What happens when happily ever after isn't forever? We all love romantic comedies, but what about the other kind of soulmates in our lives--our friends? "When Mary Met Betsy" is a whimsical comedy about dating and moving on that gives friendship the rom-com treatment.
What happens when happily ever after isn't forever? We all love romantic comedies, but what about the other kind of soulmates in our lives--our friends? "When Mary Met Betsy" is a whimsical comedy about dating and moving on that gives friendship the rom-com treatment.
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Story
Mission Statement
Our show is about female friendship and features a majority female creative team, as well as a diverse cast. We seek to provide opportunities for diversity in all cast and crew positions.About The Project
Hello!
My name is Emily McLeod and I am the writer and creator of When Mary Met Betsy.
This show was dreamed up, as these types of stories often are, after a particularly bad breakup. Several pints of Ben and Jerry's and spending a few days in sweat pants later, I started to rely more and more on my best friend, producer Allison Youngberg. That's when I realized that there aren't enough stories about the people who are there for us no matter what--our non-romantic soulmates, if you will. Maybe that person is your bestie, maybe it's your sister, maybe it's your corgi, I don't know who it is--but I guarantee you have that person. And I wrote this story for them.
Pictured: A rare sighting of producers Emily McLeod and Allison Youngberg, not wearing sweatpants.
So then I wrote. I wrote, and I wrote, and rewrote for over a year. We saved money and we made a wacky little pilot about a romance novelist with a severe case of writer's block and her free-spirited best friend. Check out the trailer here:
When Mary Met Betsy Trailer from Emily McLeod on Vimeo.
When Mary Met Betsy is a millenial take on Grace and Frankie meets Man Seeking Woman. Quirky and romantic, with just a dash of When Harry Met Sally .
Oh, and did I mention the romance novels? Mary, our titular romance novelist, has only had one boyfriend. So let's just say her--ahem-- "inspiration" is very much lacking after their breakup. Naturally, she tries to write about it. The audience gets to see her imagination, and with it, lots and lots of romance novel covers. Like this one:
We have five ready-to-shoot episodes about our heroines' misadventures with pick-up artists, catfishing, and even argumentative puppets. But there's still so much story to tell--maybe with your help we can continue to tell that story.
Thank you,
Emily, Maureen & AllisonIncentives
$5
Social Media Shoutout
For the price of a cup of coffee, our team members will send you a personalized social media shoutout!
$10
Romantic Comedy Meme
We'll create a personalized rom-com themed meme, just for you!
$20
Special Thanks
We will include a special thanks in the credits of each episode for you, as well as a social media shoutout!
$30
Personal Poetry
We will write a short, (silly) romantic poem for you or your loved one.
$45
Be Your Own Romance Novel Hero(ine)!
Have you ever wanted to be on the cover of a romance novel? Well now's your chance! Using the magic of photoshop, we will turn you into a cover model!
Claimed: 1 of 25
$60
Baking Party
Emily will hand-make you a cake. Yes, you. Yes, a whole cake, and deliver it to your house. (LA locals only)
Pictured: Not a cake that Emily made, but a lovely one she found on the internet.
Claimed: 1 of 10
$100
Personalized Thank You Video
Donate 100 dollars, and our team will send you a personalized "thank you" video, complete with an original song! We can't guarantee it'll be perfect, but we can guarantee it'll make you smile.
$150
Combination Package
Want all of the above incentives at a discounted rate? Get a rom-com meme, social media shout-out, poem, special thanks, romance novel cover, cake and video for only 150 dollars! That's a savings of eighty-five dollars!
$300
Character Named After You
In honor of your generosity, we will name a character in the first season after you! Also includes a social media shout-out.
Claimed: 1 of 7
$500
Walk-On Role
For five hundred dollars, we will give you a walk-on role in one of our five episodes and an imdb credit! Now's your chance to shine, superstar!
Claimed: 1 of 5
$1,000
Producer Credit
You will receive a bona fide producing credit on the series and imdb, as well as our eternal thanks and gratitude!
$1,500
Red Carpet Treatment
A producer credit, a personalized thank you video, romantic comedy meme and an invitation to join us at the premiere of the series! We'll wine and dine you at the premiere for your generosity as well!
(Hotel and flight not included)
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$5
Social Media Shoutout
For the price of a cup of coffee, our team members will send you a personalized social media shoutout!
$10
Romantic Comedy Meme
We'll create a personalized rom-com themed meme, just for you!
$20
Special Thanks
We will include a special thanks in the credits of each episode for you, as well as a social media shoutout!
$30
Personal Poetry
We will write a short, (silly) romantic poem for you or your loved one.
$45
Be Your Own Romance Novel Hero(ine)!
Have you ever wanted to be on the cover of a romance novel? Well now's your chance! Using the magic of photoshop, we will turn you into a cover model!
Claimed: 1 of 25
$60
Baking Party
Emily will hand-make you a cake. Yes, you. Yes, a whole cake, and deliver it to your house. (LA locals only)
Pictured: Not a cake that Emily made, but a lovely one she found on the internet.
