NYFA Alum Lena Murisier on her career and co-writing the feature film "A Girl Like Him"

In this Q&A, we sit down with NYFA One-Year Screenwriting alum Lena Murisier, co-writer and associate producer of the film A Girl Like Him, now streaming on Amazon Prime and Apple TV. From her early days growing up in Switzerland to breaking into the world of screenwriting in Hollywood, Lena shares her inspiring journey, her creative process, and the lessons she learned along the way. 

NYFA Alumni Network: Can you tell us a bit about yourself, where you're from, and what brought you to New York Film Academy?

Lena Murisier (L.M.): I’m originally from Switzerland, with family on both the French and German sides, so I grew up speaking both languages. I started my career working in hospitality, then moved into advertising. Working in an advertising agency was exciting. I loved the fast paced environment of it all. But even though I was learning a lot and was surrounded by great people, I couldn’t shake this feeling that there was more out there. I was young, curious and constantly drawn to new paths. Every job seemed fascinating to me and the idea of choosing just one felt limiting. If you ask me, that’s probably why I love screenwriting so much, because it lets me live all those lives. All the jobs, all the emotions, all the stories… in one lifetime. I feel lucky I get to do that. 

But let’s get back to how it started. In 2017, while I was still working at the agency, I came across an article talking about showrunners, the minds behind some of the greatest shows ever made… I remember reading the article and thinking, Wait wait wait… this is a job?! People get paid to make this stuff up? That was my lightbulb moment.

Not long after, I saw an ad in a Swiss newspaper about the New York Film Academy (NYFA). The school was coming to Geneva to present their programs, it felt like a sign and I was in. First, I did a short-term directing course, then a one-year screenwriting program in Los Angeles. It was super hands-on, exactly what I needed. I got to write so much material and shoot short films right on the backlots of Universal Studios which was surreal. We were filming where they had just shot Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and walking through the same streets as Desperate Housewives, The Good Place, Pirates of the Caribbean, and so many iconic shows and films. Sometimes we’d have to stop mid-shot because a tour bus would drive by and visitors would photograph us. For a second, you kinda felt like Spielberg.

Living in LA and being surrounded by people who all wanted the same thing, to tell stories, felt like a dream come true. After graduating, I attended the Hollywood Pitch Fest. Hundreds of producers and writers packed into one room, and you had five minutes to convince someone to believe in your story. NYFA had prepared us well for pitching, and thanks to that, I was able to pitch like a pro and land a deal with one of the producers I met there. That show was the one I wrote while at NYFA and it was my very first series ever. It got optioned. I suddenly found myself in an office on Sunset Boulevard talking about which actors and actresses would make my dream cast. For someone from a small town in Switzerland, it was definitely a pinch-me moment. 

I also signed with my manager around that time. That’s when it all started to feel real. It meant stepping into the shoes of a professional writer, which was both exciting and terrifying. Not everything has been easy since then, this industry can be tough and unpredictable, but I’ve never once questioned the choice. I get to wake up every day and do the thing I love most: tell stories.

NYFA Alumni Network: What projects have you worked on since graduating? Have you won any awards or been showcased in any festivals or competitions?

L.M: Yes! My TV pilot Bonnie & Bonnie placed in nearly 20 competitions and really kickstarted everything for me. It got me signed and led to my first offer in Hollywood. After that, I was hired to write a feature adaptation called 5895, and then came A Girl Like Him, which I co-wrote and was an associate producer on. The movie was selected by Cyndi Lauper’s charity True Colors United for its premiere and placed in numerous festivals such as the Toronto International Women Film Festival, the World Film Festival in Cannes and the New York Independent Awards. A Girl Like Him is now streaming on Apple TV and Amazon Prime. 

NYFA Alumni Network: Tell us more about A Girl Like Him and how you got involved in the project.

L.M: Amy S. Weber, the director of A Girl Like Her (2015), reached out to me after coming across some of my previous work. She connected with a theme I often explore: what it means to find your place in a world that doesn’t always make space for you. We got on a call that lasted almost two hours, and by the end of it, we both knew we were going to work together.

A Girl Like Him is a deeply emotional story about growing up, finding yourself, and navigating love, friendship, and identity, all while dealing with bullying and the pressure to conform. It’s centered around high school, and we really wanted it to feel authentic. We co-wrote the script and did a lot of table reads, but what truly helped shape the final draft was the feedback we got directly from high school students. Hearing their perspectives grounded the film even more in truth.

