HELLO, I'M
Hayley Tibbenham
Writer | Performer | Filmmaker
Hayley Tibbenham
American Film Institute Conservatory
MFA in Screenwriting
Class of 2022
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University of Michigan
BMA in Voice Performance
Minor in Creative Writing
Class of 2020
About
MY STORY
Hayley Tibbenham is a writer and performer fascinated with music, magic, and messed-up ladies. Born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit as the daughter of two engineers, Hayley rebelled by attending music school with hopes of becoming an opera singer. However, she soon surrendered to her love of film after her short – which she wrote, directed, and starred in – was invited to the Cannes Film Festival Short Film Corner. Since then, Hayley’s scripts have won the Humanitas Prize for College Drama and the Fadiman Award for Screenwriting, along with placing in the Top 50 Semifinalists of the Nicholl Fellowship. Hayley now writes and sings in Los Angeles, but remains a proud ranch dressing-obsessed midwesterner.
Education
WHAT I’VE LEARNED
2020-2022
The American Film Institute Conservatory – Los Angeles, California
Screenwriting Fellow
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Wrote three spec features – Coming of Age Dramedy, Period Drama Romance, Dark Comedy Thriller
Wrote three television specs – Yellowstone/Succession Crossover; Law and Order: Special Victims Unit; What We Do in the Shadows
Wrote one television pilot – One-Hour Music Drama
Wrote four produced narrative short films – Action Rom-Com; Dystopian Thriller; Period Dramas
2016--2020
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, MI; Class of 2020
Bachelor of Music Arts; Voice Performance
Minor in Creative Writing
James B. Angell Scholar
BMA Coursework -- Voice, Acting (for Stage and Camera), Movement, Composition, Film Scoring, Music Theory, and Piano
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Additional Coursework -- Film Production, Screenwriting, Fiction Writing, Playwriting, Literature, and History
2012-2016
Walled Lake Central High School – Commerce, MI; Class of 2016
Graduated with Highest Honors
Film
IN FRONT OF & BEHIND THE CAMERA
AVES: An AFI Thesis Film, 2022
Co-Writer
Directed by Eli Snyder
Written by Eli Snyder, Kevin Sweeney, and Hayley Tibbenham
Dark psychological thriller; short film premiering early 2023
Performing
SONG & STAGE
THE ROMANTIC
Britton Recital Hall, December 2019
A one woman show about composer Clara Schumann
Featuring the songs of Clara & Robert Schumann, Johannes Brahms
Written and performed by Hayley Tibbenham
PORGY AND BESS
Inhuman: A Short Film, 2019
Writer, Director, Lead Actress (Alice)
Cannes Film Festival - Short Film Corner 2019
Best Shorts Competition - Award of Recognition: Women Filmmakers
Accolade Global Film Competition - Official Selection
Detroit SheTown Film Festival - Official Selection
Hell's Half Mile Film & Music Festival - Official Selection
Orlando Film Festival - Official Selection
Women in Horror Festival - Semi-Finalist
Now Streaming on FilmDoo
Coppertown: Television Pilot, 2020
Creator, Showrunner
Hourlong drama; premierded December 2020
Hill Auditorium, February 2018
Under the direction of conductor Kenneth Kiesler
Female Chorus Member
First ever performance of new Critical Edition score
BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON
Power Center for the Performing Arts, November 2017
President James Monroe
Directed by Martin McGuire
Produced by MUSKET
SISTER ACT
Power Center for the Performing Arts, April 2017
Sister Mary Lazarus
Directed by Christopher Campbell
Produced by MUSKET
The Matriarch: Television Pilot, 2019
Writer, Producer
Created by Mia Flint
Hourlong drama; premiered December 2019
AVENUE Q
Power Center for the Performing Arts, November 2016
Trekkie Monster
Directed by Matt Kunkel
Produced by MUSKET
Weiner Police: A Sexy Short, 2019
Producer
Directed by Sofia Lynch, Written by Sophia Georginis
Lightworks Film Festival - Winner Best Comedy
Traverse City Film Festival - Official Selection
contact for private screener
Sisters in Cinema
Member, Producer
University of Michigan chapter est. 2019
Job Experience
WHERE I'VE WORKED
Assistant to Sam Esmail
Esmail Corp
February 2023–March 2025
The Promise of Living: Opera Workshop
McIntosh Theatre, December 2018
Featured Vocalist
Directed by Tara Faircloth
University of Michigan Choir
Hill Auditorium, September 2016-December 2017
Choral Singer (Alto) and Featured Soloist
Under the direction of Dr. Eugene Rogers
Writing Accolades
WORD BY WORD
University of Michigan: Creative Writing (Fiction) Minor
Art of the Essay workshop participant, Advanced Fiction Writing workshop participant, Poetry and Playwriting workshop participant, Hopwood Room Creative Writing Minor Reading participant
Development Intern
Esmail Corp
Sight Unseen Pictures
Dead Duck Films
Valhalla Entertainment
Priority Pictures
May 2021–February 2023
Staff Singer and Choir Member
Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church
Feb. 2014–August 2020
Seasonal Assistant Manager; Head Cashier
Phantom Fireworks of West Bloomfield
May 2017–August 2020
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Screenwriting
SONGS WITHOUT WORDS – Winner, Humanitas Carol Mendelssohn College Drama Award; Academy Nicholl Fellowship Semi-Finalist (Top 50 Scripts)
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THE ROMANTIC – The Blue List Overall Winner and Best Feature Screenplay Winner
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SALAMANDER SIX – Hopwood Award Winner in Dramatic Writing
Advanced Screenwriting seminar invitee, Pilot and Spec Script seminar invitee
Portfolios
More detailed breakdown of written works available in resume (download above). Short fiction, feature screenplay, and television writing portfolios are available upon request.
Gallery
AND HERE IS A MASSIVE COLLAGE OF MY FACE :)