Leah McKendrick

Leah McKendrick
Born1986 or 1987 (age 38)[1]
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Alma materChapman University
Occupation(s)Film director, screenwriter, actress, singer
Years active2013–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

McKendrick was born and raised in San Francisco, California. While studying at Chapman University she wrote, produced, directed, and acted in a number of short films and stage plays and graduated in 2008 with a BFA in theatre performance.[4]

Career

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

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]

McKendrick is writing the upcoming Netflix holiday-comedy Mrs. Claus. The film will star Jennifer Garner and will be produced by Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter for Hello Sunshine.[16]

McKendrick is also set to write and direct an untitled monster project for Atomic Monster and Universal Studios. James Wan and Michael Clear will produce the project with Judson Scott executive producing. Alayna Glasthal will oversee the project for Atomic Monster.[17]

Select filmography

Year Film Director Writer Producer
2017 M.F.A. Yes Yes
2023 Scrambled Yes Yes

Actress

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

  1. ^ Correspondent, Randy Myers | (2024-02-01). "SF filmmaker's egg-freezing sojourn becomes her new movie". The Mercury News. Retrieved 2024-02-08. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ "'Scrambled's Leah McKendrick On "Binding Together" Female Experiences – SXSW Studio". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  3. ^ "Interview With Leah McKendrick, The Creator of 'M.F.A.'". pophorror.com. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  4. ^ "Alumna to Alumna". blogs.chapman.edu. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  5. ^ "Destroy The Alpha Gammas "There Will Be Blood" Recap". popwrapped.com. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  6. ^ "Stream On: 2014 Streamy Nominees Announced With Freddie Wong Schooling The Field". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  7. ^ "4TH ANNUAL WINNERS". streamys.org. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  8. ^ "M.F.A." schedule.sxsw.com. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  9. ^ "Leah McKendrick Writing "Grease" Prequel "Summer Lovin'" for Paramount". womenandhollywood.com. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  10. ^ "Watch: Poison Ivy Short Film Explains the Hyper-Sexualization of the DC Character". collider.com. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  11. ^ "Pamela & Ivy". winners.webbyawards.com. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  12. ^ "'Scrambled' Review: Leah McKendrick Is Born a Star in Coming-of-Age Fertility Dramedy". indiewire.com. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  13. ^ "Lionsgate Dates Leah McKendrick Egg Freezing Comedy 'Scrambled' For Early Winter". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  14. ^ "28 Rising Female Filmmakers to Watch in 2023". indiewire.com. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  15. ^ "'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 Hollywood. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  16. ^ "Jennifer Garner To Produce & Star In Netflix Holiday Comedy 'Mrs. Claus' From Hello Sunshine, Linden Productions". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  17. ^ "Leah McKendrick To Write And Direct Untitled Monster Movie For Atomic Monster And Universal". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 13 August 2024.