About Us
THORNBYRD FILMS
Thornbyrd is a boutique story driven production company with branches in the US and Australia.
​
We believe real life is messy. In that mess lies dichotomy—without pain, there is no joy. Our characters aren’t props; they’re vessels for life as it really is: hard and confusing, yet also simple, clear, and perfectly imperfect. In them we find beauty, and through them we tell stories that favor organic over formulaic, humanity over archetype, and the joy of connection above all. From romantic comedies to dramas to genre-infused worlds, our work embraces the wonder of a multi-layered world and the belief that audiences crave stories reflecting the full, honest truth of who we are — because at the end of the day we never let the mess get in the way of a good story!
​
The Legend of The Thornbird
There is a legend about a bird which sings just once in its life, more sweetly than any other creature on the face of the earth. From the moment it leaves the nest it searches for a thorn tree, and does not rest until it has found one. Then, singing among the savage branches, it impales itself upon the longest, sharpest spine. And, dying, it rises above its own agony to out-carol the lark and the nightingale. The whole world stills to listen, and the Goddess in her heaven smiles. For the best is only bought at the cost of great pain, or so says the legend.
​
Meet the
T-BYRDS
LOS ANGELES
Shantell Yasmine Abeydeera
Executive Producer
Founder/CEO
Stacy Schneiderman
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Development
Shantell Yasmine Abeydeera is an Australian-born, Sri Lankan made actor, director, writer, and producer who now occupies a small slice of Los Angeles, where she is committed to amplifying character-driven narratives.
She is the founder of Thornbyrd Films, and led the production of its debut feature, ‘HEALED’, that earned the prestigious REFRAME STAMP from the Sundance Institute and Women in Film..
Before establishing Thornbyrd, Shantell served as the Director of Content for OML.tv. She played a pivotal role in launching OML on Revry, and during her tenure, she created noteworthy titles like 'DATING IN PLACE.'
In addition to her work behind the camera, Shantell has appeared in various television shows, including HACKS (MAX), IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA (FX), THE LINCOLN LAWYER (NETFLIX), GOOD GIRLS (NBC) and GENERAL HOSPITAL (ABC).
Stacy Schneiderman is a producer and hair stylist specializing in character design and wigs, with a career spanning television, film, and theatre. Her work can be seen on hit shows such as Euphoria, The Sex Lives of College Girls, and Station 19, collaborating with top networks including HBO, ABC, and CBS.
A passionate supporter of independent film, Stacy has worked alongside celebrated creatives like the Duplass Brothers, Charlie Day, and Amy Poehler. She was instrumental in launching the indie production company Thornbyrd Films, where she serves as an executive producer.
Stacy began her career in the hair rooms of Broadway, contributing to legacy productions like Phantom of the Opera, Wicked and Mamma Mia after graduating from the Juilliard School.