Movie Magic

Award-winning playwright, actor, producer, and educator, Fanshen Cox is the DEIA Manager for the California Film Commission’s Tax Credit Program. She is also the Founder of TruJuLo Productions. Fanshen served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cape Verde, West Africa, and holds a BA in Spanish & Education, an MA in TESOL, and an MFA in TV, Film & Theatre. She has been honored with Distinguished Alumni Awards from CSULA and from Teachers College, Columbia University, and an honorary MFA in producing from New York Film Academy. Fanshen is also a co-author of the Inclusion Rider which was announced at the 2018 Oscar awards by Frances McDormand and the co-creator, producer and host of the Webby nominated podcast Sista Brunch. She is a highly sought after speaker on narrative for impact, and on diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and belonging.

Leah Medrano was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom as the Deputy Director at the California Film Commission. In this role, Leah combines her extensive production office experience with 20+ years of expertise in government relations. She is responsible for overseeing the state’s Film and TV Tax Credit Program and Soundstage Filming Program, ensuring these initiatives support the state’s thriving film and television industry.  Her strategic vision and leadership have significantly contributed to retaining film and television productions in California, along with creation of thousands of creative jobs in the Golden State.  Before her tenure at the California Film Commission, Leah had a distinguished blended career in government and entertainment; Leah worked at Fox Television Station, MTV Networks, Fox Sports, and the Los Angeles news group CBS2 and KCAL9.  She also held positions with the California Highway Patrol and the California Department of State Hospitals. Leah is a member of Women in Film, Film Independent, and the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media. As a passionate advocate for arts, media, and entertainment, Leah also devotes her time to teaching dance classes at a local studio for more than a decade.  Leah is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach; she holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies and a master’s degree in Education, Emphasis on the Social and Cultural Analysis in Education.