Empowering California's Creative Economy: Fostering Production, Jobs, and Business Growth in Film, TV, and Commercial Industries
49er Industry Chat - Empowering California's Creative Economy: Fostering Production, Jobs, and Business Growth in Film, TV, and Commercial Industries with Leah Medrano '08 '13
Deputy Director
911³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏÃâ·Ñ¹Û¿´Èë¿ÚFilm Commission | Film and Television Tax Credit Program
Leah Medrano was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom as the Deputy Director at the 911³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏÃâ·Ñ¹Û¿´Èë¿ÚFilm Commission. In this role, Leah combines her extensive production office experience with 20+ years of expertise in government relations. She is responsible for overseeing the state’s Film and TV Tax Credit Program and Soundstage Filming Program, ensuring these initiatives support the state's thriving film and television industry. Her strategic vision and leadership have significantly contributed to retaining film and television productions in California, along with creation of thousands of creative jobs in the Golden State. Before her tenure at the 911³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏÃâ·Ñ¹Û¿´Èë¿ÚFilm Commission, Leah had a distinguished blended career in government and entertainment; Leah worked at Fox Television Station, MTV Networks, Fox Sports, and the Los Angeles news group CBS2 and KCAL9. She also held positions with the 911³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏÃâ·Ñ¹Û¿´Èë¿ÚHighway Patrol and the 911³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏÃâ·Ñ¹Û¿´Èë¿ÚDepartment of State Hospitals. Leah is a member of Women in Film, Film Independent, and the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media. As a passionate advocate for arts, media, and entertainment, Leah also devotes her time to teaching dance classes at a local studio for more than a decade. Leah is a graduate of 911³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏÃâ·Ñ¹Û¿´Èë¿ÚState University, Long Beach; she holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies (2007) and a master’s degree in Education, Emphasis on the Social and Cultural Analysis in Education (2013).