Lynn Shelton
Encyclopedia
Lynn Shelton is an American
director
known for writing, directing, and producing the 2009 film Humpday
.
as a young girl, but having lost confidence in her creativity in adolescence. This experience contributed to a theme she explored in her 2005 film We Go Way Back
.
After high school Shelton attended Oberlin College
in Ohio, and then the University of Washington
School of Drama. She then moved to New York
and attended the Master's of Fine Arts program in Photography and Related Media at the School of Visual Arts
in Manhattan
. Her thesis advisor was Peggy Ahwesh
.
She started working in the film industry as a film editor, and made a series of experimental short films which have been described as "accomplished" and providing the basis for the "subtle, almost anthropological scrutiny" brought to bear in her later works.
Among the jobs she has held to support her film career, she has worked aboard a trawler in the Bering Sea
.
with the specter of her own, repressed, precocious youth. We Go Way Back is owned by Geisha Years, LLC and is currently seeking distribution.
Shelton's film Humpday
premiered at Sundance
, was acquired by Magnolia Pictures
, and has shown at Cannes
, SIFF, South by Southwest
and other film festivals. It opened in theaters in New York and Seattle July 10, 2009.
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:...
known for writing, directing, and producing the 2009 film Humpday
Humpday
Humpday is a 2009 American comedy film starring Mark Duplass, Joshua Leonard, and Alycia Delmore; and directed, produced, and written by Lynn Shelton. It premiered at the 2009 Sundance film festival. International distribution rights have been purchased by Magnolia Pictures for a mid-six figure sum...
.
Early life, and education
Shelton grew up in Seattle. She describes herself as having been audaciousAudacious
Audacious could refer to:* Audacious class aircraft carrier of the British Royal Navy* Audacious , an open source media player* Live Audacious UK Christian youth conference, band and radio show...
as a young girl, but having lost confidence in her creativity in adolescence. This experience contributed to a theme she explored in her 2005 film We Go Way Back
We Go Way Back
We Go Way Back is a 2005 American film starring Aaron Blakely, Maggie Brown, Basil Harris, Amber Hubert, and Robert Wright. Written and directed by Lynn Shelton.-Plot:...
.
After high school Shelton attended Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
in Ohio, and then the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
School of Drama. She then moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and attended the Master's of Fine Arts program in Photography and Related Media at the School of Visual Arts
School of Visual Arts
The School of Visual Arts , is a proprietary art school located in Manhattan, New York City, and is widely considered to be one of the leading art schools in the United States. It was established in 1947 by co-founders Silas H. Rhodes and Burne Hogarth as the Cartoonists and Illustrators School and...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. Her thesis advisor was Peggy Ahwesh
Peggy Ahwesh
Peggy Ahwesh is an American avant-garde filmmaker and experimental video artist. She received her B.F.A. from Antioch College. Ahwesh's work has been shown at the Solomon R...
.
She started working in the film industry as a film editor, and made a series of experimental short films which have been described as "accomplished" and providing the basis for the "subtle, almost anthropological scrutiny" brought to bear in her later works.
Among the jobs she has held to support her film career, she has worked aboard a trawler in the Bering Sea
Bering Sea
The Bering Sea is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises a deep water basin, which then rises through a narrow slope into the shallower water above the continental shelves....
.
Film career
In 2004 Shelton began writing and directing her first feature film, We Go Way Back. Described as "polished" and "impressionistic," the film depicts a 23 year old actress, Kate, confronted by her 13 year old self. The dialog between the older and younger Kates begins in memory, and then climaxes in an apparitional experienceApparitional experience
In psychology and parapsychology, an apparitional experience is an anomalous, quasi-perceptual experience.It is characterized by the apparent perception of either a living being or an inanimate object without there being any material stimulus for such a perception...
with the specter of her own, repressed, precocious youth. We Go Way Back is owned by Geisha Years, LLC and is currently seeking distribution.
