Leander Gadsby Basannavar, professionally known as Lee, is a multifaceted filmmaker based in both Los Angeles and London. With a wealth of experience in the film industry, Lee has worked as a story editor and script doctor for prominent studios such as Paramount, Warner Bros., Disney, Universal, and Sony/Columbia, as well as production companies like Imagine Entertainment, Bregman Productions, and Logos.
Born and raised in London, Lee made the move to the United States at the age of 18 to pursue his passion for filmmaking at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts Film program. By the age of 22, Lee had already begun his career as a script editor, working on his first film, a comedy-western starring Terence Hill and Bud Spencer.
Since then, Lee has established himself as a prolific script doctor and story editor, with a focus on dialogue rewrites, particularly for British characters in US scripts, and projects with significant historical elements. His expertise in these areas has earned him a reputation for his ability to bring depth and authenticity to his work.
In addition to his work as a script doctor, Lee has also written and directed several short films, including the award-winning "Briefing." He has also written and directed a feature film set in London and is currently developing several original projects, including a thriller set during World War II, a psychological action drama set in the Grand Canyon, a comedy-drama TV series about private jet pilots, and a political drama that he will also direct.
Lee's versatility extends beyond feature films, as he has also directed two television commercials for BMW Southern Africa and Castle Lager, working closely with ad agencies to develop the narrative for both projects. In 2002, Lee co-created a documentary that followed England national football team fans around Japan and South Korea during the World Cup, which aired primetime on the BBC at Christmas that year.
