Megan Mead
Megan Mead (She/They) is a queer stop-motion artist, director, and former production designer based in Los Angeles. With an eye for detail and a passion for depicting complex emotions with profound simplicity, Megan has become a leading force in the industry.
Their award-winning script, Magpie, made history as the first-ever winner of Out on Film's Screenplay Competition. Now in production, the film promises to showcase Megan's unparalleled talent for bringing vivid, imaginative worlds to life on screen.
Megan's work has already received numerous accolades, and they continue to push the boundaries of artistic expression in their field. With a love for bourbon, hedgehogs, and their southern roots, Megan is a true inspiration to anyone looking to create meaningful, powerful art.
So if you're looking for a rising star in the world of cinema, look no further than Megan Mead. Their vision, talent, and dedication to their craft are sure to leave you in awe and inspire you to pursue your own creative passions.
FILMMAKER Q&A
Congrats on Magpie!
Writing is rewriting. I am always revising my writing, striving to make it as polished as possible. My current project is called Magpie, and I am hoping to secure funding for it within the next few years. Meanwhile, I am also working on another project called Man Camp, which is a queer story set in the South. It follows a transgender college student who has recently come out to his family, but his father is struggling to accept his identity. To help bridge the gap, the son signs them both up for their church's men's retreat, which is a source of much fascination for those who aren't familiar with church culture. I grew up in the church and attended my fair share of summer bible camps. Researching men’s retreats and church man camps reminded me of the often bizarre activities that went down, such as playing capture the flag with a cow tongue or participating in Fear Factor-style challenges. Even talking with other ex-vangelical friends, they shared a whole host of stories that they hoped would provide inspiration for the camp antics in the film. Despite the zaniness of some of these more outlandish scenes, Man Camp, at its core will be exploring the themes of identity and finding support in community, in particular, how difficult that prospect can be for men, whether they be trans or cis.
Still from “Gone Postal” Directed by Megan Meade - An Out On Film 2022 Official Selection Any location to film is where?
Personally, one of my biggest goals in the near future is to shoot a queer horror film in Vancouver. I've been spending more and more time in the city since my partner lives here, and I am even considering moving here permanently. During my time here, I had a conversation with a Vancouver writer who specializes in queer horror, and she told me about some of the stories she's working on for her anthology series. There's just something about the city that feels mysterious and fascinating to me, similar to Seattle. I feel like there's so much happening underneath the surface that's just waiting to be explored. Plus, there's this sense of the supernatural leaking into the real world that really intrigues me. All of these factors make Vancouver the perfect location to film something queer and terrifying. I've already written a rough script for a film that features a codependency monster, and I think it would be really fun to bring this story to life in Vancouver.
Still from “Gone Postal” Directed by Megan Meade - An Out On Film 2022 Official Selection Megan, your background is heavy in production design. If you could shoot a music video for anyone you’re listening to what’s calling to you and what would that look like?
The song "Just a Lover" by Haley Williams from Paramore is hauntingly beautiful and painful. It evokes the nostalgia of both joy, simplicity, and devastation of first love. When I listen to it, I imagine a girl playing a ballad on her piano in her bedroom, with a fish tank nearby that she is barely able to keep her head above water in. The imagery that comes to mind is abstract, cutting between the warm memories of her first crush and images of her in the fish tank, screaming underwater. The contrast of warm, nostalgic yellows for the memories with magenta in the more raw, emotionally vulnerable fish tank scene. The idea of the metaphor being: you have all these feelings for this person, but you’re afraid to share them. They feel strong enough to drown you.
Still from “Gone Postal” Directed by Megan Meade - An Out On Film 2022 Official Selection If you would work with any female director, who would it be?
Just because I write a lot of comedy, I would really love to sit in on one of Nora Ephron’s sets from back in the day. I’m thinking When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, which some of those I only watched for the first time maybe 2 or 3 years ago. There is something so interesting about her films and the way she directs actors and dialogue. The way her characters come alive, you swear you’re eavesdropping on someone else’s conversation, maybe even one you weren’t supposed to hear. There’s just something about the way those movies play, with maybe a couple of exceptions like You’ve Got Mail (that one is definitely starting to feel dated), but most of her films feel like they could’ve been made tomorrow. They’re still relevant. And that’s impressive in a comedy space.
Still from “Gone Postal” Directed by Megan Meade - An Out On Film 2022 Official Selection What was an unforgettable moment on Set?
Let me tell you a story about how I started in the film industry. I began doing non-union art in the art department, which can be dangerous depending on the employer you have and how many people they're willing to hire. I was on a set alone, where I was the only art person, and while cleaning a window in LA, the window above me fell over my head and shattered. However, somehow, I didn't get a single scratch on me. I felt like I wasn't supposed to go that day and it was a moment of realization that life is precious and I needed to prioritize what makes me happy.
Initially, I didn't get into the film industry to do art department work, but rather to tell my own stories, direct and write scripts. This event was a sign that I needed to follow my dreams and prioritize safety and health on film sets. As a freelancer, it's tough to have control over what type of set you end up on, but I knew that with my business partner, Rachel, we could prioritize safety and create a collaborative atmosphere on sets.
Together, we make sure everyone is working safely and has the appropriate amount of help they need. We value people's creative voices being heard on projects so that it feels like it's everyone's movie. Life is too short to not follow our passions and prioritize our health and safety. I hope to inspire others to do the same in their own lives and work. God bless all my art department colleagues out there.