Maria Bissell is a Los Angeles–based female writer/director working in dark comedy and female-forward character stories. Her debut feature, How to Deter a Robber, premiered at Fantastic Fest and stars Vanessa Marano, Chris Mulkey, Jonah Ray, and Gabrielle Carteris. The film’s sales were handled by XYZ Films and it was released by Shout! Studios.
As a female filmmaker and mother of a toddler, Bissell is interested in stories about the shifting identities of adulthood and the tension between who we are and who we’re becoming. Working at the intersection of tension and satire, Bissell crafts character-driven stories that mine humor from high-stakes, morally complicated situations. Her films balance menace and wit, with an emphasis on tight plotting and sharply drawn performances.
Bissell is currently in post-production on her second feature, Busted, a dark comedy and coming-of-age story about identity reinvention starring Elsie Fisher, Maria Zhang, and Ty Simpkins.
Representation: Brad Petrigala | Brillstein Entertainment.