San Diego-born screenwriter David McKenna gained a solid place for himself in the independent cinema world with his striking screenplays that made his name known in Hollywood in the late 1990s. McKenna, who has preferred to write stories focusing on crime, violence and the dark corners of society since the early period of his career, has dealt with these themes not with a superficial look, but with a depth that goes into the inner world of the characters. 1998's Shadow of the Past was McKenna's first major breakthrough, bringing her to a wider audience. This film, which boldly tackles heavy themes such as racism and the search for identity, was met with interest by both audiences and critics. He continued on the same track of success with Confrontation, which was released in 2000; This time, he presented a harsh narrative centering on addiction and destruction. 2001 was a particularly productive year for McKenna. Both White Exorcist and Larry Clark's Bully were released this year. Adapted from a real murder, Bully has taken its place in the history of independent cinema as a powerful work about juvenile delinquency and social decay. McKenna, who did not hesitate to make a name for himself in the commercial field, also made his mark in box office-oriented action films such as 2003's S.W.A.T.: Special Team. His transition to the television world was with the 2005 TV series E-Ring. In 2017, she returned to the small screen with Cocaine Godmother; This production, which tells the story of a real drug trafficker, once again revealed his commitment to the crime genre. Throughout his career, McKenna has managed to approach characters that society has pushed outside the norm from a human perspective. The screenwriter, who has proven himself in both independent and mainstream projects, is considered one of the important writers describing the dark side of American cinema.