It’s Darcy
work by darcy Lueking
Writer and director Darcy Lueking is a graduate of the Johnny Carson School of Theater and Film at the University of Nebraska and the Professional Program in Screenwriting at UCLA.
In her early career, Darcy worked alongside comedy tastemakers at CAA, FOX, and Broadway Video. She also produced a shockingly successful stand-up comedy show out of a living room (aptly titled Comedy Living Room) that featured performances from some of the funniest people alive.
More recently, Darcy found her niche as a ghostwriter. Over the past ten years, she has contributed to nearly 600 branded campaigns and worked alongside comedy’s most prolific directors to shape film, TV, and commercial projects.
Additionally, she writes and directs short films, music videos, and commercials from her home base in Nebraska. Her first feature film, These Small Beginnings, is in development with Caviar LA.
In her spare time, Darcy stewards a Little Free Library, gets too invested in her kids’ extracurricular activities, and botches a staggering number of DIY home projects.
powerhouse dance academy
COMING SOON!
I’ve been a fan of this Nebraska-based choreographer, Jessie Jewell, for years. Her work has such a powerful, embodied, female point of view. I loved being able to use my medium to respond to her work, which is already so emotional and evocative.
We filmed this choreography piece over two days in Central Nebraska. Our entire crew consisted of me, my DP (Brent Maze), a camera assistant ... and my mom.
The project was funded, in part, by a grant from the Nebraska Arts Council.
Fun Fact: The farmhouse location transforms every fall into Farmer Brown’s Field of Screams, a haunted Halloween attraction.
Tevra brands
There’s something especially satisfying about making a national commercial for a company that was built right here in Nebraska. Tevra Brands is an Omaha-based, women-owned pet health and wellness company with products sold through major national retailers.
This was a unique role for me, as I didn’t write or direct this project. I came to it through my friends at Panoptic Cinema, who asked me to lend a bit of production support.
This turned out to be an incredible opportunity to revisit the local talent landscape by spearheading the casting process. I had the chance to reconnect with some performers I’ve worked with in the past, as well as to meet some new, talented folks who I want to keep in mind for the future.
I always leave a casting experience with renewed inspiration. It’s one of my favorite parts of filmmaking.
I believe in love
This was my first collaboration with Alexa Kriss, a singer-songwriter from Araphaoe, Nebraska.
The concept was inspired by my real-life bachelorette party, where my friends and I wore thrifted wedding dresses and ran wild through Las Vegas.
The idea for the music video version was to throw as much joy and whimsy and girlhood onto the screen as we possibly could. It’s an effort to capture that effervescent feeling of falling in love and being loved in return.
Thus, the mermaids and improvised rooftop choreography.
Just Me
Just Me is a short film I made in response to the birth of my daughter. I wrote it in my third trimester as the hazy weight of my new role sent me on a spiral of professional and creative uncertainty.
We filmed at Hotel Deco in Omaha, and I used my actual five-month-old as the baby... which only seems like a good idea if you are truly desperate to maintain your sense of self in the upheaval of new motherhood.
Additional Work…
Find out more about my work on my official channels.