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Lauren Chavez-Myers has enjoyed making movies ever since she asked her girlfriends to record a "Saturday Night Live" sketch at her 4th grade birthday party. This included rehearsals on the playground in the week leading up to the big night, because serious play requires serious practice.
But her passion for directing was ignited in college at Chapman University where she received her BFA in Theatre Performance. A required "directing class" led Chavez-Myers down a path she never expected, and solidified by her winning the Ron Thronson award for "Best Student-Directed One Act Play" her senior year with Richard Greenberg's "Life Under Water." While in college, a frustration over the lack of opportunities for her fellow classmates was channeled into the creation of an all-student production company called "From the Ground Up," independent of the theatre department. Co-founded with NYC actor Danielle Beckmann, the program gave students a new platform to write, direct, produce, and of course act in a myriad of ten-minute plays that were open to the public. This program still exists at Chapman University to this day. |
Upon graduation, Chavez-Myers returned to the Land of Enchantment and found herself immersed in a state ripe with film productions due to state tax incentives, a thriving independent film scene, and lots and lots of theatre. Chavez-Myers spent a year and a half working with Solarity, a multi-disability theatre, where she served as a mentor and actor alongside members of all walks of life and disabilities. She also taught drama to grades K-8 at North Valley Academy in Albuquerque.
In 2011, Chavez-Myers teamed up with Duke City Repertory Theatre as a member of the Resident Acting Company and the Director of Media & Marketing. It was here that Chavez-Myers learned the skills of film production, directing, and editing as she was tasked with producing all of DCRT's online media content. Her biggest joy was creating film-like trailers for all of their theatrical productions, several of which she co-produced with cinematographer Richard Galli. Chavez-Myers loved the challenge of promoting and marketing productions of all genres, from suspenseful thrillers to Shakespearean tragedies to riotous British comedies.
In 2011, Chavez-Myers teamed up with Duke City Repertory Theatre as a member of the Resident Acting Company and the Director of Media & Marketing. It was here that Chavez-Myers learned the skills of film production, directing, and editing as she was tasked with producing all of DCRT's online media content. Her biggest joy was creating film-like trailers for all of their theatrical productions, several of which she co-produced with cinematographer Richard Galli. Chavez-Myers loved the challenge of promoting and marketing productions of all genres, from suspenseful thrillers to Shakespearean tragedies to riotous British comedies.
.Education became an important component of DCRT, and Chavez-Myers soon began teaching and assisting workshops with children ages K-12, including leading a class through their summer camp, Imagine Action Conservatory.
While she had directed a bit of theatre in New Mexico, Chavez-Myers eventually stepped into her first film directing role in 2014 for the Albuquerque 48-Hour Film Festival, co-producing the short with fellow writer Elizabeth Maud. Their film "Imagining Vera" swept the awards ceremony, winning "Best Film," "Best Director," "Best Male Actor," "Best Sound Design," "Best Use of Prop," and went on to screen at Filmapalooza the following February.
Chavez-Myers also co-wrote and executive produced the feature-length thriller Dead Billy, a $30k Kickstarter-funded passion project with the incredible Scotty Milder that is currently available on VOD.
One of Chavez-Myers' favorite collaborators is actor/writer Amy Baklini, known for her "Frankie & Jude" series about two best friends and Star Wars fans who can't help but run into trouble prior to midnight screenings. Chavez-Myers directed 3 of the 4 episodes, with the final installment in the festival and comic-con circuit.
While she had directed a bit of theatre in New Mexico, Chavez-Myers eventually stepped into her first film directing role in 2014 for the Albuquerque 48-Hour Film Festival, co-producing the short with fellow writer Elizabeth Maud. Their film "Imagining Vera" swept the awards ceremony, winning "Best Film," "Best Director," "Best Male Actor," "Best Sound Design," "Best Use of Prop," and went on to screen at Filmapalooza the following February.
Chavez-Myers also co-wrote and executive produced the feature-length thriller Dead Billy, a $30k Kickstarter-funded passion project with the incredible Scotty Milder that is currently available on VOD.
One of Chavez-Myers' favorite collaborators is actor/writer Amy Baklini, known for her "Frankie & Jude" series about two best friends and Star Wars fans who can't help but run into trouble prior to midnight screenings. Chavez-Myers directed 3 of the 4 episodes, with the final installment in the festival and comic-con circuit.
Most recently, she is in post-production for the social impact comedy Enough Room with Executive Producer Bobbie Becerra and director Christianna Carmine. Set in Los Angeles, this short film tackles passive racism, tolerance, and holding your integrity in the face of adversity -- all on a first date.
She has several projects in development, and she lives in Los Angeles with her filmmaker husband Rick Galli and their pup Marty McFly. She loves ferrets, Art History, cookies, and screaming while watching soccer games. For more information on her work as an actor, check out her website here.
She has several projects in development, and she lives in Los Angeles with her filmmaker husband Rick Galli and their pup Marty McFly. She loves ferrets, Art History, cookies, and screaming while watching soccer games. For more information on her work as an actor, check out her website here.
