A new romantic drama series making waves on Prime Video has a strong Canadian connection behind the scenes. Off Campus, the highly anticipated adaptation of Elle Kennedy’s bestselling book series, officially premiered on Amazon Prime Video on Wednesday, and one of the creative forces driving the project is Fredericton native Leanna Billings.
For Billings, the launch of the series marks the realization of a lifelong dream that began in the quiet streets of Fredericton, New Brunswick. Now living in Boston and balancing multiple careers, Billings has emerged as an executive producer on one of the most talked-about young adult romance adaptations in streaming television.
Her story is one of determination, reinvention, and persistence. Without major Hollywood connections or an established entertainment background, Billings carved out her own path into television production while simultaneously building a successful career in neuropsychology.
Today, her journey is inspiring aspiring creators across Canada and beyond.
What Is Off Campus About?
Off Campus follows the story of Hannah, a shy but talented songwriter and music student at Briar University, and Garrett, the university’s charismatic star hockey player. Their unlikely relationship forms the emotional core of the series.
The show is adapted from bestselling author Elle Kennedy’s five-book romance series, which became a sensation among readers of contemporary romance and new adult fiction. The first novel, The Deal, was released in 2015 and introduced readers to Hannah and Garrett’s relationship. The following books explore additional romantic storylines centered around other students at Briar University.
The adaptation has generated significant excitement among fans who have waited years to see the beloved characters brought to life on screen.
How BookTok Helped Bring the Series to Television
One of the key reasons Off Campus eventually found its way to television was the explosive popularity of BookTok, the book-focused community on TikTok where readers passionately discuss and recommend their favorite novels.
Billings had been a fan of the series since its original release. However, while revisiting the books in 2020, she noticed something unusual happening online. The novels were suddenly gaining renewed attention among younger readers on TikTok, with thousands of users posting emotional reactions, fan edits, and recommendations.
Recognizing the momentum, Billings quickly realized the books had enormous adaptation potential.
Rather than waiting for another studio or producer to take action, she decided to move forward herself.
Turning a Passion Project Into a Prime Video Series
After identifying the growing popularity of the books, Billings began working to secure adaptation rights and develop the project.
Together with fellow producers, she created a professional pitch package that included scripts for both a television pilot and a feature film adaptation. Their goal was to demonstrate the emotional depth, audience appeal, and commercial potential of the story.
At the same time, Amazon had already begun hearing about the rising popularity of Off Campus through BookTok trends and online fan communities.
The timing turned out to be perfect.
Once discussions began between the producers and Amazon, the project gained momentum quickly. What started as a passion project fueled by fandom evolved into a full-scale Prime Video original series.
For Billings, it was an extraordinary breakthrough.
Filming Off Campus While Managing Another Career
Unlike many television producers who work exclusively in entertainment, Billings was balancing an entirely separate professional life while developing the show.
She is also a neuropsychologist.
As production ramped up and filming began in Vancouver, Billings had to temporarily step away from her medical career to fully commit to the demanding schedule of television production.
The transition was intense but deeply rewarding.
Developing a streaming series requires constant coordination between writers, directors, actors, crew members, studio executives, and production teams. Executive producers often oversee everything from creative direction to scheduling and logistics.
For Billings, juggling two highly demanding careers required discipline and resilience.
Yet she believes the skills from neuropsychology unexpectedly helped her succeed in television production.
The Surprising Connection Between Neuropsychology and Film Production
At first glance, neuropsychology and television production may seem like completely unrelated professions. However, Billings says the overlap between the two is larger than most people realize.
As a neuropsychologist, she studies behavior, cognition, emotional regulation, and brain function. Her work includes supporting individuals with psychiatric conditions, traumatic brain injuries, epilepsy, and neurodevelopmental disorders.
That experience gave her a strong understanding of communication, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving — all critical skills in film and television production.
Producing a series involves coordinating large groups of people under pressure while balancing creativity, deadlines, and interpersonal relationships.
Billings has explained that much of producing is about “putting every piece of the puzzle together,” something she also does in neuropsychology.
Her background likely provided her with a unique advantage in navigating the emotional and logistical complexities of production.
Growing Up in Fredericton Inspired Her Love of Film and Television
Despite now living in Boston, Billings still maintains close ties to her hometown. She returns to Fredericton several times each year and remains deeply appreciative of the environment in which she grew up.
According to Billings, Fredericton’s close-knit community and small-town atmosphere played an important role in shaping her imagination and creativity.
She has spoken fondly about her childhood and her time attending Leo Hayes High School, crediting those early years with inspiring her love for storytelling, television, and film.
