CURRICULUM VITAE CYNTHIA MCCREERY Department of Radio-Television-Film Office Phone: (512) 471-0013 University of Texas at Austin Fax: (512) 471-4077 2504 Whitis Ave. Stop A0800 Austin, Texas 78712-1067 USA Email: cindy.mccreery@austin.utexas.edu EDUCATION University of California, Los Angeles, CA Certificate, Professional Program in Screenwriting 2001 University of California, Santa Barbara, CA B.A., Film Studies, 2000 ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 2011-present Assistant Professor, Department of Radio-Television-Film, University of Texas at Austin. 2013 Summer Chair, University of Texas Los Angeles Program. 2010-present Adjunct Instructor, Professional Program in Screenwriting, University of California, Los Angeles. 2004-2011 Lecturer, Department of Media and Film, University of California, Santa Barbara. 2002-present Professional Screenwriter of feature films, television movies and teleplays for WGA signatory entertainment companies. 2002-2003 Feature Writing Fellow, Walt Disney - ABC Feature Writing Fellowship, Burbank, California PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS Writers Guild of America Writers Guild of Canada Association of Writers and Writing Programs Women in Film, Los Angeles
SOLD OR OPTIONED SCREENWRITING PROJECTS (UNDER CONTRACT WITH WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICAN SIGNATORY COMPANIES): PARKER (Spring 2015) Pilot Teleplay purchased by TNT Network. TELEVISION WRITING Co-writer of 60 page pilot teleplay based on the Richard Stark Parker novel, Nobody Runs Forever. Stephen Frears attached to direct pilot (The Grifters, Philomela, The Queen). The first season based on the Richard Stark Parker novels, Nobody Runs Forever, Talk to the Parrot and Dirty Money. We have the rights to the novels. The show is about the original anti-hero, Parker, who robs a bank and even though everything manages to go wrong is able to walk away with the money and his freedom. THE NAKED CITY (Fall 2014) Pilot Teleplay pilot pitch sold to Halfire Studios (BILLY THE KID on Fox, WORKING THE ENGLES on NBC) Co-writer of 60 page pilot teleplay. The show centers around three generations of LA Detectives in 1955, 1985 and 2015. Co-writer, Scott Shepherd and I will be using this pilot and show for my 380N TV Writer s Room Workshop where all of the graduate students will write their own episode of the show. Studio head, Noreen Halpern will be actively involved in the development of the show and will give the students feedback. HAVEN (Spring 2014) Hired to write two freelance episodes by The SyFy Channel. The Old Switcheroo & The Old Switcheroo Too (episodes 505 & 506) Co-wrote two freelance one hour episodes for the fifth season of the network show (both 60 page teleplays). Aired October 2014.
TELEVISION MOVIE WRITING UNPLUGGED (2011-2012) Hired by Disney Channel (HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL). Screenwriter of 90 page teleplay. The story is about a group of teens trying to survive a power outage in the city. Currently slated for production in the Spring of 2015. RISING STAR (2009) Hired by Disney Channel (HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL) Screenwriter of 90 page teleplay based on the book, Rising Star, the true story of a fifteen year old music manager. Currently out to cast. THE UGLY DUCKLING (2014) FEATURE SCREENWRITING Branded Entertainment (THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT, LUCKY STIFF) Hired by Branded in the fall of 2014 to write feature screenplay. Screenwriter of a feature length live action musical based on Hans Christian Anderson s classic story, THE UGLY DUCKLING which takes place in Central Park. HOW TO DATE A PRINCE (2010) Optioned by Radar Pictures (THE LAST SAMURI, RUNAWAY BRIDE) Screenwriter of 105 page screenplay. Story centers around a geeky Southern California High School Girl who is an exchange student at a prestigious royal boarding school in Scotland. Currently the script is being considered by independent financing companies for production.
