Monica has a bachelor’s in Russian language and literature from Pitzer College in Claremont, CA, and a master’s degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute. Her professional background is in journalism and corporate entertainment, with the KNBC-TV Los Angeles newsroom, NBC West Coast business development, the e-commerce division at Universal Music Group (eCAT, Global e), Open Radio (Moscow), The St. Petersburg Times (Russia) and The Vladivostok News (Russia).
Monica has worked as an assistant to screenwriter Dana Stevens (Julie & Julia, The Deep Blue Goodbye, Life or Something Like It, For Love of the Game, City of Angels, Blink, “What About Brian” for ABC/Bad Robot) and has provided screenplay coverage for both the Edward S. Feldman Company (Witness, The Truman Show, Green Card, K:19 The Widowmaker, The Hitcher) and Mutual Film Company (Saving Private Ryan, Wonder Boys, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Snakes on a Plane).
She is currently a screenwriting competition reader and provides screenplay coverage, expanded coverage and story rewrite notes on a freelance basis for writers, producers and directors.