Melissa V. Murray

Writer, Director

A Harlem native, Melissa V. Murray had fallen in love with cinema at a young age. Her mom, a cinematographer, introduced Melissa to Hollywood classics when she was five; in junior high Melissa enrolled at Ghetto Film School where she created several original short films, screened her first narrative work at Lincoln Center and wrote the 2007 Thesis Project script, which was produced on-location in Paris, France.  Melissa cut her teeth in the industry, interning and eventually a full-time staffer at Lee Daniels Entertainment where she worked on PRECIOUS and THE PAPERBOY. She later worked as a freelance director, writer and editor  for companies such as Warner Brothers, Funny or Die, Jordan Brand and Deep Focus to name a few. Under her own production company, The Cynical Owl LLC, she has written and directed several original short films that  have gone on to play at film festivals and received distribution from companies such as Amazon and Gravitas Ventures. Melissa is currently in development on her original comedy/thriller feature script titled, “WE REAL  COOL,” of which she will also direct. As well as a half-hour comedy show titled, “Free$tyle” with Trevor Noah’s Day Zero Productions.  Melissa uses genre filmmaking (thriller, horror, sci-fi, fantasy) as a vehicle to examine complex social issues, specifically as it relates to the Black experience. She is currently in development on her original action/thriller feature script titled, “WE REAL COOL,” of which she will also direct. And developing a half-hour comedy titled, “Free$tyle” with Trevor Noah’s Day Zero Productions.