Amanda Melby is an American actress and film producer. She is the host of the Emmy-winning series Screen Wars, and the star and producer of the film Raising Buchanan.

Amanda Melby
Born
Occupation(s)Actress and Film Producer
Years active1999–present
SpouseDavid Crisalli

Career

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After graduation from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN,[1] Melby began her acting career with stops in Los Angeles, San Diego, Cleveland, and Washington, DC, working in commercials, theatre, studio films (The Majestic), independent films (Locker 13, Jake's Corner, Netherbeast Incorporated, Madison Hall), and television (Candid Camera, S.I.S., Boston Public, Young & the Restless).

Settling in Arizona, Melby served as the Executive Director of the Phoenix chapter of Independent Feature Project (IFP/PHX) from 2005-2011,[2] building a network for Arizona’s independent filmmakers. From 2006- 2012, she was a board member of the Phoenix Film Foundation[3] and the Arizona Film and Media Coalition (AFMC).[4] She was the Secretary of the SAG-AFTRA Arizona-Utah Board, having served on the separate unions’ boards prior to the merger from 2005-2013.[5]

In 2005, Melby was one of the creators of Screen Wars, an Arizona-based television series showcasing independent film.[6] She hosted and produced 69 episodes over two seasons. The series was nominated for 13 Rocky Mountain Emmy Awards, winning four. Melby was personally nominated for three of these Emmys (for hosting and producing).[7][8]

Melby was honored with the 2007 Phoenix Film Foundation Board Member of the Year,[9] and with the 2008 Layne Award presented by the Arizona Entertainment Alliance.[10] She was also nominated for the 2011 Arizona Governor’s Arts Award for her contributions to the Arizona Entertainment Community.[11]

In 2019, Melby produced and starred in Raising Buchanan, a feature film co-starring René Auberjonois, M. Emmet Walsh, Cathy Shim, Terence Bernie Hines, and Robert Ben Garant. Melby garnered accolades and awards (for her role as producer and her lead performance) from a variety of film festivals in the United States and abroad.[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]

Selected filmography

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Actress

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Year Title Role
1999 The Language of Kickball Taylor
2001 The Majestic Young Mrs. Trimble
2005-07 Screen Wars (TV series) Host/various characters
2007 The Hoax Expectant Mother
2007 Netherbeast Incorporated Hazel Von Borscht
2007 Farewell Darkness Denise Franks
2008 Jake's Corner Kari
2008 S.I.S. Dorri
2009 Cocktail Wizard Merlina the Doctor
2009 Madison Hall Dispatch
2010 Small Happys Lisa
2010 The Darkness of Light Daphne Sinclaire
2011 Cult Status Marly
2012 Impotent Debra Peterson
2014 Candid Camera (TV series) Self/Guest Star
2014 Locker 13 Erica
2015 Ouroboros Dr. Faye O’Niell
2019 Raising Buchanan Ruth Kiesling

Producer

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Year Title
2005-07 Screen Wars (TV series)
2007 Farewell Darkness
2009 The Prank
2010 License to Lie
2011 The Dream Role
2012 The Science of Friendship
2012 Path to the Presidency
2012 Got Talent?
2013 Surprise for Goldwater Middle
2014 The League of Anti Smokers
2014 Slam Dunk
2014 Gear Heads Unite
2015 Ditch Day
2017 The Dance
2019 Raising Buchanan

Personal life

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Melby is a faculty associate at Arizona State University teaching screen acting and is the head coach and owner of Verve Studios, a professional actor-training studio in Scottsdale, Arizona. She is married with two children.

References

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  1. ^ "Alumna Stars in Feature Film". Concordia College. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  2. ^ "Phoenix Film Project Becomes IFP Phoenix". Backstage. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Phoenix Film Foundation". Phx Film Festival. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Arizona Film and Media Coalition". AFMC. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  5. ^ "SAG-AFTRA Newsletter - Sept 2012". SAG-AFTRA. 12 September 2012.
  6. ^ "Phoenix Film Project". Backstage. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  7. ^ "2007 Nominees-Rocky Mountain Emmy Awards". NATAS-Rocky Mountain Chapter-Yumpu. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  8. ^ "Rocky Mountain Emmy Awards - History". NATAS-Rocky Mountain Chapter. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  9. ^ "Phx Film Foundation Awards". Phx Film Festival. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  10. ^ "ASU Faculty". Herberger Institute-Arizona State University. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  11. ^ "Arizona Governor's Arts Awards 2011" (PDF). Arizona Citizens for the Arts. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  12. ^ "2019 Manhattan Film Festival Award Winners". Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  13. ^ "2019 Phoenix Film Festival Award Winners". 7 April 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  14. ^ "2019 New Haven Film Festival Award Winners". Archived from the original on 3 May 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  15. ^ "2019 Franklin International Independent Film Festival Award Winners". Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  16. ^ "2019 ROFL Madrid Comedy Film Festival Award Winners". Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  17. ^ "2020 Rocky Mountain Emmy Award Nominees" (PDF). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  18. ^ "2019 Red Rose International Film Festival Award Winners". Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  19. ^ "2020 WorldFest Houston Award Winners". Retrieved 20 June 2020.
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