Shelton's film Humpday
Humpday
Humpday is a 2009 American comedy film starring Mark Duplass, Joshua Leonard, and Alycia Delmore; and directed, produced, and written by Lynn Shelton. It premiered at the 2009 Sundance film festival. International distribution rights have been purchased by Magnolia Pictures for a mid-six figure sum...
premiered at Sundance
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
, was acquired by Magnolia Pictures
Magnolia Pictures
Magnolia Pictures is an American film distributor, and is a holding of 2929 Entertainment, owned by Todd Wagner and Mark Cuban. Magnolia was formed in 2001 by Bill Banowsky and Eamonn Bowles, and specializes in both foreign and independent films....
, and has shown at Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
, SIFF, South by Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
and other film festivals. It opened in theaters in New York and Seattle July 10, 2009.
As Director
- We Go Way Back (2006)
- What the Funny (2008)
- My Effortless Brilliance (2008)
- HumpdayHumpdayHumpday is a 2009 American comedy film starring Mark Duplass, Joshua Leonard, and Alycia Delmore; and directed, produced, and written by Lynn Shelton. It premiered at the 2009 Sundance film festival. International distribution rights have been purchased by Magnolia Pictures for a mid-six figure sum...
(20092009 in filmThe year 2009 saw the release of many films. Seven made the top 50 list of highest-grossing films, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that as of this year, their Best Picture category would consist of ten nominees, rather than five .- Highest-grossing films :Please note...
) - 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...
- "Hands and KneesHands and Knees"Hands and Knees" is the tenth episode of the fourth season of the American television drama series Mad Men, and the 49th overall episode of the series...
" (2010) - Your Sister's Sister (2011)
As actor
- Nights and Weekends (2008): Mattie's sister
- Moving (2008): Leah
- HumpdayHumpdayHumpday is a 2009 American comedy film starring Mark Duplass, Joshua Leonard, and Alycia Delmore; and directed, produced, and written by Lynn Shelton. It premiered at the 2009 Sundance film festival. International distribution rights have been purchased by Magnolia Pictures for a mid-six figure sum...
(2009): Monica
As film editor
- Outpatient (2002)
- 8 Minutes to Love (2004)
- Afternoon Delight (2004)
- Hedda GablerHedda GablerHedda Gabler is a play first published in 1890 by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. The play premiered in 1891 in Germany to negative reviews, but has subsequently gained recognition as a classic of realism, nineteenth century theatre, and world drama...
(2004) - Hello (2005)
- We Go Way Back (2006)
- Diggers (2007)
- My Effortless Brilliance (2008)
Awards
- Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature and the Award for Best Cinematography for We Go Way Back, at the Slamdance Film FestivalSlamdance Film FestivalAs 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...
, 2006. - Special Jury Prize for Excellence in Direction for My Effortless Brilliance, at the Atlanta Film FestivalAtlanta Film FestivalThe Atlanta Film Festival is an Academy Award qualifying, international film festival held in Atlanta, Georgia. Started in 1976 and occurring every April, the festival shows a diverse range of independent films, including genre films such as horror and sci-fi...
, 2008. - Genius Award for lifetime achievement from The Stranger (newspaper)The Stranger (newspaper)The Stranger is an alternative weekly newspaper in Seattle, Washington, USA. It runs a blog known as Slog.-History:The Stranger was founded by Tim Keck, who had previously co-founded the satirical newspaper The Onion, and cartoonist James Sturm. Its first issue came out on September 23, 1991...
, 2008. - Special Jury Prize for Spirit of Independence for Humpday, at SundanceSundance Film FestivalThe Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
, 2009. - Acura Someone to Watch Award from Independent Spirit AwardsIndependent Spirit AwardsThe Independent Spirit Awards , founded in 1984, are awards dedicated to independent filmmakers. Winners were typically presented with acrylic glass pyramids containing suspended shoestrings representing the paltry budgets of independent films. In 1986, the event was renamed the Independent Spirit...
, 2009.