Jennifer Arnold is a renowned Emmy-nominated director, who, as a child, was immersed in a unique blend of drama and skateboarding in Santa Barbara, California. Her formative years were marked by a distinctive upbringing, where she spent her summers living off the grid, sans electricity, in the Trinity Alps and Alaskan wilderness with her extended family. This unconventional environment fostered a deep sense of adventure and exploration, which would later shape her storytelling abilities.
As a world traveler, Arnold embarked on her first international journey at the tender age of sixteen, and by nineteen, she had relocated to Kenya, where she continued to work and travel extensively abroad. Her globetrotting experiences have undoubtedly influenced her perspective and approach to storytelling.
In the realm of episodic television, Arnold has recently directed notable projects such as "Based on a True Story," "P-Valley," and the pilot for "XO Kitty," which debuted at number one on Netflix within 24 hours. Her extensive television credits also include "Emily in Paris," "American Horror Story," "Younger," "Shameless," "The L-Word: Generation Q," "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," and "The Last Man on Earth," among others.
In addition to her television work, Arnold has also made a significant impact in the world of independent and documentary filmmaking. Her feature documentary, "A Small Act" (HBO),won the Humanitas Prize, a NAMIC Vision Award, and received an Emmy nomination for Best Documentary. Her other notable documentaries include "The Diplomat" (ESPN),"Tig" (Netflix),and "Thicker Than Water," a poignant exploration of Greg Louganis' life, which premiered as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 shorts series.
As an industry professional, Arnold has been an advisor at the Sundance labs and CNEX workshops in Asia, and has traveled to Kazakhstan with the American Film Showcase. She holds a graduate degree from UCLA's School of Film, and an undergraduate degree in African History from UCLA and the University of Nairobi. Arnold currently resides in Los Angeles with her wife, the esteemed ASC cinematographer, Patti Lee.