On this project, I also stepped into the role of associate producer, which meant I was involved in many creative decisions including the casting process, which I got to do alongside Amy. It was such an honor. I have to give a huge shout out to the entire cast, they brought so much depth, vulnerability, and heart to their roles. They’re truly the next generation of big actors, and watching them breathe life into these characters was a real privilege. And then, of course, the incredible Tovah Feldshuh joined us and the whole project just elevated.

Amy and I always say this film came together the way it was supposed to. It truly attracted the right people at the right time. We also personally connected to the subject matter in different ways, and I think that’s what gave the writing process so much heart. It was a very collaborative, intuitive experience.

I’m incredibly proud of this film. It means so much to me, and I’m so grateful it’s out there in the world for people to discover, currently on Amazon Prime and Apple TV.

NYFA Alumni Network: What did you learn at NYFA that you applied directly to this project and others?

L.M: NYFA taught me how to take feedback and actually use it to make my work stronger. Another huge takeaway was building a real writing habit. Not just writing when I feel inspired, but writing like it’s a job, because it is my job. NYFA gave me so much practical experience and structure. I learned how to respect deadlines, and over time, I became a much faster writer. Now I write constantly, and that consistency has made all the difference.

It also gave me something just as valuable: a community. Many of my teachers stayed important to me even after I graduated. Before I had representation, some of them would advise me on my contracts. One of my teachers even gave me my first experience in a writers’ room after graduating. I’m beyond thankful for that. 

I think NYFA gave me a space to dream and the tools to believe in that dream. Through working closely with the teachers and the tutors, I was able to strengthen my writing in a way that genuinely launched my career. I’m really grateful for that foundation.

NYFA Alumni Network: Do you have any advice for upcoming screenwriters?

L.M: Write what scares you. Write the stuff that feels too personal, too messy, that’s where the gold is. I think for me, Bonnie & Bonnie was that project. It felt real and personal to me. And I guess A Girl Like Him is that too, I could connect to the main character’s feeling of not fitting in entirely. I also want to add for all the writers who are starting in Hollywood or elsewhere, don’t wait for someone to give you permission. I built my entire career on cold emails and bold outreach. I created a network I wouldn’t have even dared to dream of, all from just putting myself out there. Be brave and stay curious. Don’t overthink selling your project. What really matters… is you. You are the product. So keep creating stories, keep pitching them but shift some of your goals. Your goal isn’t just to sell the pitch, it's to get invited to pitch again. And again. That’s how you build trust and longevity. Every project I’ve worked on, even the ones that didn’t become “public wins,” brought me something valuable, a manager, an agent, a new opportunity, a room I never thought I’d be in. That’s how you build a career. Keep showing up.

NYFA Alumni Network: Are you working on any future projects?

L.M: Yes, a lot of them! I’m currently working on a couple of TV shows in Switzerland with producers and on a thriller I’m developing with one of my early mentors for the American market. There’s another series I’m working on with a producer in the UK. I’m also revisiting a comedy pilot I had the chance to pitch to Universal a few years back. I’m always juggling multiple projects, whether features, series or documentaries. The hard part about being a working writer is carving out time for your own personal stories but I try to protect that space whenever I can.

And I have to say, I carry a lot of gratitude for the places that shaped me. Los Angeles taught me about resilience, about hard work, about writing habits. It taught me that being a writer is not just about talent, it’s about persistence and community and the people who believe in your voice.

At the same time, I feel so lucky to be developing projects in my home country, where I’ve found a thriving industry full of incredibly smart, talented people. Crew, cast, producers and executives who care deeply about the stories being told. There’s something really exciting happening in Switzerland and I’m so proud to be a part of a wave of Swiss creators.

I’ve felt incredibly proud seeing some of my US projects make their way to Switzerland and I can’t wait for the day one of my Swiss projects makes it to the screens in the US. Because to me, that’s what storytelling is really about: creating something rooted in where you come from and watching it resonate somewhere completely different. It’s not about choosing one place over the other, it’s about building bridges between them. And I think that’s the magic we carry as artists, reminding us how connected we all are.

NYFA Alumni Network congratulates Lena on all her success!

You can now watch A Girl Like Him on Amazon Prime and Apple TV.