Today we’d like to introduce you to Fredrick Leach.
Note: Since this article has been published, Fred has gone on strike with the WGA. Find ways to help the strike effort here: https://www.
Hi Fredrick, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve always loved film and TV — I still remember seeing the re-releases of STAR WARS in theaters and falling in love — but I spent most of my early years not knowing that film was a viable career option. I actually went to college with the plan to play sports and go into coaching. When that didn’t work out I went into education and was an 8th-grade U.S. History teacher for three years before the film bug finally convinced me to take a risk and move out to LA. That was in 2015. I started off working at this web series company called Black&SexyTV that specialized in creating content for a modern Black audience — it was a great place to start. I got so much experience as a writer and director there. In 2019, I shot a micro-budget feature with a friend of mine. It did okay and got into some mid-level festivals and got some distribution to make some of its money back. From there, I ended up winning a fellowship through Sony Pictures Animation and The Black List. I’ve been working at SPA ever since, working in-house as a writer!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Breaking into the business is hard for everybody. I think the thing I learned is that it isn’t an overnight process. You might take a step forward, then two steps back. You make a little progress and you just have to keep building. My goal was always to get to a place where my income was coming completely from the creative. That’s a huge hump to get over and now that I’m finally here, I’ve realized that it’s no guarantee it’ll remain this way. I think the key is to always have a bunch of projects/moves in motion. The business is fickle so if you’re relying on one thing to bring you success, you’re going to fail.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a screenwriter and director. I currently work in-house at Sony Pictures Animation, assisting with projects and developing my own. In 2019 I shot a micro-budget feature, CAGED BIRDS, which did a number of festivals and was streaming on Amazon Prime and the For Us By Us Network. Along with my work at SPA, I am also in development on a couple of other projects. I think what I’m most proud of so far in my career is doing things my way: When you get to LA, people often tell you there is a certain way you should do things and you have to make a choice to either stand by your beliefs and morals or allow the business to bring you down or settle. I like to think that thus far, I have managed to do things the right way, with stories I believe in, and good people.
How do you think about happiness?
My wife and I (and our cat, Spike) love sitting down to watch a good movie or show. We’re both pretty introverted so we love that. As much as I love writing and making movies, it’s a completely different experience being pulled in by a great story. It’s a feeling that I’ve loved since I was a kid and one I will continue to love for as long as I’m around.
Contact Info:
- Website: fredrickleach.com
- Instagram: @fleachs09
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredrick-leach-9924168b/
- Twitter: @fleachs09
Image Credits
Isaak Morin Photography
