Thada Catalon
Screenwriter | Producer | Educator

Thada Catalon is an accomplished screenwriter, producer, and educator with a career spanning film, television, and digital media. A U.S. Army veteran, she served for eight years, including as a Drill Sergeant, before transitioning into the entertainment industry in 2008; a pivotal year that marked the inception of her acting career. Since then, she has established herself as a multifaceted creative force, known for her compelling storytelling, sharp production skills, and commitment to elevating diverse voices in media.

Catalon has produced three feature films, including the critically acclaimed Created Equal, directed by Bill Duke and starring Aaron Tveit, Lou Diamond Phillips, and Edy Ganem. The film has won over a dozen festival awards, including Best Feature Film at the BronzeLens Film Festival and received Imagen Award nominations for Best Actor and Best Actress. Her debut project, the urban crime drama Because I Love You, showcased her ability to produce a compelling narrative that also turned a profit. Her subsequent feature, Flashes, not only featured a stellar cast including Donny Boaz, Tom Sizemore, and Christopher Judge but also secured her the inaugural Houston Filmmaker Grant. Additionally, she co-wrote, directed, and produced the short film Karma: The Tale of a Woman Scorned, which had its television premiere on Revolt TV's Short & Fresh series.

As a screenwriter, Catalon's work has been recognized in numerous competitions. Her feature scripts Amber’s Alert, Bad Romance, and A Vote for Truth have been finalists, semi-finalists, and quarterfinalists in prestigious contests, including Urbanworld, ScreenCraft’s Screenwriting Fellowship, Arts in the Armed Forces Bridge Award, and the Atlanta Film Festival Screenwriting Competition. In 2019, she was selected in the top 3% of over 11,000 applicants for Ron Howard and Brian Grazer’s Imagine Impact screenwriting program. She also reached the finals of the 2020 Austin Film Festival pitch competition and was selected for the STARZ #TakeTheLead and the Veterans in Media & Entertainment TV Creatives Mentorship Program.

In addition to her work in film and television, Catalon is an advocate for education in the entertainment industry. As an Adjunct Professor, she taught filmmaking and screenwriting at the Art Institute of Houston and founded Diversity in Cinema Academy, an online multimedia platform dedicated to educating aspiring filmmakers and amplifying underrepresented voices. Through online courses, webinars, and digital content, she helps emerging storytellers navigate the business and creative aspects of filmmaking.

Catalon’s academic achievements further underscore her expertise, holding four degrees: a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, a Master of Science in Digital Marketing, a Master of Business Administration, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Her diverse educational background complements her ability to craft impactful stories and navigate the ever-evolving media landscape.

Currently based in Atlanta, Georgia, Catalon continues to develop independent feature films, television projects, and digital content. Her ultimate goal is to contribute to a writer's room, deepen her experience in television production, and continue telling bold, thought-provoking stories that leave a lasting impact.