BIO
Alyssa is currently the Health & Safety Coordinator on the Paramount+ miniseries "The Offer" , and while she believes health and safety on set, especially during COVID, are of the utmost importance, her heart lies in writing. Between 2018 and 2020, she wrote, produced, and directed the webseries "Total Party Kill", about a group of livestream TTRPGers that find themselves in government-mandated quarantine after accidentally livestreaming the onset of the apocalypse. She also wrote two award-winning short films making the festival rounds in 2020 and 2021 ("Down, Boy" and "AE-1").
Born in New Hampshire and living in Ireland for a year and a half when she was a kid, Alyssa often felt out-of-place but never let that dull her quirk (for better or worse). Growing upon a steady diet of fantasy novels, video games, TTRPGs, Shakespeare, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and later, the reboot of "Battlestar Galactica", Alyssa enjoyed living in fantastical worlds with grounded characters. She began to hone her innate gift with language into a skill for natural, witty dialogue. After attending the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and securing a BFA in Acting, Alyssa moved to Los Angeles to pursue an even truer love: writing. She's been working steadily in Production for a decade, and as a bisexual feminist is particularly drawn to female, queer-driven narratives.
Alyssa often writes and collaborates with her producing partner, Aaron Hammersley.
She also feels mildly awkward writing this entire bio in third person, but would like you to know that she refers to herself as a "Caustic Marshmallow" due to her witty, acerbic exterior and soft, mushy interior. But don't say anything, can't ruin a reputation, ya know?
Come Away, Death Budget: $1M - $5M | Thriller ⋄ Horror Following the unexpected death of their mother, two estranged siblings find themselves facing a growing evil when they’re forced to clean out their childhood home. THE LODGE meets THE CONJURING, COME AWAY, DEATH is a rollercoaster of unresolved feelings exacerbated by a sinister presence committed to the family’s ruin. By: Alyssa Appleton & Aaron Hammersley
"AE-1" Audience Award: Best Sci-Fi Short, Lady Filmmakers Festival
(2021)
"AE-1" Best Sci-Fi Short, Frostbite International Indie Fest
(2020)
"Down, Boy" Finalist: Best Horror Dark Comedy Micro Film, Portland Comedy Festival
(2020)
"Down, Boy" Semi-Finalist: Best Short, Short Fest
(2020)
The University of the Arts
(2006-2010)