Chasing Stories: From the WHS Stage to Major Hollywood Studio

LeeAnn Patrick graduated from Woodside High School in 2011 with a passion for storytelling that would shape her future. After heading to UCLA, she discovered her dream: writing movies and television. While she continues to pursue that dream, LeeAnn has already made an impressive mark behind the scenes in the entertainment industry.

For the past five years, she has worked in Post Production at Marvel Studios, starting as an Editorial Production Assistant on blockbuster films Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, and later serving as Post Production Coordinator on hit series like WandaVision and She-Hulk: Attorney At Law. “I’m an aspiring screenwriter, but my day job at Marvel allows me to learn from some of the best in the industry,” she says.

LeeAnn’s love for performance and storytelling began on the WHS stage. One of her favorite memories is the Junior musical Curtains!, where she had the chance to dramatically “die” on stage—a moment that captured her love for theater’s creativity and teamwork. “I’ve always loved storytelling and team sports,” she reflects. “Theater, film, and television are where those two passions intersect.”

Interestingly, her path to screenwriting wasn’t linear. She didn’t attend film school and only realized her ambition in her junior year of college. Classes that fueled her creativity—like a Lord of the Rings course where she met her writing partner—proved more valuable than a formal film curriculum. “Honestly, your coursework and school don’t matter as much as following your passion and putting in the work. Take classes that excite you. Even astrophysics was fun, even if I rarely use it professionally,” she laughs.

Her advice to rising WHS stars aiming for creative careers is simple but powerful: stay excited. Success rarely comes overnight, and the road is long. But if you maintain your passion and keep learning, the results will follow. “Keep your excitement for the craft, put in the hard work, and you’ll make it,” she says.

LeeAnn Patrick’s journey from the Woodside stage to the Marvel studio lot is a testament to the power of creativity, persistence, and following your own path—reminding all aspiring artists that the next big story could be theirs.

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