meet maren

In 2022, Maren was selected as one of Shoot Online’s 2022 New Director’s of the Year, having her work screened at the DGA Theatre in NYC. Maren is a co-founder of production company One-Eyed Rabbit and its annual Black Screenwriters Grant. Maren 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 is currently in post-production directing One-Eyed Rabbit’s upcoming psychological horror film, CLIFTON PARK about theater and cults, slated for a late 2024 release.

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.

Maren Lavelle is an NYC-based film AND television director, producer, and writer.

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 animal and kids.

BIG BUDGETS

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

We create original work that offers new perspectives through character-driven narratives in order to illuminate the full scope of our shared humanity.

On top of being writing and producing partners, Maren and Matt are life partners too. We write every project together, with Matt often focusing on the initial idea and structuring of the story, while Maren contributes to world-building, specificity of dialogue, and fleshing out the characters. Maren directs 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.