first things, first…
nice to meet you!
I’m Mary Beth McAndrews, a filmmaker, critic, academic, podcaster, editor, and all-around horror film nerd. I’m currently the editor-in-chief at Dread Central—one of the biggest horror film sites in the world—as well as a director and producer. My feature film debut, Bystanders, is out now on VOD. I’ve written for places such as RogerEbert.com, Slash Film, Thrillist, Film School Rejects, Bright Wall/Dark Room, Paste Magazine, Polygon, and Fangoria. I’ve also been published in two academic texts and have an upcoming book on Paranormal Activity (2009). You can read my words and hear my voice in physical releases for places such as Second Sight Releasing, Vinegar Syndrome, and Umbrella Entertainment.
I’ve worked in media for over a decade and have had some pretty incredible experiences, from interviewing A-list celebrities to wrangling celebrity dogs to interviewing a man about his massive pterosaur fossil collection. Learn more about my career below!
Work
Editor-in-Chief | Dread Central | August 2021 to Present
• Created an SEO strategy that led to a 183% increase in site traffic
• Manages the editorial calendar with a team of staff writers and freelancers, editing and publishing every piece published on the site.
• Collaborates with the managing editor to craft and execute an ad sales strategy, expanding our revenue to sponsored editorial content, custom newsletters, and more.
• Manages the editorial budget for Dread Central.
• Creates strategic partnerships with brands, film festivals, fan conventions, and other publications across the horror space.
• Interviews A-list celebrities, legendary directors, actors, composers, and more for both text and video publication.
Freelance Writer and Editor | May 2018 to Present
• Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic with features, reviews, and interviews published in popular entertainment sites such as RogerEbert.com, Slash Film, Thrillist, Paste Magazine, and Film School Rejects
• Contributed essays and commentary tracks for companies such as Second Sight Releasing, OCN, Umbrella Entertainment, and more.
• Published essays in books, Queering the Vampire and Filtered Reality
• Podcast host of Scarred for Life, a podcast where we interview a guest about the film that terrified them as a kid
• Served as a content editor for Film Cred and collaborated with a team of freelancers to produce content for an emerging website.
Digital and Communications Specialist | Humane Rescue Alliance | October 2019 to August 2021
• Planned, produced, and edited original video content that raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support fundraising campaigns.
• Managed the organization’s social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
• Engaged and collaborated with staff on a daily basis for potential success stories, fundraising opportunities, and adoptable animals.
• Coordinated with freelance photographers and videographers to execute tentpole campaigns
• Wrote and edited content for the Alliance magazine, a publication sent to the donor base to keep them updated on HRA’s programs, services, and successes.
Video Editing Intern | Media Burn Archive | September 2018 to June 2019
• Researched content in the archive that will support the mission of the relevance of the past
• Utilized archive content to cut trailers to send to external partners to promote film screenings and events
• Created a content series that highlights the work of female filmmakers
Edition Editor | National Geographic | March 2017 to August 2018
• Managed a team of editors and designers to manage daily deliverables and deadlines.
• Developed an original series for Snapchat that evolved into cross-platform content to generate more views and engagement that aligned with National Geographic’s tentpoles and stakeholder priorities. This included regular features on the Instagram page and digital exclusive executions included in the magazine.
• Developed a successful series utilizing National Geographic photographers and their first-person perspectives of their subjects, titled Through The Lens.
• Analyzed daily analytics and applied them to the overall Snapchat strategy.
• In charge of the platform’s content management system, programming the content schedule, edition layout, the overall UX, and copy editing.
Associate Digital Producer | Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Science Channel | March 2016 to March 2017
• Daily management of the main social accounts for Discovery, Animal Planet, Science Channel, and Shark Week
• Collaborated with external partners on digital campaigns, particularly Instagram takeovers with photographers and Instagram-famous pets. This strategy led to exponential growth across platforms, including Discovery’s follower count growing from 1.9 million to 3.5 million in one year.
• Worked closely with the ad sales team to create assets for clients, such as Subaru, 7-Eleven, and GrubHub.
• Developed and executed social strategies to support show premieres and tentpoles, such as Puppy Bowl, Shark Week, and Monster Week.
Social Media Coordinator | Animal Planet | June 2015 to March 2016
• Social and digital lead for shows such as Finding Bigfoot and North Woods Law
• Managed Animal Planet’s presence across platforms, from Facebook and Twitter to Tumblr and Instagram
• Maintained the Animal Planet website, from building webpages to uploading video content
• Coordinated with show talent as well as marketing, publicity, and production teams to execute digital promotion
• Developed relationships with production companies to maximize social and digital opportunities
• Contributed original editorial content to the Bites blog
• Assisted in the management of the digital team’s Spring 2016 intern
mary beth mcandrews 