Jane Anderson
Encyclopedia
Jane Anderson is an American actress-turned-award-winning playwright
, screenwriter
and director
. She has written and directed one feature film, The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio
(2005) and wrote the script for the Nicolas Cage film It Could Happen to You
.
; The Baby Dance (1998), starring Stockard Channing
and Laura Dern
; The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom
(1993), Egyptian Pyramids starring Holly Hunter
; and If These Walls Could Talk 2
(segment "1961") (2000), which won Vanessa Redgrave
an Emmy Award
for her portrayal of an elderly lesbian prevented from being in the hospital with her dying long-time companion.
She became a writer for the AMC
television drama Mad Men
for the show's second season. She was nominated for the Writers Guild of America Award award for Best Dramatic Series at the February 2009 ceremony
for her work on the second season.
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
, screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
and 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:...
. She has written and directed one feature film, The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio is a 2005 film written and directed by Jane Anderson, based on the book by Terry "Tuff" Ryan. The DVD was released on March 14, 2006.-Plot:...
(2005) and wrote the script for the Nicolas Cage film It Could Happen to You
It Could Happen to You (film)
It Could Happen to You is a 1994 romantic comedy-drama film starring Nicolas Cage and Bridget Fonda. It is the story of New York City police officer who wins the lottery and splits his winnings with a waitress . The movie bears a striking resemblance to an actual event as documented by Snopes...
.
Career
Prior to film directing, Anderson wrote and directed several critically acclaimed television movies, notably Normal (2003), starring Jessica LangeJessica Lange
Jessica Phyllis Lange is an American actress who has worked in film, theatre and television. The recipient of several awards, including two Academy Awards, four Golden Globes and one Emmy, Lange is regarded as one of the première female actors of her generation.Lange was discovered by producer...
; The Baby Dance (1998), starring Stockard Channing
Stockard Channing
Stockard Channing is an American stage, film and television actress. She is known for her portrayal of First Lady Abbey Bartlet in the NBC television series The West Wing; for playing Betty Rizzo in the film Grease; and for her role as Ouisa Kittredge in the play Six Degrees of Separation and its...
and Laura Dern
Laura Dern
Laura Elizabeth Dern is an American actress, film director and producer. Dern has acted in such films as Smooth Talk , Blue Velvet , Fat Man and Little Boy , Wild at Heart , Jurassic Park and October Sky...
; The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom
The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom
The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom is a 1993 comedy TV movie produced by and for HBO. It was directed by Michael Ritchie and starred Holly Hunter, Swoosie Kurtz and Beau Bridges....
(1993), Egyptian Pyramids starring Holly Hunter
Holly Hunter
Holly Hunter is an American actress. Hunter starred in The Piano for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress. She has also been nominated for Oscars for her roles in Broadcast News, The Firm, and Thirteen...
; and If These Walls Could Talk 2
If These Walls Could Talk 2
If These Walls Could Talk 2 is an Emmy Award-winning 2000 television movie in the United States, broadcast on HBO. It follows three separate storylines about lesbian couples in three different time periods...
(segment "1961") (2000), which won Vanessa Redgrave
Vanessa Redgrave
Vanessa Redgrave, CBE is an English actress of stage, screen and television, as well as a political activist.She rose to prominence in 1961 playing Rosalind in As You Like It with the Royal Shakespeare Company and has since made more than 35 appearances on London's West End and Broadway, winning...
an Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for her portrayal of an elderly lesbian prevented from being in the hospital with her dying long-time companion.
She became a writer for the AMC
AMC (TV network)
AMC is a cable television specialty channel that primarily airs movies, along with a limited amount of original programming. The letters originally stood for American Movie Classics; however since 2002, the full name has been deemphasized as a result of a major shift in programming...
television drama Mad Men
Mad Men
Mad Men is an American dramatic television series created and produced by Matthew Weiner. The series premiered on Sunday evenings on the American cable network AMC and are produced by Lionsgate Television. It premiered on July 19, 2007, and completed its fourth season on October 17, 2010. Each...
for the show's second season. She was nominated for the Writers Guild of America Award award for Best Dramatic Series at the February 2009 ceremony
Writers Guild of America Awards 2008
The 61st Writers Guild of America Awards honored the best film, television, and videogame writers of 2008. Winners were announced on February 7, 2009.-Best Adapted Screenplay:...
for her work on the second season.
Awards
- Emmy AwardEmmy AwardAn Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for writing The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering MomThe Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering MomThe Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom is a 1993 comedy TV movie produced by and for HBO. It was directed by Michael Ritchie and starred Holly Hunter, Swoosie Kurtz and Beau Bridges....
(1993) - Emmy AwardEmmy AwardAn Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
nominations for writing and directing The Baby Dance (1998) - Emmy AwardEmmy AwardAn Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
nomination for writing Normal (2003) - Emmy AwardEmmy AwardAn Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
nomination for writing If These Walls Could Talk 2If These Walls Could Talk 2If These Walls Could Talk 2 is an Emmy Award-winning 2000 television movie in the United States, broadcast on HBO. It follows three separate storylines about lesbian couples in three different time periods...
(2000) (For episode "1961") - Women in Film Lucy Award (2000) in recognition of excellence and innovation in a writing a creative work (If These Walls Could Talk 2If These Walls Could Talk 2If These Walls Could Talk 2 is an Emmy Award-winning 2000 television movie in the United States, broadcast on HBO. It follows three separate storylines about lesbian couples in three different time periods...
) that has enhanced the perception of women through the medium of television - Directors Guild of America Award nomination for directing Normal (2003)
- Writers Guild of America Award for Best Dramatic Series for her work on the second season of Mad MenMad MenMad Men is an American dramatic television series created and produced by Matthew Weiner. The series premiered on Sunday evenings on the American cable network AMC and are produced by Lionsgate Television. It premiered on July 19, 2007, and completed its fourth season on October 17, 2010. Each...
(2008)
Selected director and writer filmography
- The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering MomThe Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering MomThe Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom is a 1993 comedy TV movie produced by and for HBO. It was directed by Michael Ritchie and starred Holly Hunter, Swoosie Kurtz and Beau Bridges....
(1993) (TV) (teleplay) - How to Make an American QuiltHow to Make an American QuiltHow to Make an American Quilt is a 1995 movie which was directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse and stars Winona Ryder, Maya Angelou, Ellen Burstyn and Anne Bancroft...
(1995) (screenplay) - The Baby Dance (1998) (TV) (direction and teleplay, adapted from her play)
- If These Walls Could Talk 2If These Walls Could Talk 2If These Walls Could Talk 2 is an Emmy Award-winning 2000 television movie in the United States, broadcast on HBO. It follows three separate storylines about lesbian couples in three different time periods...
(2000) (TV) (direction and teleplay, segment "1961") - When Billie Beat BobbyWhen Billie Beat BobbyWhen Billie Beat Bobby is a 2001 ABC docudrama detailing the historic 1973 "Battle of the Sexes" tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs and what lead up to it. The match was filmed at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California....
(2001) (TV) (direction and teleplay) - Normal (2003) (TV) (direction and teleplay, adapted from her play Looking for Normal)
- The Prize Winner of Defiance, OhioThe Prize Winner of Defiance, OhioThe Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio is a 2005 film written and directed by Jane Anderson, based on the book by Terry "Tuff" Ryan. The DVD was released on March 14, 2006.-Plot:...
(2005) (direction and screenplay)