BABY BOOM (2008) Hired by MGM Screenwriter of 100 page screenplay. Remake of the original staring Diane Keaton about a businesswoman who becomes the guardian of an infant. Currently at the studio under consideration for a possible TV Series back-door-pilot. FREE WILLY: ESCAPE FROM PIRATES COVE (2007) Hired by National Geographic Films & Warner Brothers Entertainment. Screenwriter of 105 page screenplay. Part of the FREE WILLY franchise. Story centers around a young girl who saves a stranded baby orca whale by enlisting the help of her estranged grandfather. Movie was released March of 2010. ELEPHANT WILD (2006) Hired by National Geographic Films Screenwriter of 105 page screenplay. Hired to rewrite existing screenplay by National Geographic Films. Malpaso Entertainment, Clint Eastwood s production company are the attached producers. Story is about elephant poachers in Thailand. Currently still in the process of finding independent financing for the film. MARIA PEPE PROJECT (2005) Hired by Tollin Robbins Productions & Barry Josephson Entertainment. Bought by Paramount/ Nickelodeon Pictures Screenwriter of 105 page screenplay. The true story of Maria Pepe, who sued The Little League for discrimination in the 1970s. Currently in development at Paramount/Nickelodeon. SOCCER MOM (2004) Bought by New Line Cinema (LORD OF THE RINGS). Produced by Mike Karz Productions.
Screenwriter of original 105 page screenplay spec. Story centers around a Soccer Mom who goes back to college to play soccer after her husband of fifteen years leaves her for another woman. Currently producers have the movie out to cast. POWDER PUFF (2004) Bought by Walt Disney Pictures. Produced by Alfred Gough & Miles Milar. Screenwriter of original 105 page spec screenplay. The story is about an all girls football team in Texas coached by an NFL Coach on probation for anger management. Currently in development at Walt Disney Pictures. FORGET THAT (2003) Walt Disney Pictures and Produced by Storyline Entertainment (CHICAGO) Screenwriter of original 105 page screenplay. Story centers around a self centered father who loses twenty years of his memory and realizes that he s grown up to be the opposite of who he hoped to become. Wrote the script during my Disney/ABC Fellowship. The script is currently in development at Disney. WRITTEN SCREENPLAYS AND TELEPLAY PROJECTS IN DEVELOPMENT: WHITE & BLACK (2013-present) TELEVISION Pilar/Segan/Shepherd Productions (HAVEN, GREEK) Co-writer of 60 page pilot teleplay and 20 page sales document. The show centers around a graphic novelist and where the inspiration for his stories come from. The Spring 2014 RTF Graduate Screenwriting class was ran as a writer s room and created the season of the show. Pilar/Segan/Shepherd has optioned the teleplay and sponsored the class. Currently the project is out to Networks.
KODACHROME (2011-2013) Produced by Robert Redford s Sundance Productions Co-writer of a 60 page pilot teleplay as well as a 60 page 13th episode and a 60 page season 2 pilot. I oversaw the writing of 12 episodes written by RTF MFA Graduate Students in Spring of 2012. The show tracks the remarkable twenty-five-year career of fictional photojournalist Gwen Stone and the love of her life, Robert Cavoy with the theme that every picture tells a story, just not the one you expect. We ran the class as a writer s room and teamed up with Sundance Productions in the summer of 2013. Core/Halfire Studio is attached and in submissions to Networks and Talent. SOMETHING IN THE WATER (2014) FEATURE SCREENWRITING Riche Productions (TARZAN, SOUTHPAW, WEDDING CRASHERS) Director Trey Fanjoy and singer Miranda Lambert attached. Screenwriter of 105 page screenplay. The female ensemble story centers around a group of Southern Women who want to learn how to bass fish to get the attention of the men in their lives. 30 DAY CHALLENGE (2014) Co-screenwriter of 105 page screenplay. Romantic comedy about a middle aged married couple in a serious rut who go a 30 Day Challenge that changes their marriage forever. AFFAIRS OF STATE (2014) Co-screenwriter of 120 page screenplay. Romantic comedy about a love triangle between the President of the United States, the First Lady of the United States and the British Prime Minister. SAINT GEORGE (2010) Produced by Riche Entertainment (WEDDING CRASHERS) Screenwriter of 110 page screenplay. Story centers around a con man who accidentally saves The Pope from an assassin s bullet and in turn is named a saint.