For many aspiring creators from smaller communities, Billings’ success story serves as proof that major entertainment careers are not limited to people born in Hollywood or large metropolitan centers.
Her path demonstrates that passion and persistence can sometimes overcome geographic limitations.
Starting a Production Company During the Pandemic
Billings’ entertainment career took a major leap forward during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After completing her doctorate in neuropsychology, she found herself reassessing her long-term goals during lockdowns and industry disruptions in 2020.
Instead of waiting for opportunities to appear, she decided to create them herself.
That decision led to the launch of Billings Productions.
The company became her gateway into larger entertainment projects and allowed her to independently pursue adaptations and original content.
Starting a production company without major industry connections is a difficult undertaking, particularly during a global pandemic. However, the timing unexpectedly worked in her favor.
Streaming platforms were aggressively searching for fresh intellectual property and stories with built-in fan audiences. BookTok was transforming the publishing industry overnight, and romance adaptations were becoming increasingly attractive to studios.
Billings recognized the shift early and moved decisively.
Why Romance Adaptations Are Dominating Streaming Platforms
The success of Off Campus reflects a broader trend currently reshaping the entertainment industry.
Romance novels, particularly those popular on TikTok and BookTok, have become some of the most sought-after properties for streaming adaptations. Platforms such as Prime Video, Netflix, and Hulu have increasingly invested in stories that already possess passionate fan communities online.
BookTok has fundamentally changed how publishers and studios identify breakout hits. Instead of relying solely on bestseller lists, entertainment companies now monitor social media engagement to discover books generating emotional reactions and viral conversations.
The Off Campus series fits perfectly within that trend.
Its combination of romance, college drama, emotional vulnerability, humor, and sports-centered storytelling made it especially appealing to younger streaming audiences.
Fans of the books have spent years sharing favorite scenes, discussing character relationships, and creating online fan content. That built-in enthusiasm gave the adaptation a strong foundation before filming even began.
Filming the Series in Vancouver
Production for Off Campus took place in Vancouver, one of North America’s busiest filming hubs.
The city has become a major destination for television and film productions because of its experienced crews, versatile filming locations, and established infrastructure.
For Billings, spending extended periods on set represented a major shift from her everyday life as a clinician and researcher.
Executive producers often oversee everything from script revisions to casting decisions and production logistics. The role requires constant collaboration and quick decision-making throughout filming.
Being physically present during production also allowed Billings to help ensure the adaptation stayed emotionally authentic to the original novels that fans loved.
Balancing Career Ambitions and Family Life
In addition to managing two careers, Billings is also a mother of two.
Balancing family responsibilities with television production and clinical work is no small task, especially during long filming schedules and demanding production timelines.
Billings has emphasized the importance of having supportive family members, friends, and colleagues who encouraged her ambitions throughout the process.
That support system became essential as Off Campus moved through years of development before finally premiering on Prime Video.
Her experience highlights a reality many professionals face today: success often depends not only on talent and hard work but also on having people who believe in your goals during difficult periods.
Why Leanna Billings’ Story Resonates With So Many People
One reason Billings’ journey feels so compelling is because it challenges traditional expectations about career paths.
Many people assume they must choose one identity or profession for life. Billings instead built a career that combines science, storytelling, business leadership, and creativity.
Her success also speaks to people who feel disconnected from major industries because of where they grew up or a lack of professional connections.
Coming from a smaller Canadian city and entering Hollywood without established industry relationships is incredibly difficult. Yet Billings managed to break through by combining passion with strategic thinking and persistence.
Her story is especially inspiring for young creatives who may feel uncertain about pursuing artistic careers while also maintaining practical professional goals.
Season Two of Off Campus Is Already Confirmed
Fans of the series have even more reason to celebrate because Off Campus has already been renewed for a second season.
The renewal signals strong confidence from Amazon in both the adaptation and its audience potential.
Given the size of the original five-book series, there is significant source material available for future seasons. Each novel focuses on different couples and romantic storylines within the Briar University world, allowing the series to continue expanding its universe.
For longtime readers of Elle Kennedy’s novels, the renewal represents an opportunity to see additional fan-favorite characters and relationships adapted for television.
For Billings, it also marks another milestone in an extraordinary professional journey that began with a dream in Fredericton.
A Dream That Started in a Small Canadian Town
Perhaps the most emotional aspect of Billings’ story is her reflection on what her younger self would think today.
As a child growing up in Fredericton, she dreamed about film and television without knowing how she could possibly enter the entertainment industry.
Now, years later, she is helping lead a major international streaming series viewed by audiences around the world.
Her journey demonstrates that unconventional paths can sometimes lead to remarkable outcomes.