- Melanie was born in New York City to parents Archie and Pat Williams. She grew up in Greenburgh, a small town in Westchester County. It was a place where diversity was not just tolerated but applauded. It was here that she developed her love for storytelling. She was married in 2000 to Robert Oram.
She earned her cum laude degree in English & American Language from Harvard University. While at college, she nurtured her desire to create stories that featured strong female and strong POC protagonists.
Melanie entered the media industry when she won a position as a Harris Intern at WTTW (Window To The World) - Chicago PBS Television. She went on to work on The Oprah Show, and then on to HBO Sports, where she won an Emmy and a Peabody. After almost a decade in television, Melanie wanted to explore a new medium, compelling her to attend Columbia University's School of the Arts (Film Division), where she earned her MFA. During her Columbia tenure, she wrote and directed her short film Shook which won multiple awards at film festivals across the country, including Best Film of the Festival at the Juneteenth Film Festival in Dallas. Shook was also a Finalist in Showtime's Black Filmmaker Showcase and was optioned by Showtime for a decade.
Creating a production company, Bajan Brownstone Productions, LLC, Melanie is continuing her work of bring important stories about Women and POC to the screen. Her commitment to celebrate the universality found in diverse experiences shows in all her projects.
- IMDb mini biography by: Robert A. Oram III
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