Lauren Neal
Lauren Neal is a multi-hyphenate filmmaker and technical artist—a graduate of Brown University and the University of Virginia’s School of Data Science.
Lauren's filmmaking often interfaces directly with nascent technologies and mental health matters: where neural networks meet neurodivergence meets NeRFs. Her first directing endeavor was the satirical pilot Spicy Wit, shot with aspiring actors, amateur crew, and $1500. The project—which Lauren also wrote and produced—was featured in Ebony, Indiewire, and Huffington Post.
Lauren won the Hyundai Emerging Director Award at Outfest Fusion 2020–Hyundai then enlisted Lauren to direct a commercial that aired during the GLAAD Awards, OutFronts, and Outfest LA. Lauren was named a semifinalist in the Commercial Directors Diversity Program in both 2023 and 2024, and she is a graduate of Warner Bros. Discovery’s inaugural VFX Coordinator training program.
Under the Influencer–an innovative microbudget film for which Lauren served as technical director, editor, VFX artist, VFX producer, post production supervisor, executive producer, and lead performer–was awarded the Panavision Outstanding Feature Award at the Micheaux Film Festival in 2024, along with two more Best Feature prizes during its festival run.
Lauren has been tapped to direct the romantic comedy Ex Life for Story Mill Entertainment in 2025.
She lives in Los Angeles with her wife, Jill, and their cats.
