MEGAN SMITH-HARRIS
CURRICULUM VITAE
MEGAN SMITH-HARRIS
MANAGING EDITOR
OUR HOMES MAGAZINE London & Stratford (March 2022 - Present)
Part of OUR HOMES Media, which publishes 11 magazines in Ontario with a combined circulation of two million. Responsible for all editorial content, hiring writers, collaborating with photographers, writing features, editing content, styling and producing all home features, revising layouts, and serving as an ambassador for the brand. Have helped to double the magazine page count. ourhomes.ca
MANAGING EDITOR
WILTON MAGAZINE (2014-2020)
An award-winning regional lifestyle magazine that was part of the TownVibe Media Group, with a combined reach of over 225,000 readers per issue. Responsible for all editorial content, hired writers, wrote features, edited content, scouted locations, produced all STYLE photo features (including fashion, home, and garden), revised layouts in InDesign, and served as an ambassador for the brand. Won 25 Connecticut Press Club Awards and four NFPW national writing awards for feature articles in TownVibe publications.
FILM FESTIVAL DIRECTOR
RIDGEFIELD INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL (2017-2020)
Responsible for all aspects of running an annual five-day film festival in as well as one-off events throughout the year. Created an annual budget, oversaw all fund-raising, grant proposals, donor relations, and programming. Helped to facilitate RIFF events at multiple venues throughout Ridgefield, CT and ransformed RIFF into a 50/50 gender parity festival committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Programmed over 100 films annually in multiple film strands. For three years, RIFF was ranked in the FilmFreeway "Top 100 Best Reviewed Film Festivals" putting RIFF in the top 1.5% of over 9,000 festivals in the world. riffct.org
FILM PRODUCTION
PYEWACKITT PRODUCTIONS
CO-OWNER (2008-Present)
Pyewackitt Productions is an independent production company dedicated to creating compelling, high-quality television programs, features, and documentary films with a unique perspective. pyewckitt.com
A STAGE OF TWILIGHT (Release Spring 2024)
Producer (Narrative Feature)
Multiple award-winning Independent feature film starring Karen Allen and William Sadler, written and directed by Sarah T. Scwhab. Actively involved in pre-production, casting, locations, and on-set production during month-long film shoot in New Milford, CT. astageoftwilightthefilm.com
THE BUDDY SYSTEM (1 hr)
Producer, Director & Writer
Independent documentary about the impact autism assistance dogs can have on the life of children on the spectrum. Responsible for every aspect of production including research, budget, fund-raising, hiring, managing crewing, and marketing and promotion.
TRIAL BY FIRE: LIVES RE-FORGED (90 min)
Producer, Director & Writer
Independent feature documentary that follows the journeys of seven charismatic burn survivors as they reclaim their lives after the devastation of fire. Premiered in New York and L.A., Docuweeks pick, featured in Leonard Maltin’s Cinema Series, showcased on Dr. Oz, screened at festivals, continues to air on PBS, distributed by PBS International and available on Amazon Prime.
TACKLE GIRLS: ONE TEAM, ONE MISSION (60 min)
Executive Producer
Independent feature documentary that follows an elite group of women tackle football players who form Team USA. The film follows them on their quest for a gold medal in an international competition held in Helsinki, Finland. Responsible for budgeting, fund-raising, creating production schedules, producing, and post-production coordination. Currently in post-production.
ABUSE HURTS (15 min)
Producer, Director & Writer
Documentary featuring five women from diverse socio-economic backgrounds who overcome domestic abuse. Responsible for all elements of production and post-production. Produced for the YWCA of Greenwich.
YO ANDREA (8 min)
Producer (Narrative Short)
Multiple award-winning independent short film. A middle age man hatches a plan to win the woman of his dreams: A love worth fighting for. Consulting and on-set producer.
TELEVISION
SURROGATE STORIES (2 hr)
Producer, Director & Writer
Two-hour television special exploring the intimate world of surrogacy. Responsible for all research, budgeting, crew management, pre-production, production, post-production, and delivery. Commissioned by the Women’s Entertainment Network. Aired on WEtv and distributed by Off the Fence.
CHILD BRIDES (1 hr)
Producer, Director & Writer
One-hour documentary that examines the lives of teens who prematurely become wives and mothers, examining how their decision to marry young has profoundly changed the course of their lives. Responsible for all research, budgeting, crew management, pre-production, production, and post-production. Commissioned by the Women’s Entertainment Network. Aired on WEtv and distributed by Off the Fence.