Claimed: 1 of 10
$100
Personalized Thank You Video
Donate 100 dollars, and our team will send you a personalized "thank you" video, complete with an original song! We can't guarantee it'll be perfect, but we can guarantee it'll make you smile.
$150
Combination Package
Want all of the above incentives at a discounted rate? Get a rom-com meme, social media shout-out, poem, special thanks, romance novel cover, cake and video for only 150 dollars! That's a savings of eighty-five dollars!
$300
Character Named After You
In honor of your generosity, we will name a character in the first season after you! Also includes a social media shout-out.
Claimed: 1 of 7
$500
Walk-On Role
For five hundred dollars, we will give you a walk-on role in one of our five episodes and an imdb credit! Now's your chance to shine, superstar!
Claimed: 1 of 5
$1,000
Producer Credit
You will receive a bona fide producing credit on the series and imdb, as well as our eternal thanks and gratitude!
$1,500
Red Carpet Treatment
A producer credit, a personalized thank you video, romantic comedy meme and an invitation to join us at the premiere of the series! We'll wine and dine you at the premiere for your generosity as well!
(Hotel and flight not included)
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
Emily McLeod- Actress, "Mary," Writer, Creator, and Executive Producer.
Emily has been acting professionally in Los Angeles for the past seven years, appearing in various short films, Shakespeare plays, and children's musical theatre. She has been training as a screenwriter with Alexa Alemmanni's writer's lab, "The Bad Pitch" for a year and a half.
Emily had her very own "meet cute" with co-producer Allison Youngberg when Ms. Youngberg came into her restaurant wearing a Shakespeare tee-shirt. "Do you like Shakespeare?" she asked, and they have been friends ever since. In her spare time, Emily is an amateur baker, painter, and extreme ABBA enthusiast.
Allison Youngberg- Actress, "Betsy," Executive Producer
Allison recently produced and starred in the award winning short film "Abigail and Libby." A champion of new works, Allison also produced and starred in the Hollywood Fringe award winning new plays "The Gentrification Cycle" and "Thanksgiving." A graduate of Emerson College and the American Conservatory Theater's M.F.A. program, she workshopped "Phedre" with Olympia Dukakis. Allison is proud to to work with the Brimmer Street Theatre Company, We Make Movies and Naked Angels Los Angeles.
Maureen Lee Lenker- Director
Maureen is an award-winning journalist, as well as an actor, director, and fiction writer. She is the romance columnist at Entertainment Weekly and has written for a wide range of publications including The Hollywood Reporter, Turner Classic Movies, and Ms. Magazine.
As a director, she proudly oversaw the world premiere of "Emergency Operation" at the 2017 Hollywood Fringe Festival. She has also directed productions of "The Importance of Being Earnest" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Maureen has assistant directed around Los Angeles, including the award-winning production of "Top Girls" at the Antaeus Theatre Company, as well as their production of "Henry IV, Part One" and the Colony's premiere of "Family Planning."
Maureen has had her romantic fiction published in two short story anthologies, "Christmas Nookies" and "Then Comes Winter." A romance enthusiast and proud graduate of USC Film School, Maureen is head over heels to be a part of the "When Mary Met Betsy" production team. In addition to being an accomplished director and writer, Maureen holds multiple degrees! She has a BA in film and history, with a theatre minor from USC, an MA from Oxford in Early Modern British History, and an MA from USC in Arts and Entertainment Journalism.
Additional Cast and Crew:
Mike Miller- "James" (Series Regular)
Mike plays James, our literal "Knight in Shining Armor." James is Mary's longtime boyfriend and romance novel muse. Mike Miller is an actor from San Clemente, CA. He was raised by his mother and is of African American and Irish descent. Film played an influential role early on in Mike’s life, as the movie “Rudy” sparked his passion for the game of football and empowered him to pursue the sport as a college walk-on. Following a five-year stint on Wall Street, Mike positioned himself to return to Los Angeles to hone his craft and pursue a career as an actor full-time. His television credits include roles on the hit network shows Grey’s Anatomy, Major Crimes and Criminal Minds, among others.
Sharon Spence- "Bird Woman" (Pilot)
Sharon Spence was born and raised in Mexico but got over her language confusion at an early age; other confusions, not so much. She has played a hippie, a drunkard, a virago, a witch, a curandera, a teacher and other various and sundry parts in film and on stage, all of which feel uncomfortably close to her own nature. Bird Lady, however, was simply a matter of finding a boa in the right shade of yellow, because she is the character, no acting necessary.
Liz Eldridge- Composer
Liz is a writer, actor, musician, and comic. She's got two dogs, two cats, too many keyboards, not enough guitars, and a boyfriend who cooks. The amazing Ms. Eldridge wrote and performed our theme song and several other songs for the pilot. www.lizeldridge.com
Kelsey Oliver- Costumer
Kelsey burst on to the costuming scene at the tender age of six with her critically acclaimed design for the world premier of "The Rapping Grannies." Critics called her designs "adorable" and "so creative." Thus was born a life-long love of recycling other people's cast-offs into art. If you want to see what one woman can do with only a modest budget, a map of local thrift stores, and a prayer or two to the deity that keeps her sewing machine running, Kelsey's your girl.
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