Mel Orpen

Queer Writer, Director, Improviser, and Cute Animal Video Enthusiast. Not so secret Foodie. Gluten Free Baker. She/Her 🌈

[Mel Orpen @MelOrpen]

Dear Friends,
My Dad passed away recently. Mom has dementia & needs 24 hour care. We’ve had a series of medical and financial crises.
I’m the only child & responsible for managing it all. Despite my best efforts, I’ve been overwhelmed by weather crisis after crisis. (cont.)

[Mel Orpen @MelOrpen]

. @SouthwestAir I’ve been a loyal Southwest customer for 2+ decades because: 1) Bags Fly Free & 2) Open Seating. This took the stress out of flying. If you remove these policies, I have no reason to fly your airline. I urge you to reconsider before you lose all your customers.

[Mel Orpen @MelOrpen]

And either way, if you can share this on your social media, I would be grateful too.
�The best way is to donate directly is via Venmo (no fees). My Venmo is:
@Melanie-Orpen-1
Otherwise, you can donate through the Go Fund Me campaign below:
https://t.co/BkRsbL5dCw
Thank you,
Mel

[Mel Orpen @MelOrpen]

Dear Friends,
My Dad passed away recently. Mom has dementia & needs 24 hour care. We’ve had a series of medical and financial crises.
I’m the only child & responsible for managing it all. Despite my best efforts, I’ve been overwhelmed by weather crisis after crisis. (cont.)

[Mel Orpen @MelOrpen]

This would go directly to my Mom’s bills, Dad’s memorial, and cover my essential bills for the next few months.
I’m doing everything I can to get through this and balance that with spending time with my Mom.
If you can donate, I would be grateful. Any amount helps. (cont.)

[Mel Orpen @MelOrpen]

@SouthwestAir Very disappointed to hear you’re getting rid of open seating. The fact that you’re not like other airlines & don’t have different prices for the same seats & WYSIWYG are reasons I always fly Southwest. I hope you reconsider.

[Kavaja Humphrey @ Animazement 2026 @KavajaHumphrey]

And with that thank you to @ryancoltlevy @laracody8 @MelissaGreenspn @CatCavadini @Shakeitgrl @sparkle_tho @selmaleh @DebiDerryberry @GZFernVO @thecourtneylin @SeanMBurgos @itsmikiebeatty and the rest of the VAs!

And to @MelOrpen & @_TheVSIGroup for making this dub happen! [2/2]

[Mel Orpen @MelOrpen]

@MerrillBarr @noellestehmo Thank you for speaking up and speaking out. I hear you. I know so many of my friends do too.

[Mel Orpen @MelOrpen]

@FedExHelp Still waiting for my delivery. Was told you sent it back. No verified reason given. Still without my new cell phone. Worst delivery experience I've ever had. No one I spoke to with Fed Ex wants to solve the problem. The supervisor literally spoke over me on the phone.

[Mel Orpen @MelOrpen]

@FedEx Had the worst customer service phone calls of my life. Home for 2 straight days waiting for an urgent iphone delivery. Despite having the door code no delivery was made. Phone agents refused to help or connect me w supervisor and kept trying to hang up. #help @FedExHelp

[Mel Orpen @MelOrpen]

@lafilmfestivals Can you have someone from the LA Women in Film Festival reach out to me about our "Retribution" screening? Not sure if you're getting our emails. Thanks so much!

[Mel Orpen @MelOrpen]

@OKBJGM I’m so sorry to read this. Thank you for sharing your experiences.

[Mel Orpen @MelOrpen]

@POTUS Dear President Biden, Every recent graduate I know is struggling. We graduated into a pandemic. Inflation is making it harder each day to afford our rent & groceries.None of us can afford to pay our student loans currently. Please don’t agree to force us into repayment.

[Mel Orpen @MelOrpen]

@helenshang I’m speechless at the level of exploitation this brings. The idea that this would cause writers to go into debt to write for a show??? We need a new contract more than ever. #staystrong

[Mel Orpen @MelOrpen]

The Writer’s Strike is about stopping exploitation like this…

[Mel Orpen @MelOrpen]

@OKBJGM Oh My Goodness!!!

[Mel Orpen @MelOrpen]

Now this is a Hollywood story you want to see.

[Mel Orpen @MelOrpen]

@helenshang I also think that my experience has made me a better ally. I never want anyone to go through what I did. Ever again. We need to keep pushing for legal reform and systemic change. Because no one should sit in court and have an attorney lie about them and get away with it.

[Mel Orpen @MelOrpen]

@helenshang Thanks for the empathy. I made a short inspired by this. Now I'm writing the pilot. I want to look at the real cost of injustice for the individual, family, and community. I went down a very dark road and then had to fight my way back. Telling my story has been the best therapy.

[Mel Orpen @MelOrpen]

@cjmcgowne @AmyG_Standearth Can you clarify where the violence is in this clip? I’ve watched it twice & couldn’t find anything that matched this definition.