POLYGAMY (1 hr)
Producer & Writer
One-hour documentary that looks inside the hidden world of polygamy featuring women who happily practice plural marriage and those who have broken free of the practice. Commissioned by the Women’s Entertainment Network. Aired on WEtv. (Production Company Blue Sky)
FAME SCHOOL (30 min)
Associate Producer & Writer
One-hour documentary profiling exceptional students at the La Guardia School for the Performing Arts aka "The Fame School." Aired on PBS. (Production company Fresh Produce)
NIGHT ON THE TOWN with Peter Graves
Writer
Peter Graves explores the history of the famed Peter Luger's Steak House. Aired on A&E (Fresh Produce)
TORONTO ARTS AWARDS
Short Film Producer & Live Show Producer
Produced 24, five-minute films (16 mm) on celebrated individuals in the arts over a three-year period. Collaborated with 24 different directors. Aired on CBC, TV Ontario, and Bravo. (Pyewackitt Productions)
TEACHER
WESTPORT WRITERS' WORKSHOP (2015/2016)
Writing for Magazines
An intensive course designed for writers who wanted to explore the art of feature writing for magazines. An informative, hands-on class with weekly participation, discussion, and constructive feedback.
Polish & Publish
For students who completed the "Writing for Magazines" course. Writing and polishing feature articles to ready them for publication; query emails, writing resources. (NOTE: Six students subsequently published articles in regional publications)
ADDITIONAL TEACHING
Have taught courses, seminars, and workshops for:
-
Ridgefield Arts - The Joys & Perils of Independent Filmmaking
-
Fairfield Library - Writing for Magazines
-
Manhattan Neighborhood Network - Show me the Money: Effectively Launching your Film or Television Project
-
The Goal Game - Workshops teaching women entrepreneurs how to achieve personal and professional goals
-
Ontario Film Development Corporation - Pitching & Packaging film and television projects
-
ACTRA - taught professional actors voice over skills for television, radio, animation and film
WRITER (Magazines, Blogs, Radio, Television, Film, Theatre)
FREELANCE FEATURE WRITER (ongoing)
Articles published by the Weston Magazine Group (Greenwich, Weston, Darien, Rye, New York ), E-Chook Digital Publishing, Wilton Magazine, Ridgefield Magazine, Fairfield Magazine, Bedford Magazine, Litchfield Magazine, Ridgefield Media, 068 Magazine, HamletHub, and Brain Child Magazine.
BLOGGING
MEGAblog (2014)
Creator, Writer & Photographer
A popular blog for Hearst CT Media. Wrote all content and took photographs for MEGAblog, a weekly blog for Hearst Connecticut Media that consistently ranked in the top ten of over 200 blogs.
THEATRE
KILLING MOM (writer) **Kilroy 2020 Listed Play
Staged Equity Showcase Reading at ACT of CT, Ridgefield, CT 2019
Developmental Readings at Theatre Artists Workshop, Norwalk, CT 2017, 2018
THE PLAY DATE (Writer)
20-minute monologue performed at Play With Your Food (Greenwich, CT; Weston, CT; TAW Playwright's Festival (Norwalk, CT)
SMOKE BREAK (Writer)
20-minute monologue performed at TAW Spring Playwrights Festival
A WHOLE NEW WORLD (Writer)
Award-winning one-act play (2016 Bijou Theatre One-Act Play Competition judged by Tony-award-winning playwright Terrence McNally)
MY FIRST PROM (Writer/Actor)
20-minute monologue, performed at TAW Fall Playwrights Festival
DAD (Writer)
20-minute two-hander developed at TAW
COMPANY'S COMING (Writer)
20-minute monologue and companion piece to SMOKE BREAK developed at TAW
MAD IN CANADA (Writer/Producer/Co-Director/Actor)
Topical comedy revue - ran for a year in Toronto a year in Montreal).
SCREENPLAYS
THE GHOST OF YOU
Feature Screenplay - Dramedy (in development)
After making a regrettable decision, a restless suburban mother pays an unimaginable price, losing her child, her marriage, and potentially her sanity. But thanks to the ghost of her eccentric teenage son, she never loses her sense of humor.
KILLING MOM
Feature Screenplay - Dramedy (adapted from Kilroy 2020 Listed play - in development)
Think of all the times you’ve argued with your mother and thought, “I could just kill her!" What if one day, she asked you to do exactly that?
