Elizabeth Allen (director)
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Allen is an American
director
. Allen made her feature film directorial debut with Aquamarine
, Fox 2000’s 2006 mermaid movie starring Sara Paxton
and Emma Roberts
. She most recently completed the 20th Century Fox film, Ramona and Beezus
based on the book series by Beverly Cleary
.
A graduate of USC Film School and Cornell University, Allen launched her career with the short Eyeball Eddie, starring Michael Rosenbaum
, M. Emmet Walsh
and Martin Starr
, which premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival
in 2001. Produced as Allen’s USC thesis film, Eyeball Eddie went on to win awards at festivals worldwide. Most recently, she directed episodes of the CW's Gossip Girl
, Vampire Diaries, 90210
, and Life Unexpected
.
, the Writers Guild of America
and the Motion Picture Editor’s Guild. She has written a number of screenplays, including an adaptation of the popular book, Stargirl
; the original musical, Promdress; and Driving While Infatuated for Fox Searchlight. Additionally, she teaches directing in the graduate film school program at USC.
Allen is currently attached to adapt and direct Elinor Lipman
's novel The Pursuit of Alice Thrift as well as the independent My Mother’s Boyfriend, produced by the Chris
and Paul Weitz
's company, Depth of Field.
She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Cornell University
.
She was awarded the Jack Nicholson
Directing Scholarship while at USC - awarded to the strongest directing candidate of each graduating class.
She attended Ward Melville High School
. Her father is well-known solid state physicist Philip B. Allen, who was awarded Germany's Humbolt Award and a Guggenheim fellowshipfor his work exploring electron-phonon effects in nanosystems.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
. Allen made her feature film directorial debut with Aquamarine
Aquamarine (film)
Aquamarine is a 2006 Australian-American teen fantasy comedy film starring Sara Paxton, Emma Roberts, and Joanna "JoJo" Levesque . The film, which was made in both the United States and Australia, was released in North America on March 3, 2006...
, Fox 2000’s 2006 mermaid movie starring Sara Paxton
Sara Paxton
Sara Paxton is an American actress, model and singer. She grew up in California and began acting at an early age, appearing in many minor roles in both films and television shows, before coming to wider renown in 2004, after playing the title role in the series Darcy's Wild Life and Sarah Borden...
and Emma Roberts
Emma Roberts
Emma Rose Roberts is an American actress, model and singer. She is the daughter of actor Eric Roberts and niece of Julia Roberts. Roberts became known for her role as Addie Singer in the Nickelodeon television series Unfabulous. She released her debut album, which also served as the show's...
. She most recently completed the 20th Century Fox film, Ramona and Beezus
Ramona and Beezus
Ramona and Beezus is a 2010 Fox-Walden film adaptation of the Ramona series of novels by Beverly Cleary. The film's title derives from Beezus and Ramona, the first of Cleary's Ramona books, though the plot is mostly based on the sequels, particularly Ramona Forever and Ramona's World.-Plot:The film...
based on the book series by Beverly Cleary
Beverly Cleary
Beverly Cleary is an American author. Educated at colleges in California and Washington, she worked as a librarian before writing children's books. Cleary has written more than 30 books for young adults and children. Some of her best-known characters are Henry Huggins, Ribsy, Beatrice Quimby, her...
.
A graduate of USC Film School and Cornell University, Allen launched her career with the short Eyeball Eddie, starring Michael Rosenbaum
Michael Rosenbaum
Michael Owen Rosenbaum is an American actor and director. He is best known for portraying Lex Luthor on the Superman-inspired television series Smallville and Dutch on FOX's Breaking In, and for providing the voice for the Flash in the DC animated universe...
, M. Emmet Walsh
M. Emmet Walsh
Michael Emmet Walsh is an American actor who has appeared in over 100 film and television productions.-Life and career:Walsh was born in Ogdensburg, New York, the son of Agnes Kathrine and Harry Maurice Walsh, Sr., a customs agent...
and Martin Starr
Martin Starr
Martin Starr is an American television and film actor, known for his roles as Bill Haverchuck on the short-lived NBC comedy-drama Freaks and Geeks and as Roman DeBeers on the Starz comedy series Party Down, as well as for his roles in the films Knocked Up, Cheats, and Adventureland.-Life and...
, which premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival
Slamdance Film Festival
As a year-round organization, Slamdance serves as a showcase for the discovery of new and emerging talent in the film industry; it is also the only major film festival fully programmed by filmmakers. Slamdance counts among its alumni many notable writers and directors who first gained notice at the...
in 2001. Produced as Allen’s USC thesis film, Eyeball Eddie went on to win awards at festivals worldwide. Most recently, she directed episodes of the CW's Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl is an American young adult novel series written by Cecily von Ziegesar and published by Little, Brown and Company, a subsidiary of the Hachette Group. The series revolves around the lives and romances of the privileged teenagers at the Constance Billard School for Girls, an elite...
