Dr Marilyn Leder

Biography

Screenwriter and performer, Marilyn Leder, convenes and lectures in Scriptwriting and Directing for first and second years and Hollywood Cinema. She has been a script assessor for the past 15 years for such companies as Village Roadshow, ABC Television (Comedy), Film Victoria, the Australian Writers' Guild and in Los Angeles for Twentieth Century Fox and NBC Entertainment, searching for new writers for 'Seinfeld', 'Frasier', 'Mad About You', 'Friends' and more. She has also worked as a Development Assistant at Twentieth Century Fox in Los Angeles for Jason Alexander (George/ 'Seinfeld'). Marilyn has a passion for writing and producing film and television comedy, featuring strong female characters. In 2008, Marilyn co-created and wrote the critically acclaimed, eight part television comedy series, 'Whatever Happened to That Guy?' for Foxtel Comedy Channel. "Comedy is in all facets of life. I like to bring an element of depth and drama to my comedy writing and also like to encourage my writing students to bring a touch of comedy to whatever genre of film they are making. The most serious of scenes can be made more human with a touch of laughter." Marilyn completed her PhD in 2011 at RMIT specializing in 'Feature film screenwriting for the satirical female voice.' In 1996/97, Marilyn was awarded an Education Abroad Scholarship to study screenwriting at the prestigious University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Film, Television and Theatre. She also has a Master of Arts from Monash University and a Bachelor of Education (Secondary) from Melbourne University with drama, English and music specialisations. She has been a screenwriting lecturer at VCA, RMIT and Open Channel. At VCA, Marilyn helped to develop the first Master of Screenwriting course in Australia. As a performer, Marilyn has appeared in Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story and has performed as a stand-up comic in the U.S. and Australia.