TYLER PERRY S FANTASTIC VOYAGE CRUISE (2012-2013) Hired by Tyler Perry s 34th Street Productions & Will Packer Entertainment (PRECIOUS, THINK LIKE A MAN, MADEA) Screenwriter of 12 page outline. The movie is about a group of women who spend a week on The Tom Joyner Fantastic Voyage Cruise where they reconnect with each other and what s really important in their lives. Currently, Tyler Perry is writing the screenplay. Will receive full story-by credit on project. SWEET CHILD OF MINE (2012) Broken Road Entertainment (MALL COP) Screenwriter of 110 page screenplay. Centers around five different couples going through the birth of their children. HOLDING PATTERN (2011) Hired by Unique Features, producers Robert Shaye and Mark Kauffman. Screenwriter of 105 page screenplay. The story is about a female pilot who is trying to balance a boyfriend on each coast. BABY TRAIL (2009) Hilary Swank producer and attached to star. Screenwriter of 105 page screenplay. Story is based on the best selling UK Novel, Baby Trail about a couple trying to get pregnant. STUDENT ADVISING Thesis Committees: Robert Deardon (chair), Patrick Pryor (chair), Zachary Gonzalez (chair), Sally Bergon (chair), Chad Nichols (chair), Margo Newbury (chair), Deja Bernhart (chair), Kelly Orta (member), Mariam Aziz (member), Nathan Efstation (member), Joseph Putas (chair), Teresa Warner (chair), Phil Hoover (chair), Alicia Choina (reader), Autumn Reeves (chair), Maya Perez (chair), Kelly Luce (reader), Laura Davis (chair) Independent Studies: Sally Bergon, Zachary Gonzalez, Christopher McGillicuddy, Michael Swan, Margo Newbury, Seth Dumas.
Plan II Thesis Committee: Thaisa Howorth Advised several MFA and Undergraduate students on professional matters including internships, story ideas, fellowship programs, finding representation, resume building, graduate school and relocating to Los Angeles. DEPARTMENT SERVICE Hiring Committee. Participated in the hiring of two new RTF Media Studies faculty. Interviewed candidates for position, reviewed applicants. August 2012 - February 2013. The RTF Script Library. Received a grant to oversee the RTF Script Library screenplays converted to PDF files. Uploaded all of the files to a department wide database available to students and faculty. August 2012-May 2013. UTLA 2013 Summer Chair. Created a new course for the UTLA Program offered in the summer. Trying to bridge the gap between RTF and UTLA. Participated in the expansion of TV curriculum for both the undergraduate and graduate screenwriting courses. 369: TV Specs. 369: TV Pilots. 380N: Writer s Room Workshop Committees 2011-2012: Michener Center for Writers Graduate Studies Committee 2012-2013: RTF Hiring Committee. Graduate Studies Committee Michener Center for Writers Admissions Committee. 2013-present: Michener Center for Writers RTF Graduate Screenwriting Admissions Committee.
Graduate Studies Committee 50th Anniversary Planning Committee. PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE It has been my highest priority outside of my own classes to create a bridge between RTF and the professional film and television industry: Secure internships for literally dozens of undergraduate and graduate students. Three of those internships have led to paid full time jobs in the film/tv industry in Los Angeles. Created a Business of Screenwriting course for the UTLA Program, bringing in industry professionals to speak to our students. Introduced students to some of the industry s top literary agents and managers as well as many well known producers from Hollywood. Held Skype sessions with industry professionals from Walt Disney Pictures, Disney Animation, William Morris Endeavor Agency, ABC, NBC, Warner Brothers, Underground Film and Management and Fox Television. Given undergraduate and graduate student screenplays to industry professionals, helping facilitate meetings and networking opportunities. Panels The Austin Film Festival (2011-2014): Moderator Heroin s Journey Three Minute Pitch Young Filmmakers: Breaking In Young Filmmakers: Writing Animation The TV Writers Room: Orange is the New Black Writing for Teens in America Panelist The Development Process How to Pitch Roundtable: Feature Writing Getting a Writing Job
Teaching Screenwriting To Teens (for the AFF education outreach for K-12 Public School Teachers. Young Filmmakers Pitch Panel Roundtable: The Business of Screenwriting South By Southwest Film Festival (2012) Juror Panelist Screenwriting Roundtable: Breaking Into The Industry The UT Longhorn Screenwriting Competition, 2013 and 2014 The Austin Film Festival Young Filmmakers Short Film Competition, 2014. GRANTS/AWARDS/FELLOWSHIPS Dean s Fellowship, Fall 2014 Walt Disney Pictures Feature Writing Fellowship, 2002-2003.