, Vampire Diaries, 90210
90210 (TV series)
90210 is an American teen drama television series developed by Rob Thomas, Jeff Judah and Gabe Sachs, and the fourth series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise created by Darren Star. 90210 is the first series produced by CBS Productions under the company's re-launch, but is now produced by CBS...
, and Life Unexpected
Life Unexpected
Life Unexpected is an American television series that ran for two seasons, from 2010 to 2011.The show premiered on The CW on Monday, January 18, 2010. The 13-episode first season run ended on April 12, 2010...
.
Life and career
Allen is a member of the Directors Guild of AmericaDirectors Guild of America
Directors Guild of America is an entertainment labor union which represents the interests of film and television directors in the United States motion picture industry...
, the Writers Guild of America
Writers Guild of America
The Writers Guild of America is a generic term referring to the joint efforts of two different US labor unions:* The Writers Guild of America, East , representing TV and film writers East of the Mississippi....
and the Motion Picture Editor’s Guild. She has written a number of screenplays, including an adaptation of the popular book, Stargirl
Stargirl
Courtney Whitmore is a superheroine known as Stargirl in the DC Comics Universe. Originally known as the second Star-Spangled Kid, she began using the name "Stargirl" after she was presented with the Cosmic Staff by Jack Knight...
; the original musical, Promdress; and Driving While Infatuated for Fox Searchlight. Additionally, she teaches directing in the graduate film school program at USC.
Allen is currently attached to adapt and direct Elinor Lipman
Elinor Lipman
Elinor Lipman is an American novelist and short story writer.-Biography:Born and raised in Lowell, Massachusetts, Lipman graduated from Simmons College where she studied journalism. She lives in western Massachusetts and Manhattan, and received the New England Book award for fiction in 2001...
's novel The Pursuit of Alice Thrift as well as the independent My Mother’s Boyfriend, produced by the Chris
Chris Weitz
Christopher John "Chris" Weitz is an American producer, writer, director and actor. He is best known for his work with his brother, Paul Weitz, on the comedy films American Pie and About a Boy, as well as directing the film adaptation of the novel The Golden Compass and the film adaptation of New...
and Paul Weitz
Paul Weitz (filmmaker)
Paul John Weitz is an American film producer, screenwriter, actor, and film director.-Personal life:Weitz was born in New York City, New York, the son of the actress Susan Kohner and novelist/fashion designer John Weitz, and the grandson of producer Paul Kohner and Mexican actress Lupita...
's company, Depth of Field.
She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
.
She was awarded the Jack Nicholson
Jack Nicholson
John Joseph "Jack" Nicholson is an American actor, film director, producer and writer. He is renowned for his often dark portrayals of neurotic characters. Nicholson has been nominated for an Academy Award twelve times, and has won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice: for One Flew Over the...
Directing Scholarship while at USC - awarded to the strongest directing candidate of each graduating class.
She attended Ward Melville High School
Ward Melville High School
Ward Melville High School is a public high school in the Three Village Central School District of Suffolk County, New York on Long Island, serving grades ten through twelve. It is fed by the two junior high schools in the district: Paul J...
. Her father is well-known solid state physicist Philip B. Allen, who was awarded Germany's Humbolt Award and a Guggenheim fellowshipfor his work exploring electron-phonon effects in nanosystems.
Filmography
- Ramona and BeezusRamona and BeezusRamona and Beezus is a 2010 Fox-Walden film adaptation of the Ramona series of novels by Beverly Cleary. The film's title derives from Beezus and Ramona, the first of Cleary's Ramona books, though the plot is mostly based on the sequels, particularly Ramona Forever and Ramona's World.-Plot:The film...
(2010) - AquamarineAquamarine (film)Aquamarine is a 2006 Australian-American teen fantasy comedy film starring Sara Paxton, Emma Roberts, and Joanna "JoJo" Levesque . The film, which was made in both the United States and Australia, was released in North America on March 3, 2006...
(2006) - Eyeball Eddie (2000) (short film)
External links
- http://insidemovies.ew.com/2010/06/30/ramona-beezus-elizabeth-allen-is-he-the-one/ Entertainment Weekly article
- http://flightflash.com/exclusive-flight-flash-on-set-with-elizabeth-allens-ramona-and-beezus A behind-the-scenes visit during preproduction: Ramona and Beezus
- Aquamarine Pictures of Elizabeth Allen
- Writersbootcamp Alumni Interview with Elizabeth Allen
- Info at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts
- Charity Work appearances