LEAH SOLMAZ / CREATIVE ARCHIVE
FILM & PERFORMANCE
More Than
a Showreel.
A Body of Work.
More than a decade of storytelling, on stage, in front of the camera and behind it.
Actress. Writer. Director. Producer. Animator. Composer. A creative journey built through independent productions, unexpected opportunities and a determination to keep making things.
THE CREATIVE YEARS
It started with
one audition.
My first audition didn’t go particularly well. Actually, that’s putting it rather kindly.
But after enrolling at Birmingham Theatre School in 2010, one opportunity led to another, and what began as an unexpected experiment became more than a decade working across independent film and theatre.
Over the years, I moved between acting, writing, directing, producing and other production disciplines. I learnt how to build projects from the ground up, work with creative teams and tell stories with whatever resources were available.
It was never just about being in front of a camera. I loved the process of bringing something into existence.
ACTING SHOWREEL
In front of
the camera.
A selection of performances from my work across independent screen productions.
A FEW HIGHLIGHTS
Stories, characters
& creative experiments.
Checking In
My first feature filmmaking experience, co-writing and co-directing a story within the anthology film. Awarded Best British Film at the London Film Awards in 2014.
Clownface
A role as Charlotte in the independent horror feature, part of my wider work across genre filmmaking.
Perception
A short film project bringing together my work in screenwriting, production and performance.
Theosight
An independent digital series and pilot project, combining my interests in writing, acting and production.
THEATRE & PERFORMANCE
Before the edit.
Before another take.
There’s something entirely different about performing in theatre. No second take, no edit to save you, just the performance, the other actors and the audience in the room.
My stage experience includes productions with Birmingham Theatre School, The Grange Players and Sutton Arts Theatre.
From early training to established stage productions, theatre was another opportunity to develop my craft and explore characters beyond the screen.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LENS
Making the story
happen.
Acting opened the door, but it wasn’t long before I wanted to explore everything happening behind the camera.
Writing led to directing. Directing led to producing. Eventually, I found myself exploring animation, music composition, production management and assistant directing.
I’ve always believed that the best way to understand a creative process is to get involved, make things, make mistakes and keep improving.
That willingness to learn across disciplines became one of the most valuable things I took away from filmmaking.
Screenwriting
Developing characters, stories and scripts for screen.
Directing
Translating ideas into performances and visual storytelling.
Producing
Bringing people, resources and creative projects together.
Beyond the Set
Animation, composition, production management and first assistant directing.
OPPORTUNITIES & RECOGNITION
A few memorable
moments.
Best British Film
Checking In · London Film Awards
Ashley Walters Workshop
Selected to attend a workshop in Birmingham, followed by an invitation to a Kingdom Drama School Blueprint Session with Daniel Kaluuya.
BFI Short Film Opportunity
Offered a £15,000 producing contract for a short film project, later placed on hold during the pandemic.
A Decade of Independent Production
Working across screen acting, theatre, writing, directing, producing and other creative disciplines.
THE CREATIVE ARCHIVE
The filmography.
A record of screen, theatre and filmmaking credits across more than a decade.