Meet Marian
Marian Yeager is a director, screenwriter, and film producer. Her work includes numerous music videos and award-winning short films.
Currently based in Austin, TX, Marian’s MY Productions recently finished the romantic comedy Match Me If You Can.
Marian’s first feature-length film, The Conway Curve, was released in late 2016. The Conway Curve can be seen on several streaming networks.
Marian and her production partner, Monica Lund, are also developing several new film projects. Visit MY-Productions.com for details
More Info
After 20+ years in the film industry, Marian maintains the same enthusiasm for cinematic storytelling that first inspired her to start making movies in grade school. Family and friends served as cast and crew on these VHS-camcorder productions.
Marian’s professional career began in the early 90s. While attending the College of Santa Fe, she worked on several productions filming in and around Santa Fe, New Mexico. She accepted any job that would put her on set. In the art department she found a home and worked her way up to on set Set Dresser.
Marian had written, directed, and crewed on several student films, but her experiences on the professional, bigger-budget and Independent feature sets cemented her love of the intense, complicated, collaborative, and wonderful world of film production.
After graduation, Marian worked in the art department on Walker, Texas Ranger for a year then moved to Austin to work with her sister, Elizabeth, on Children of the Corn: The Gathering. This is when she discovered Script Supervising: She loved be a scripty.
Marian sat alongside some very talented and experienced directors as well as some less adept, greener directors. All of these jobs provided real-world lessons on how a director should (and shouldn’t) run a set.
In 1998, after producing and directing Guy Forsyth’s “Children of Jack” music video, Marian’s focus shifted from script supervisor back to her childhood dream of directing and writing, she began to hone her skills doing short films with the help from her sister, Elizabeth.
Since then, Marian has written, directed, and produced 8 short films. Some of which have screened at film festivals, received awards, and been distributed online.
So far, her personal favorite award is Best Director at 2013 Big Easy International Film and Music Festival (BEIFF) for her short film “The Good Samaritan” (TGS).
After “The Good Samaritan” silenced a noisy New Orleans bar at one BEIFF screening, Marian realized that short narrative had more to say and development on The Conway Curve, a feature-length film inspired by “TGS”, began in late 2013.
Marian guided The Conway Curve from development through distribution. She not only directed the film, but also co-wrote it and served as executive-producer and producer.
In mid-2016, The Conway Curve was released in both the foreign and domestic markets. Quite an accomplishment for a director’s debut feature film.
Marian had to step back from directing in 2017 and 2018 due to her sister’s health issues and subsequent death then other family illnesses.
But at the end of 2018, Monica Lund, her new producing partner, sent Marian a hilarious and sweet script written by Betsy Morris, called Match Me If You Can. t couldn’t have come at a better time. It truly brought Marian back to life. Though this is her first film to be made without her partner in crime, sister Elizabeth, Marian knows she’s still by her side and rooting for her. Match will be dedicated to Elizabeth.
Marian doesn’t believe in resting on her laurels, though. She continues to push herself as an artist and director, learning lessons from each project and applying them to the next one.
In addition to her professional work in the film industry, Marian occasionally teaches a basic directing class, loves taking her Airstream out for weekend trips, and hanging out with her dog.
Actually, early in my career, some of the best lessons I learned were from the inexperienced directors. I was their sounding board and problem solver. I learned to watch for performance and gave direction to actors that the director may have forgotten about.”
~ Marian Yeager
Director’s Statement
From Marian Yeager
With every film the director is required to write a director’s statement. It’s a perfect place for the director to express what they were trying to do in the film. From writing so many of these statements, I have discovered that I do, in fact, have a unique view of the world.
Most of my films showcase my very specific, rather quirky, hope-filled point of view. But that does not translate to fluff. There is always a very real underlining theme.
I believe that the best way to present a hard truth is through humor. Whether it’s a straight comedy, a horror, or drama. People are more likely to stay open to new ideas when smiling and having a good time. My family taught me that laughter can help you accept what’s going on and get you through anything.
My films cross many different genres and look at universal ideas. Each one is a unique story. But, there is one thing that ties all of them together and sets them apart from other films — my own personal brand of quirk.
“As a director, it is incredibly important to focus on what you have and how to make it work.”
~ Marian Yeager
Work Ethic
From Marian Yeager:
When I first started in film, I was fortunate to work on several higher-budget films. Lucky for me, these were run by people who cared about their cast and crew.
Sadly, not everyone in this industry considers the health and safety of every person on the film set. Later in my career, I definitely worked on those kinds of sets. This kind of disrespect and prejudice bothers me.
Growing up, my family emphasized the importance of taking care of the people around you and fairness. The best sets that I have worked on share this people and family-oriented attitude.
The cast, crew, producers, writers, and director — we are all in this together. We are a kind of family — and I take care of my family.
I believe it starts with something very basic: make sure that everyone is fed and hydrated.
Also, everyone needs to know that it is a creatively and physically safe environment.
As a director, I stay open to new ideas, and treat everyone with respect because they are the ones that make the film a reality. Craft services, the DP, leading actors, extras — we’re making this movie together.
Without every single person that is involved, on and off set, I can’t do what I do. ~ Marian Yeager
“For me, directing is about passion, vision, and a never give up, never surrender attitude.”
– Marian Yeager