Wendy Calhoun doesn't just tell stories. She breaks the mold they came in. A Peabody Award-winning writer-producer and director, Wendy has shaped defining television: Empire, Justified, Prodigal Son, Nashville — and pioneered formats most writers haven't discovered yet. Known for crafting authentic Gen Z characters and amplifying underrepresented voices on screen, she's currently developing a new scripted series with CBS Studios for Netflix. Wendy stays ahead of the moment by envisioning the future of entertainment.
BIO
Some writers find their lane. Wendy Calhoun carves new ones.
Award-winning writer-producer and director, Wendy is a boundary-pushing storyteller who moves fluidly across formats, screens, and continents. In 2025, she directed Secrets of Vixen, the CandyJar app's first all-Black cast vertical soap — assembling an Atlanta crew of women and people of color in key roles. The experience ignited a deep dive into vertical filmmaking as an emerging cinematic language, leading her to teach the format most recently at the Directors Guild of Slovenia, Trieste's American Corner, and the University of Rome.
Her scripted television credits range from co-executive producer on the culture-defining first season of Fox's Empire; writer-producer on the debut seasons of The Rookie: Feds, Prodigal Son, Station 19, Revenge, Nashville, and Justified — honored on the WGA's 101 Best Written TV Series of the last century and recognized with a Peabody Award. She has received two WGA Best New Series nominations.
She is currently developing a new scripted series inspired by DeVon Franklin's It Takes a Woman with CBS Studios for Netflix. After developing over a dozen new series, she's always crafting a fresh story to take to market — including a feature, a TV series, and microdrama pitches this spring.
Beyond the writers' room, Wendy serves on the board of the Geena Davis Institute, mentors through Film Independent's Global Media Makers program, and has spoken at the Clinton Global Initiative, Harvard Medical School, Sundance, and the Austin Film Festival.
An honored NYU Tisch alumna. Based in Los Angeles. Always in motion.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Moderator, Directing in the Now
March 6, 2026 | 5:00–6:00 PM PT | Los Angeles
Wendy moderates the Alliance of Women Directors, International Women's Day Salon discussion on authorship, responsibility, and creative courage with directors Jen McGowan and Patricia Riggen.
Alumni Panelist, NYU Presidential Reception
March 26, 2026 | 6:00–8:00 PM PT | Los Angeles
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
Wendy joins fellow NYU Tisch alumni for an exclusive evening with NYU President Linda G. Mills at the stunning Academy Museum of Motion Pictures — a rare opportunity to hear from some of the university's most accomplished graduates working at the intersection of art, culture, and storytelling. Register Here
Host Committee, Building a Future That Works for Women
March 27, 2026 | 9:00 AM–12:00 PM PT | Los Angeles
Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles
Mount Saint Mary's University's landmark annual event exploring how the future of work is changing and how women are shaping what comes next. Now in its 15th year, one of California's most comprehensive examinations of gender equity in action.
