Melanie McGraw spent the first decade of her professional life as an instructional designer and training consultant before pursuing her dream of becoming a writer-director. In May 2007, she completed an MFA in Film Production from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where she was the recipient of multiple awards and scholarships, including a grant from The Caucus Foundation, the Samuel and Lorenza Gary Memorial Award, the Albert J. Broccoli Foundation Award for Excellence in Production, the National Association of Theatre Owners Award, and the Tania Trepanier Memorial Scholarship. She currently serves as the Board President for the Caucus Foundation Alumni Network.

McGraw’s thesis film, Pitstop, won a Student Academy Award in 2008 and, along with her debut film Coif, has screened in festivals worldwide. Both films are currently in distribution through Logo/MTV Films.

McGraw’s experience growing up in a large, conservative Mormon family juxtaposed with “coming out” at age 23, provides endless inspiration for her work. She lives in Los Angeles and spends her time writing and developing narrative projects while producing and directing client-driven educational and promotional films. She is currently in development on Numb for Jesus, a feature-length version of Pitstop, and swears that someday she’ll make a film that isn’t about her family.