award-winning. genre-bending. binary-breaker.

director / producer / writer / editor / proudly queer

Director and filmmaker Melanie D’Andrea tells stories about those who dare to imagine and dream new possibilities; the outsiders, the revolutionaries, the off-beats and those who are before-their-time. With their poetic and magical realism style, D’Andrea blurs the lines between reality and fantasy in order to viscerally invoke the audience to the power within each of us.

Born in Venezuela and raised in South Florida, D’Andrea has directed on television, documentaries, commercials, music videos, and short series. They directed 4 episodes for NBCUniversal and Telemundo’s Vuelve a Mi, now on Peacock. Currently, they are working on a feature documentary about drag kings under their company, koh’lectiv.

Melanie is a NBCUniversal Launch and Telemundo Fellow, a Ryan Murphy Half Initiative Mentee and a two-time Directors Guild of America Award recipient for their films ‘South Arcadia St.’ and ‘STAND’. Their work has been featured on BET, Tribeca, The New Yorker, Billboard, attn:, and Refinery29.

They serve as the executive producer of ‘The Disruptors’, a live showcase of TV writers of color who are also either trans, nonbinary, disabled or undocumented.

Melanie live-produced the digital film showcase: Beyond Status (2023, 2021), which highlights migrant storytellers who aim to construct new narratives about who they are as migrants in today’s political and personal contexts. They have also collaborated with The Center for Cultural Power on other digital live events such as the Climate Woke Summit (2021), and the No Going Back: A Covid-19 Cultural Strategy Activation Guide (2020).

D’Andrea has started a substack that focuses on the arts-to-action cycle, and has served as an organizer for Street Dance Activism . They served as the Human Rights committee Chair for Young Entertainment Activists, where they also produced the Hollywood Climate Summit (2020).

Melanie completed her MFA at the University of Southern California in Film and Television Production.

work featured on:

STORIES TOLD AS DIRECTOR

vuelve a mi

television series | NBCUniversal |

director

He paid 5 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. She saw her son being stolen from her. They will join forces to get back what they lost and will fight for a love story stronger than destiny. Starring William Levy and Samadhi Zendejas.

  • streaming on Peacock.

  • directed 4 episodes

gaslighting series

docu-short series | attn:

A 3-part, impact branded series that explores how to detect gaslighting and how to dismantle it. A collaboration with Spectrum Originals’ show: “Angela Black”.

  • over 1.3 million views

director - writer - creative producer

Watch: Ep 01 | The Gaslighting Cycle
Watch: Ep 02 | Gaslighting at the Workplace
Watch: Ep 03 | Political Gaslighting

land of the living

music video | plain white t’s

director - writer - editor

When a resident escapes the monotony of his nursing home to live his dream of being a drag, wild mischief ensues.

  • winner of project greenlight

short documentary

dentro de mi

director

Five Patients with Multiple Sclerosis face their haunting diagnosis and confront the irreversible, degenerative symptoms that redefine the lives they had imagined.

  • Official Latino Film and Arts Festival | Best Documentary Nominee

  • National Institute of Health Award

  • Library of Congress

  • American Public Health Association Selection

Watch: Full Film

south arcadia st.

short film

director - writer - editor

When a resident escapes the monotony of his nursing home to live his dream of being a drag, wild mischief ensues.

short documentary

stand

director - writer

A South Central Los Angeles KRUMP troupe takes a stand against the violence and poverty plaguing their communities.

  • Director’s Guild of America Award

  • Hot Springs | Official Selection

  • Curated for PBS/ KQED “Truly CA”

  • S.F. Dance Film Festival | Best Short Doc

  • S.F. Indie Film Festival | Best Student Doc

  • USC First Look Film Festival | Best Film Finalist

‘damage’ - mÿa

behind-the-scenes video

director - editor - cinematographer

Behind-the-Scenes conversation with Mýa and choreographer Galen Hooks on their message and artistry in the music video “Damage”.

short documentary series

dance docs

An uplifting short digital series that highlights inspiring, bold and heartwarming dance stories. Each episode reveals beautiful and powerful truths of a life in movement.

