Hi, I’m Mel McGraw.

I’m an LA-based writer-director whose storytelling is rooted in the hilarious chaos, complexity, and heartbreak of my conservative Mormon upbringing. The second oldest of 10 children and eldest daughter, I was raised in the D.C. area by my homemaker mother and Navy-CIA father. I dutifully attended Brigham Young University, married a returned missionary in the temple at 19, and then left the church and my husband at 23 when I realized I was gay. These experiences continuously inspire my work. I craft female-driven coming-of-(all)-ages dramas and dramedies that explore identity, independence, artistic self-expression, and the tension between belonging and authenticity, especially in the midst of family structures.

My coming-of-age short PITSTOP—about a 12-year-old girl accidentally left behind at a gas station on a family road trip—earned a Student Academy Award® and BAFTA/LA Best Student Film Award, screening at festivals worldwide. My feature NUMB FOR JESUS, inspired by PITSTOP, was selected for the Film Independent Screenwriters Lab and placed in the top 15% at Nicholl and Austin.

I hold an MFA in film production from USC School of Cinematic Arts, where I now teach grad students storytelling through cinematic sound. Despite my culinary evolution, I still can’t resist the crunch of potato chips on a tuna casserole.

Contact me: melmcgrawfilm at gmail dot com