Biography

Laurie J. Gardiner is a an award-winning Writer, Director, and Musician. She obtained an an MFA from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and a B.S. in Music Education from Oakwood University. She is a member of the Alliance of Women Directors (AWD) and The American Guild of Musical Artists.

She works as a Directing Educator with George Lucas and Mellody Hobson at Skywalker Ranch and sings as a Chorister with LA Opera. Past roles include positions at Paramount+, Fox, GRB Studios, and Big City TV, where she contributed as an associate producer, story editor, and executive.

In 2021, Laurie launched Laurelwood Studios and released her debut short film Remedial, which screened at over 40 festivals including HollyShorts, LA Shorts, Pan African Film Festival, Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, and BronzeLens, earning multiple awards before securing distribution on Omeleto and Aspire TV.

Her writing has been recognized by the prestigious Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting, Austin Film Festival, Humanitas, CineStory Foundation, PAGE International Screenwriting Awards, Essence Film Festival, and more. She won the Children’s Resilience in Disability Stories Award Grant in 2025 for her feature screenplay "Remedial" in collaboration with Shine Global and ReelAbilities Film Festival.

She was a 2024 directing fellow in the Ryan Murphy Half Initiative on 9-1-1, a director in the ColorCreative Find Your People Program, and a top 10 finalist in the ABC Women's Initiative Director Pitch Contest.
- IMDb mini biography by: Laurie J. Gardiner