Lauren Ciaravalli is a Webby Award winning Director and WGA Award nominated Writer who works across commercial and narrative formats.

Passionate about representing women and young people through quality, artistic storytelling, Lauren got her break writing and directing YA and romantic comedies for youth culture studios AwesomenessTV and BratTV. She’s since taken her knack for human-centric, boldly imaginative, courageously authentic storytelling to just about every narrative, unscripted, and digital format in the modern media landscape.

No matter the project, the goal is always the same — forge a connection with the viewer’s heart, and stay there.

On the commercial side, Lauren often works as a Creative Director/Director hybrid. Her specialities include talent-driven pieces and social media campaigns, consistently scoring millions of views for brands on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and beyond. Best known for bringing warmth and memorable creativity to CPG, tech, and beauty categories, her clients include Spotify, Netflix, DoorDash, IKEA, LEGO, L’Oreal, and many more. During her time working internally at Condé Nast, Lauren helmed videos for brands advertising with Vanity Fair, Bon Appétit, Architectural Digest, TeenVogue, and more.

Awards

  • Webby Award Winner "Best Social Commerce/Shopping Campaign" 2024

  • Gotham Institute "Branded Storyteller to Watch" 2024

  • Commercial Directors Diversity Program Semi-Finalist, 2023, 2022

  • Live Action Director of L.O.L. Surprise! The Movie (2021) - a Netflix Top 10 film

  • WGA Award Nomination, New Media Shortform Original, 2019

  • Nickelodeon Writing Program 2015

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Lauren’s unique combination of narrative and commercial skills earned her the job as Live Action Director of L.O.L. Surprise: The Movie (Netflix). A flagship project for MGA Entertainment, the film peaked as the #6 Most Popular Movie on Netflix USA, as well as appearing on the Top 10 list in Australia, Canada, France, and more. Her extensive experience in the lifestyle and docu-style space includes writing, producing and directing multiple digital series starring Gen-Z stars Ariel "Baby Ariel" Martin, recording artist/TV personality Kenzie Ziegler, and fashion influencer Denzel Dion.

On the scripted side, Lauren has developed with Jennifer Lopez's Nuyorican Productions and has been a fellow of both the Nickelodeon Writing Program and Gotham TV Series Lab. In 2019 she was tapped to direct Season 1 of BratTV’s series SUNNYSIDE UP. Prior to that, AwesomenessTV hired Lauren to write and direct an episode of the romance anthology series LOVE DAILY (Paramount+), for which she earned a WGA Award Nomination. Her recent short film, HEART LAND, is a dance-infused romantic comedy that played at Oscar-qualifying festivals around the country.

Prior to embarking on her directorial career, Lauren earned a BFA in Film & TV from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and spent nearly a decade working on Emmy Award winning television comedies including Transparent (Amazon) and Better Things (FX).

Press

“The Gotham Sets Inaugural Lineup of Branded Storytellers To Watch”

JUNE 24, 2024

SHOOT! Magazine

“Nominations for the 2019 Writers Guild Awards”

DECEMBER 6, 2018