Emma Elizabeth Tillman attended the College of Creative Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara where she received her Bachelor of Art in Literature and Writing. In 2014 Tillman graduated with a Masters of Fine Art degree in Film Directing from the UCLA School of Film, Theater, and Television. In addition to writing and directing films, Tillman is a fine art photographer and diarist. Her book, Disco Ball Soul, is a collection of diary entries with photographs spanning 10 years.