  • Over 5 Million Views on Facebook

  • S.F. Dance Film Festival | Selection

director - writer - editor - cinematographer

Watch | Dance Docs

all the boys I blocked

solo clown musical | Edinburgh Fringe

director - co-writer

A one-hour, clown-driven rollercoaster of blocked exes and train- wreck relationships! Highly interactive, this jagged little thrill ride will have you laughing and crying as you navigate the accordion-fueled madness between jadedness, redemption, and the dangerous fantasies of infatuation.

  • Outstanding Musical Performance | San Diego Fringe Festival

  • National Tour including NYC, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Austin, San Diego

  • Edinburgh Fringe Festival

cypher

degree deodorant commercial

A dynamic dance cypher commercial for Degree deoderant.

director - writer - editor

racial justice in fair housing

short videos | attn: x National Association of Realtors

director - writer - co-creative producer

Part 1: How did we get here?
Part 2: Where do we go from here?

How did we get to racial injustice in housing? What are the type of discriminatory practices that exist today, and how can we all work towards Fair Housing?

  • Over 5 Million Views on Facebook

  • S.F. Dance Film Festival | Selection

heart + beat

short documentary

director - writer - editor - cinematographer

Heart + Beat brings to light the often unknown realities that individuals from the dance community persevere through. We sit down with contemporary dancer Zach Venegas as he reveals his struggle with mental illness and coming out as a gay man.

In preparation for the upcoming 92nd Academy Awards, we highlight the individuals who are always left out of the Oscars conversation: the assistants who work tirelessly on the nominated films!

mmiw: missing and murdered indigenous women

short branded video | attn x Levi’s

director - co-creative producer

A collaboration between attn, Levi’s and VICE, this video highlights a crisis in America: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and how as allies, we hold the power to help indigenous women by using our voices and casting our vote.

Watch video

immigrant scientists

short branded video | attn x CZI

director - co-creative producer

A collaboration between attn: and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative— that highlights the critical role immigrant scientists play in America.

Watch video

set myself on fire

music video | Praise Kink

co-director - producer - writer - editor

Set Myself on Fire captures the emotional rebellion to avoid heartbreak; the repulsion from memories and grief of a broken romance. The avoidant destruction unhinges to finally break open to the truth— that in order to heal, one has no choice but to finally walk through the fire.

hollywood assistants

short documentary

director - editor

STORIES TOLD AS PRODUCER

STORIES TOLD AS EDITOR

editor

The black church is alive and well. See faith in action, as a coalition of clergy and activists rally to organize the church on the frontlines of social justice.

editor

Discover untold glimpses of a future Appalachia where young people can and want to stay, and the region can thrive. Created by Emmy-nominated filmmakers, activists, and journalists Sally Rubin and Ashley York in partnership with the STAY Project.

At the Smithsonian November 2021- June 2022

Smithsonian Exhibit

beyond the echo of the drum

short documentary | the smithsonian

editor

Faced with an unfavorable political and economic climate, LA's last remaining black cultural hub stands in jeopardy of being lost. Against all odds, a muralist, activist, and choreographer strive to keep the heritage of this community alive.

+ AWARDS?

reclaiming our collective strength

5-episode docuseries | hush harbor

appalachian futures

short documentary | the smithsonian

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interacting with autism

>> co-editor. 2 videos of multimedia project , trt: 30 minutes

Interacting with Autism is a video-based website that presents the most reliable evidence-based information currently available on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

director: Mark Harris

focusing on social skills
education
watch trailer

be a scientist

>> editor. 5-episode docuseries, trt: 30 minutes

production company: University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts

A short video series that follows kids and their families for 5 years in a program to invigorate Engineering in minority communities through a Family Science educational/field program.

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usc first look film festival trailers

>> editor. 2 years, trt: 2-4 minutes

Trailers for the University of Southern California’s yearly “FIRST LOOK” Film Festival. Each trailer had to include visuals from all 50-60 films selected and tell a story.

production company: University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts

watch 2017 reel
watch 2018 reel

avocadoland

>> co-editor. 3-episode docuseries, trt: 32 minutes

production company: Tastemade

From avocado seed to a full-grown tree. Watch the Avocados From Mexico growing process.