WCA Executive Board

2024 Board

President

Erika Davis-Marsh

Erika Davis-Marsh is a dynamic creator known for her eclectic blend of genres and her ability to craft narratives that delve into the complexities of human experience. With a background in comedy, drama, and science fiction, she brings a unique creative style to her work, often incorporating elements of fantasy and dance. Graduating with an MFA in Production from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, Erika has garnered recognition for her filmmaking prowess, being a finalist for esteemed awards such as the Television Academy Foundation’s Episodic Directing Fellowship and the DGA Student Award. Her short film "CODA" has amassed over 1 million views on YouTube and earned accolades at festivals worldwide, including the Programmer’s Award at Cleveland International FF and the Founder’s Award at ReelAbilities NYC. Erika's diverse portfolio extends to her roles as a director shadow on popular TV series like Good Trouble (Freeform) and Grimm (NBC), as well as her contributions as an assistant editor on acclaimed projects including Hannah Gadsby: Douglas (Netflix) and Queen Sugar (OWN), demonstrating her versatility and dedication to storytelling across different mediums. Through her innovative approach and commitment to creating layered female characters, Erika continues to captivate audiences and inspire fellow creators on a global scale.

Vice President

Kim Ray

Kim Ray is an award-winning Writer, Director and Producer based in Los Angeles. She has directed commercials for Fortune 500 clients, developed and written scripted and unscripted projects and Executive Produced and directed premium documentary television, including GAGA: FIVE FOOT TWO for Netflix. She co-wrote and produced the Oscar-winning short comedy-musical, WEST BANK STORY and she has won numerous writing and film competition awards. Kim has written and is attached to direct the feature film WHAT THEY SAW which is based on the short story A JURY OF HER PEERS by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Susan Glaspell. The script has a rating of an 8 on The Black List, something only 5% of scripts achieve and was a trending script on the site. She has also taught film and television directing and producing courses at USC and SCAD. She’s represented by Nicole Zien at Innovative Artists. www.softpowerpictures.com

Director, Publicity + Partnership

Neda Davarpanah

Neda is an Iranian-American writer, actor, and producer who graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Writing for Screen & Television from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where she founded the first annual Feminist Media Festival. Neda has worked in the writers rooms of Netflix, Hulu, The CW, and ABC series. Her first feature film as a writer-producer, Influence, is in development and she is an alumna of the Mentorship Matters BIPOC Writers Initiative. As an actress, Neda stars in the feature film Bird of Paradise from Equilibria Pictures. And as an advocate for entertainment industry workers, she has been featured in The Hollywood Reporter, IndieWire, and The Guardian. She writes about rebellious women who fight the systems that silence them. 

Director, Membership

Monica Cecilia Lucas

Monica Cecilia Lucas is a Puerto Rican screenwriter who hails from suburban California. Raised by a career-military father and a New Yorican mother, Monica lived a sheltered childhood of strictly enforced rules. As a teenager, she rebelled the best way she knew how: by moving to rural Ohio, where she sank deep into the world of politics. After receiving her BA in Political Science, she relocated to Washington, DC where she spent four years as a political activist working in the U.S. Department of State and for various nonprofits and think tanks. Disillusioned by the 2016 election, she abandoned her political ambitions and moved to Los Angeles, where she received her MFA in Writing for Screen and Television from USC. 

Board Member

Jennifer Frazin

Jennifer is a TV and feature writer with a pilot deal at Sony Pictures Television. She graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts with a B.A. in Cinema and Media Studies in 2017 and again with an M.F.A. from the John Wells Division of Writing for Screen & Television in 2019. Currently, she is staffed on an hour-long series for Sony Pictures Television and Amazon. She is repped by Aaron Lipsett at Heroes & Villains Entertainment.

Board Member

Rebecca Doyle

Rebecca Doyle is an LA-based director, producer, and writer. Her short doc “Andrea’s Gambit” about chess player and DJ Andrea Botez was acquired for production by the Moving Picture Institute after being selected for the MPI Short Documentary Lab. A member of the Producers Guild of America, her feature credits include executive associate in production and finance on “Moonfall” (2022), co-producer on indie features “Blood Pageant” (2021) and “Shepard” (2020) as well as writer of interactive integrations for “Knives Out” (2019). She graduated with a BA in Film & Television Production in 2016.

Board Member

Shaily Yashar

Shaily Yashar is an LA-based writer with a Persian-Italian background. She graduated summa cum laude from USC, where she studied Creative Writing and Writing for Screen & Television. Shaily was nominated for the 2021 Allegra Johnson Writing Prize, and her work has been published in literary magazines. She signed with a literary agent last year and her YA novel is currently on submission. Shaily works as a learning specialist at a K-8 school.

Director, Networking + Mentorship

Carolyn Bradley

Carolyn works as a story producer and writer with credits for Hulu and A&E Networks. She graduated from USC Cinema School with a BFA in Writing for Screen & Television and a minor in history. Her creative work focuses on producing docu-series that examine past pop-culture phenomenons through our modern day lens. She also writes scripts and novels that focus on the strength of female characters and resilience after tragedy. Growing up in a military family that lived across the United States and Europe, Carolyn has seen first hand how historical and cultural differences impact our world today and incorporates those facets in her writing. Outside of her work in the entertainment industry, Carolyn is an avid skier and true crime podcast binger.

Board Member

Ashley Maria

Ashley Maria is an Emmy Nominated director and writer located in Los Angeles, CA. She received her MFA from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, is the recipient of the prestigious Directors Guild of America award, and most recently, she was recognized as the “Best New Director” at the DTLA Film Festival. Ashley is also an advocate for advancing women’s opportunities. She is a North American delegate to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women – the principal global policy-making body dedicated exclusively to gender equality and the advancement of women. When not on set, Ashley is a directing instructor at UCLA’s Film School and a sound instructor at the American Film Institute’s Young Women in Film program. www.ashley-maria.com

Board Member

Meehna Goldsmith

Meehna has a breadth of professional experience, including screenwriter, journalist, copywriter, blogger and teacher. Her pilot HEADCASE won awards in the Austin Film Festival, Golden Script Competition, and Creative Screenwriting TV Pilot Competition. Her treatment for Bunco men, based on a true life story, rated in the top 20 for both treatment and Western. Meehna is a mentor at both USC and UCLA

Board Member

Miranda Due

Miranda Due (Pani/ᏣᎳᎩ(Tsalagi) is an Indigenous game developer originally from Mvskoke Territory (Tulsa, OK), now working remotely in Tvlse (Tulsa). She previously worked at Unity as a Senior Partner Relations Manager, and prior to that worked at Treyarch and helped ship Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. She is a member of the 2021 TGA Future Class cohort. Miranda graduated from USC in 2016 with degrees in Interactive Entertainment and International Relations and completed the George Washington University Native American Political Leadership program in 2017.

Board Member

Sophia Pino

Sophia is a screenwriter and works in Integrated Planning at The Walt Disney Company, driving strategic alignment across the organization for key corporate priorities. Previously, she worked in the Office of the Executive Chairman, supporting Bob Iger's Chief of Staff. At the age of 12, Sophia garnered a Roger Ebert review for her first film "A Gum's Life”. Before joining Disney, she tracked talent deals for all Fox 21 series such as "Homeland", "Genius", "Mayans", "The Hot Zone", "Ratched", "Pose", and "Fosse/Verdon". With a background in Film/TV Production from USC and an MBA with specializations in Entertainment & Global Management from UCLA, Sophia is a strategic thinker who takes a creative approach to problem-solving and does what it takes to see one's vision to reality, whether it be a key enterprise initiative or film/TV concept.