meet maren

MAREN LAVELLE is a director, producer, and writer that works on character-driven material, especially with a focus on stories about real-life monsters with women and queer folk at the forefront. The "Actor's Director", Maren's background in theatre provides her with the skills to encourage nuanced and complex performances.

Awarded Best Director by the Chain Film Festival in 2025, Maren was also selected as one of Shoot Online's New Directors of the Year in 2022, screening her work at the DGA in NYC. Through One-Eyed Rabbit, she has directed the award-winning films WENDY (Best Short / New York City Indie Theatre Film Festival), KEEPER (Best Drama Film / Blackbird Film Festival), and MAYA (Best Writer of a Short / Chain Film Festival). Maren directed and co-wrote One-Eyed Rabbit’s psychological horror film, CLIFTON PARK, an intersection of theatre and cults, slated for a World Premiere at Screamfest Horror Film Festival at the TCL Chinese Theaters in Los Angeles in October. Maren also directed the award-winning short COMING OUT POLYAMOROUS FOR THANKSGIVING (Best Director / Chain Film Festival), and produced the feature film THE CONSPIRACISTS, distributed by Buffalo8.

Maren graduated from Pace University with a B.F.A in Acting. She transitioned from acting to playwriting with her plays premiering in various Off-Broadway venues in NYC: Composition of a Woman (Westside Theatre, 440 Layfayette Studios), The Holding Room (The Sheen Center). Maren was an original member of the Jose Rivera Writers Group.

NYC-based filmMAKER PRIORITIZING CHARACTER-DRIVEN MATERIAL

DIRECTOR, PRODUCER, WRITER

STANDOUT STRENGHTS

CHARACTER-DRIVEN MATERIAL

Especially work that highlights underrepresented communities with a focus on women and queer stories.

THE "ACTOR'S DIRECTOR"

With a BFA in Acting, Maren's understanding of the actor’s process provides her with the skills to encourage nuanced and complex performances.

CHILDREN & ANIMALS

Maren is a certified dog trainer and loves working with young actors! She is in her element when working with animals and kids.

MANAGING BUDGETS

Maren also owns and runs a 7-figure dog-walking business that operates in two American cities and employs over 50 people.

NYC-based production company One-Eyed Rabbit is founded and run by real-life couple Maren Lavelle and Matt Steiner.

Maren and Matt write every project together, with Matt often focusing on the initial idea and structuring of the story, and Maren contributing to world-building, specificity of dialogue, and fleshing out the characters. Maren directs each project and Matt always has an acting role within the film.

OER’s style consists of intimate, personal stories that exist within dynamic and playful structures. Our films are driven by complex protagonists at a precipice in their lives and we’re interested in shining a light on characters who aren’t typically in the spotlight of mainstream narratives.