BEHIND THE HEDGEROWS
Feature Screenplay - Psychological Suspense
At precisely 9:00 a.m. on the Thursday before the Labor Day weekend, Ulla Angstrom rings the doorbell of 127 Lilly Pond Lane, East Hampton, and sets into motion a series of events that will rupture many lives—including her own. She must grapple first with misfortune and then with her conscience as one child dies and another disappears. Behind the Hedgerows, beneath the patina of wealth and privilege, an emotional noose tightens as an elaborate deception unravels.
CRYPTIC
Feature Screenplay - Suspense (Optioned)
Life for cryptic crossword creator, Claire Spencer, is comfortably predictable until she is unwittingly catapulted into a high-stakes political scandal. With a killer on her trail, a broken heart to mend, and a deadline to make, Claire’s world implodes over a heart-pounding 72-hour period. Claire must use her cryptic crossword skills to solve the biggest puzzle of her life— in order to save it.
SPEAKER, PRESENTER, & MODERATOR
Speaker for conferences of all sizes including arts groups, women's groups, community groups, and non-profits.
Emcees, leads workshops, celebrity author/filmmaker interviews, and industry panelist,
-
Fairfield Film Festival (2021)
-
Ridgefield Independent Film Festival (2018-2020)
-
The New Perspectives Documentary Series (monthly moderator 10 years)
-
Millford Readers & Writers Festival (moderator 2018, 2019)
-
Manhattan Neighborhood Network (90 min seminar 2018)
-
Philanthropic Educational Organization (Keynote)
-
Ridgefield's Women Forum (Keynote)
-
Nevada Burn Foundation
-
National Association of State Fire Chiefs
-
Phoenix Society
-
Illinois Fire Safety Alliance
-
National Speakers Association
-
Southeastern Firefighters Burn Foundation
-
Firefighters Burn Institute
-
Utah Winter Fire School
-
Canadian Burn Survivor's Conference
-
The Power of Trial By Fire (Edmonton)
-
Ridgefield Library
-
Wilton Library (author interviews)
-
Rotary Clubs in CT
-
Kiwanis Clubs in CT
EDUCATION
CANADIAN FILM CENTRE | Producer Resident
One of 4 Producer Residents chosen from across Canada. Toronto, Ontario
QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY | Bachelor of Arts (Theatre Major & English Minor)
Kingston, Ontario
BANFF CENTRE FOR FINE ARTS | Women In The Director's Chair Resident
One of 15 women chosen from across Canada. Banff, Alberta
NATIONAL THEATRE SCHOOL OF CANADA | Acting
One of 7 women actors chosen from across Canada. Montreal, Quebec
AWARDS & HONORS
BEHIND THE SCENES Award 2022 (for work at RIFF)
25 Connecticut Press Club Awards 2015-2021
KILROYS List 2020 (KILLING MOM)
4 NFPW National Journalism Awards 2015-2019
BEST FILM "The Buddy System" Autfest 2017
FIRST PRIZE WINNER | Bijou Theatre 2016 One-Act Play Contest
FIRST PRIZE WINNER | Right/Left/Center Writing Contest
OFDC Market Mentorship | International Documentary Forum Amsterdam (IDFA)
Market Simulation HONOREE | Banff Television Festival
CTV Fellowship
Scholarship | Canadian Film Centre
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
(Past & Present)
Connecticut Press Club
Dramatists Guild of America
International Screenwriters Association (ISA)
League of Professional Theater Women (CT Chapter)
National Federation of Press Women (NFPW)
New York Women in Film and Television (NYWIFT)
Playwrights Guild of Canada
Theatre Artists Workshop
GIVING BACK
MODERATOR/PROGRAMMER New Perspectives Documentary Series (10 Years)
BOARD Member Theatre Artists’ Workshop
AUCTIONEER (multiple organizations)
GALA CHAIR CT Friends School
AUCTION CHAIR Weir Farm Art Center
ARTS ENRICHMENT Coordinator Cider Mill School
CO-PRESIDENT Canaan Ridge Parent's Association
AUCTION CO-CHAIR Greenwich Red Cross
PRESIDENT A.W.E.S.O.M.E. Women in Business
FILMMAKER Greenwich YWCA Gala
BOARD MEMBER Greenwich Newcomers Association
EVENT CHAIR "Climb For Hope" Gala for Rett Syndrome Association