~ THE ORIGIN STORY ~

 DETERMINED TO BUILD A DREAM 

At the willful age of 14 - with more courage than caution - Melanie loaded camping gear onto her back and with her pony, Misty, and her Border Collie, Ginger, she set out to traverse 3,000 miles of backroads across America to Hollywood - alone. She didn’t reach her dream that time, but the opportunity would circle back decades later.

Her film career began in 2008, when she began volunteering on independent film sets in all aspects of production: as a production assistant "gofer", and then in wardrobe, props, craft services, as a slate girl, boom operator, camera assistant & more. Four years later, she was given the opportunity to produce and direct her own first film - a 30-minute featurette - which won some nice awards and was purchased for global distribution on the ShortsTV channel - a stellar success for a first time director and proving that passion has no expiration date and that belief in yourself can rewrite any story.

In 2012, she founded Topp Scot Productions, an independent film and television company committed to creating cinematic experiences with soul. 

From the adrenaline-fueled action of Phoenix 454, set against the dangerous night streets of Los Angeles, to the lush green Appalachian landscapes and emotional “heart-grabs” of Eden Falls, Melanie and her team create cinematic stories that entertain, uplift, and resonate worldwide.

Because some dreams don’t fade - they wait for you to become strong enough to claim them.

THE TRAGEDY TO TEST HER LIMITS

In September 2024, Melanie's life was changed in the blink of an eye in a catastrophic horseback riding accident in Colorado that left her with many broken bones and unable to walk.  Before she could regain her footing and begin the long healing process, Hurricane Helene swept through her home in the mountains of Western North Carolina, causing widespread destruction never before seen in the area.  Whole communities were washed away and many lives lost.  Whole counties lost communication when cell phone towers were taken out, as well as electricity and water. Roads were washed away or blocked by downed trees. Basic necessities like food, water and health care became scarce in her home that now resembled a dystopian horror movie. 

Faced with rebuilding her health and her future at the same time, Melanie managed to continue to create. The experience deepened her understanding of courage, community, survival, and the profound human need for home. It also strengthened her commitment to telling stories rooted in emotional truth, cinematic beauty, and the resilience of ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances.

Melanie brings that same tenacity to every project she develops. She understands that filmmaking demands vision, adaptability, leadership, and the determination to keep moving when the road becomes difficult.

She has lived those qualities, not merely written about them.