One of the filmmakers participating in the enRoute Film Festival with her film A Season To Wither, LeighAnn is from Edmonton, and currently developing a film pilot in L.A.

What does a typical Thursday look like for you, starting from when you wake up – to heading to bed?

As a writer/director, a typical Thursday might be grabbing a coffee early in the morning and heading back to my desk at home to work on my latest draft of whatever project I am working on at the moment. Currently I have two television pilots that I have just completed with my writing partner Lauren Goodman. We review our latest draft and incorporate notes from the producer we are working with and go back and forth throughout the day via telephone and usually get together in the evenings. Around five o’clock I’ll go for a hike near my house in the Canyon to clear my head and re-charge. Dinnertime will sometimes be out with friends or at home in front of the TV catching up on my favorite shows like Mad Men or True Blood. I usually get my second wind in the late evening and will get back to my desk do some more writing.

What was your first job out of school?

My first job out school was as an assistant to an independent producer in Edmonton, Alberta at a company called Souleado Entertainment. If there was anything to be filed, labeled or copied I was all over it. I read every piece of paper that came through my hands and that was really the best way to learn. I had such a great experience at that company and the woman I worked for is still my mentor to this day.

What are the 3 skills you require most to do your job well?

Make an effective pitch at the drop of a hat. The ability to deliver on time and on budget. Work under pressure.

What do you love most about your career?

My career truly is my passion, I live film and television 24 hours a day weather I am writing, on set, or sitting in a movie theatre. I always have my eyes and ears open and am excited by all the possibilities that surround me each day. To see one of my ideas make it through so many different stages of development, then into production and finally on the screen is so rewarding. Currently my film A Season To Wither, is playing at the En Route Film Festival in Toronto on October 20, which is really exciting. As part of this fest, my film was screened on Air Canada flights, reaching almost 2 million passengers and already I have had such great feedback from people who have seen it on a flight. It really is amazing to have my work out there for people to see in this kind of way.

Do you have any warnings?

Working in Film and TV is like any other business, it takes a lot of hard work and there are always ups and downs, you will here a lot of “no’s” but when that “yes” comes along it could change your life.

If you could try a different career on for a year, what would it be?

I would be a professional equestrian rider and do the show jumping circuit in Europe.