely raising her two children. She is proud to say
they are loving, kind, thoughtful and successful in their own
professional careers. As a husband and wife team, Laya and Ed Metzger
are fortunate to be able to work and travel together throughout the
country as her behind-the-scenes work is an essential component to
their work.