I am Wendy Jo Carlton, a filmmaker and storyteller based in Chicago. I directed my first feature, Hannah Free, in 2009, and went on to helm Jamie and Jessie Are Not Together, which has been lauded as a pioneering lesbian rom-com musical. My work spans feature films, a Netflix documentary, and the award-winning web series Easy Abby, which has garnered millions of online views. I founded Chicks Make Flicks to empower teen girls through media literacy, earned an MFA in Film from the University of Illinois, Chicago, and my shorts have screened at AFI and Sundance. My latest LGBTQ feature Lucy is a Loser is currently in post-production in Chicago (2025).

Wendy Jo Carlton

I am Wendy Jo Carlton, a filmmaker and storyteller based in Chicago. I directed my first feature, Hannah Free, in 2009, and went on to helm Jamie and Jessie Are Not Together, which has been lauded as a pioneering lesbian rom-com musical. My work spans feature films, a Netflix documentary, and the award-winning web series Easy Abby, which has garnered millions of online views. I founded Chicks Make Flicks to empower teen girls through media literacy, earned an MFA in Film from the University of Illinois, Chicago, and my shorts have screened at AFI and Sundance. My latest LGBTQ feature Lucy is a Loser is currently in post-production in Chicago (2025).

Available to hire

I am Wendy Jo Carlton, a filmmaker and storyteller based in Chicago. I directed my first feature, Hannah Free, in 2009, and went on to helm Jamie and Jessie Are Not Together, which has been lauded as a pioneering lesbian rom-com musical. My work spans feature films, a Netflix documentary, and the award-winning web series Easy Abby, which has garnered millions of online views. I founded Chicks Make Flicks to empower teen girls through media literacy, earned an MFA in Film from the University of Illinois, Chicago, and my shorts have screened at AFI and Sundance. My latest LGBTQ feature Lucy is a Loser is currently in post-production in Chicago (2025).

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Director at Hannah Free
December 31, 2009 - October 10, 2025
Directed her first feature, Hannah Free, starring Emmy-winner Sharon Gless.
Associate Producer at Circus of Books
December 31, 2021 - October 10, 2025
Associate Producer on the award-winning Netflix documentary Circus of Books (2021).
Director at Lucy is a Loser
January 1, 2025 - Present
Latest LGBTQ feature Lucy is a Loser; in post-production in Chicago in 2025.
Director
January 1, 2009 - Present
Directed Hannah Free (2009), a feature film starring Emmy-winner Sharon Gless.

