Biography
Lisa Leyva was born November 5. She is a third generation Mexican-American and native Texan. Lisa was extremely close to her maternal grandparents as a young girl. The loss of her grandfather at age 10, had a huge impact on her, making her bond with her grandmother even stronger. Lisa credits her grandmother with her success and drive, because she always made her feel unique and special, giving her an incredible confidence that would be tested, but always prevail. In honor and memory of her grandmother, she uses her family name, Leyva, professionally. Arriving in Los Angeles to a new career as a producer and forming her production company, MIGLEX Films, Lisa needed a new start. The loss of her grandmother, although, a few years earlier, still remained difficult. She was eager to make her proud and prove she was not wrong about her belief in her throughout her life. It was a challenge entering the industry as an "outsider", not coming up the traditional ranks, through film school and interning at a major studio, but she was up for it. Nothing in her life had ever been easy or a traditional path. Lisa hit the ground running, learning the film business from consulting with a distribution company, Alchemy (formerly Millennium Entertainment). There she made her first discovery for the company with the film, Bernie, starring Jack Black. The film went on to receive 22 awards and nominations, including a Golden Globe nomination. Lisa continued to work with the company as a consultant, assisting with acquiring films and building a producer network with them to build their slate of films. The experience was invaluable and led to her role as a producer. Lisa used her experience from the distribution side of the film business to create a more effective, lower risk approach to producing films. Her experience with the film Bernie, also, brought her back home to Texas where she began supporting the Texas Film Commission and their initiatives. She has several projects in development. Since arriving in Los Angeles, Lisa, has become a positive role model for women and Latinas. She speaks on panels and at universities hoping to inspire everyone she meets and educates them from her personal experiences in the entertainment industry. She enjoys horseback riding and listening to country music. Recently, Lisa has added some acting credits to her resume. She resides in Malibu.
