Leah McKendrick
Leah McKendrick | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1986 or 1987 (age 37–38)[1] San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Chapman University |
| Occupation(s) | Film director, screenwriter, actress, singer |
| Years active | 2013–present |
Leah McKendrick (born 1986 or 1987) is an American film director, screenwriter, actress, and singer.[2][3] She is best known for writing and acting in the films M.F.A. (2017) and Scrambled (2023).
Early life[edit]
McKendrick was born and raised in San Francisco, California. While studying at Chapman University she wrote, directed, produced, and acted in a number of short films and stage plays and graduated in 2008 with a BFA in theatre performance.[4]
Career[edit]
In 2014, McKendrick wrote, produced and starred in the pop musical web series Destroy the Alpha Gammas.[5] The series was critically acclaimed, and she was made a Webby Award honoree and received a Streamy Award nomination.[6][7] In 2017, she wrote, produced and co-starred in her feature debut, M.F.A., which premiered at South by Southwest.[8] In 2019, she was hired to write Paramount’s Grease prequel, Summer Lovin', which was later cancelled.[9] In 2020, she wrote, directed and starred in the short film Pamela & Ivy, a feminist origin story for the supervillain Poison Ivy. The film premiered on Collider.[10] The film was a Webby Award honoree for best writing.[11]
In 2022, McKendrick wrote, directed and starred in the feature film Scrambled, about a broke, single 34-year-old woman that decides to freeze her eggs following a breakup. The film was based on her own experience with egg-retrieval in 2021.[12] The film premiered at South by Southwest in March 2023 and was released theatrically by Lionsgate in 2024.[13] She was named one of IndieWire's "28 Rising Female Filmmakers to Watch" in 2023.[14]
Upcoming projects[edit]
In February 2023, it was announced that McKendrick was writing a sequel to the 1997 slasher I Know What You Did Last Summer for Sony Pictures.[15]
Select filmography[edit]
| Year | Film | Director | Writer | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | M.F.A. | Yes | Yes | |
| 2023 | Scrambled | Yes | Yes |
Actress[edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Misconduct | Amy | |
| 2016 | Bad Moms | Sharon | |
| 2017 | M.F.A. | Skye | |
| 2019 | The Turkey Bowl | Brandy Best | |
| 2023 | Scrambled | Nellie Robinson |
References[edit]
- ^ Correspondent, Randy Myers | (2024-02-01). "SF filmmaker's egg-freezing sojourn becomes her new movie". The Mercury News. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
- ^ "'Scrambled's Leah McKendrick On "Binding Together" Female Experiences – SXSW Studio". deadline.com. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
- ^ "Interview With Leah McKendrick, The Creator of 'M.F.A.'". pophorror.com. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
- ^ "Alumna to Alumna". blogs.chapman.edu. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
- ^ "Destroy The Alpha Gammas "There Will Be Blood" Recap". popwrapped.com. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
- ^ "Stream On: 2014 Streamy Nominees Announced With Freddie Wong Schooling The Field". deadline.com. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
- ^ "4TH ANNUAL WINNERS". streamys.org. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
- ^ "M.F.A." schedule.sxsw.com. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
- ^ "Leah McKendrick Writing "Grease" Prequel "Summer Lovin'" for Paramount". womenandhollywood.com. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
- ^ "Watch: Poison Ivy Short Film Explains the Hyper-Sexualization of the DC Character". collider.com. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
- ^ "Pamela & Ivy". winners.webbyawards.com. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
- ^ "'Scrambled' Review: Leah McKendrick Is Born a Star in Coming-of-Age Fertility Dramedy". indiewire.com. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
- ^ "Lionsgate Dates Leah McKendrick Egg Freezing Comedy 'Scrambled' For Early Winter". deadline.com. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
- ^ "28 Rising Female Filmmakers to Watch in 2023". indiewire.com. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
- ^ "'I Know What You Did Last Summer' Sequel In Works At Sony With Jennifer Kaytin Robinson Directing; Jennifer Love Hewitt And Freddie Prinze Jr. In Talks To Return". deadline.com. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