Education

MFA at The University of Illinois at Chicago
January 1, 2000 - December 31, 2003
BA at Grand Valley State University, Michigan
January 1, 1992 - December 31, 1996
MFA at The University of Illinois at Chicago
January 1, 2015 - December 31, 2017
BA at Grand Valley State University
January 1, 2000 - December 31, 2004
MFA Moving Image at University of Illinois at Chicago
January 11, 2030 - August 31, 2025
BS Communication with Filmmaking Emphasis at Grand Valley State University
January 11, 2030 - August 31, 2025
Certificate Story Development at University of Washington, Seattle
January 11, 2030 - August 31, 2025
MFA in Moving Image at The University of Illinois at Chicago
January 11, 2030 - October 10, 2025
BA in Communications, Film at Grand Valley State University
January 11, 2030 - October 10, 2025
Certificate, Story Development at The University of Washington, Seattle
January 11, 2030 - October 10, 2025
MFA in Moving Image at The University of Illinois at Chicago
January 11, 2030 - October 10, 2025
BA in Communications, Film at Grand Valley State University
January 11, 2030 - October 10, 2025
Certificate, Story Development at The University of Washington, Seattle
January 11, 2030 - October 10, 2025
MFA in Moving Image at The University of Illinois at Chicago
January 11, 2030 - October 10, 2025
BA in Communications, Film at Grand Valley State University
January 11, 2030 - October 10, 2025
Certificate, Story Development at The University of Washington, Seattle
January 11, 2030 - October 10, 2025
MFA in Film at University of Illinois, Chicago
January 11, 2030 - October 10, 2025
MFA in Film at University of Illinois, Chicago
January 11, 2030 - October 10, 2025
MFA Moving Image at University of Illinois at Chicago
January 11, 2030 - November 26, 2025
BS in Communications with Film Making Emphasis at Grand Valley State University
January 11, 2030 - November 26, 2025
Certificate Story Development at University of Washington, Seattle
January 11, 2030 - November 26, 2025
MFA, Film & Digital Media at University of Illinois at Chicago
January 11, 2030 - December 27, 2025
BA, Communications (Film Emphasis) at Grand Valley State University
January 11, 2030 - December 27, 2025
Certificate, Story Development at University of Washington
January 11, 2030 - December 27, 2025
MFA Moving Image at University of Illinois at Chicago
January 11, 2030 - December 28, 2025
BS in Communications with Film Making Emphasis at Grand Valley State University
January 11, 2030 - December 28, 2025
Certificate Story Development at University of Washington, Seattle
January 11, 2030 - December 28, 2025
MFA, Film & Digital Media at University of Illinois at Chicago
January 11, 2030 - December 30, 2025
BA, Communications (Film Emphasis) at Grand Valley State University
January 11, 2030 - December 30, 2025
Certificate, Story Development at University of Washington
January 11, 2030 - December 30, 2025
MFA, Film & Digital Media at University of Illinois at Chicago
January 11, 2030 - December 30, 2025
BA, Communications (Film Emphasis) at Grand Valley State University
January 11, 2030 - December 30, 2025
Certificate, Story Development at University of Washington
January 11, 2030 - December 30, 2025
Master of Fine Arts at University of Illinois at Chicago
January 11, 2030 - January 27, 2026
Bachelor of Arts in Communications (Film Emphasis) at Grand Valley State University
January 11, 2030 - January 27, 2026
Certificate, Story Development at University of Washington
January 11, 2030 - January 27, 2026
Master of Fine Arts (MFA) at University of Illinois at Chicago
January 11, 2030 - January 27, 2026
Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Communications (Film Emphasis) at Grand Valley State University
January 11, 2030 - January 27, 2026
Certificate in Story Development at University of Washington
January 11, 2030 - January 27, 2026
MFA, Film & Digital Media at University of Illinois at Chicago
January 11, 2030 - January 30, 2026
BA, Communications (Film Emphasis) at Grand Valley State University
January 11, 2030 - January 30, 2026
Certificate, Story Development at University of Washington
January 11, 2030 - January 30, 2026
MFA, Film & Digital Media at University of Illinois at Chicago
January 11, 2030 - January 31, 2026
BA, Communications (Film Emphasis) at Grand Valley State University
January 11, 2030 - January 31, 2026
Certificate, Story Development at University of Washington
January 11, 2030 - January 31, 2026
MFA, Film & Digital Media at University of Illinois at Chicago
January 11, 2030 - March 3, 2026
BA, Communications (Film Emphasis) at Grand Valley State University
January 11, 2030 - March 3, 2026
Certificate, Story Development at University of Washington
January 11, 2030 - March 3, 2026
MFA Moving Image at University of Illinois at Chicago
January 11, 2030 - March 25, 2026
BS in Communications with Film Making Emphasis at Grand Valley State University
January 11, 2030 - March 25, 2026
Certificate Story Development at University of Washington, Seattle
January 11, 2030 - March 25, 2026
MFA, Film & Digital Media at University of Illinois at Chicago
January 11, 2030 - April 12, 2026
BA, Communications (Film Emphasis) at Grand Valley State University
January 11, 2030 - April 12, 2026
Certificate, Story Development at University of Washington
January 11, 2030 - April 12, 2026
Master of Fine Arts in Film at University of Illinois, Chicago
January 11, 2030 - May 2, 2026

Qualifications

Story Development Certificate
January 11, 2030 - July 18, 2025
Certificate in Story Development
January 11, 2030 - August 31, 2025
Certificate, Story Development
January 11, 2030 - October 10, 2025
Certificate in Story Development
January 11, 2030 - October 10, 2025
MFA in Film
January 11, 2030 - October 10, 2025
Certificate Story Development
January 11, 2030 - November 26, 2025
Certificate, Story Development
January 11, 2030 - December 27, 2025
Certificate, Story Development
January 11, 2030 - December 30, 2025
Certificate, Story Development
January 11, 2030 - December 30, 2025
Certificate, Story Development
January 11, 2030 - January 27, 2026
Certificate in Story Development
January 11, 2030 - January 27, 2026
MFA, Film & Digital Media
January 11, 2030 - January 27, 2026
BA, Communications (Film Emphasis)
January 11, 2030 - January 27, 2026
Certificate, Story Development
January 11, 2030 - January 27, 2026
Story Development Certificate
January 11, 2030 - January 30, 2026
Story Development Certificate
January 11, 2030 - January 31, 2026
Certificate, Story Development
January 11, 2030 - March 3, 2026
Certificate Story Development
January 11, 2030 - March 25, 2026
Certificate, Story Development
January 11, 2030 - April 12, 2026

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Education, Non-Profit Organization, Professional Services, Other, Telecommunications, Software & Internet, Government