Michelle is a graduate of The Los Angeles Film School where she studied writing and directing. She wrote, directed, and acted in the short film Half Laughing which broadcast on Logo (TV channel) and is on The Ultimate Lesbian Short Film Festival DVD.

Openly lesbian, Butch Jamie is Ehlen's first feature film; she wrote, directed, and starred in the movie as a butch lesbian actress who gets cast as a man in a film. She won the 2007 Outfest Grand Jury Award for "Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film" for her performance.