Lynn Shelton (born 1965) is an American director known for writing, directing, and producing such films as Humpday and Your Sister's Sister.
Early life
Shelton grew up in Seattle. She describes herself as having been audacious 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 followed 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, was working aboard a trawler in the Bering Sea.
Film career
Shelton had wanted to be a director, but was worried that being in her mid-30s, it was too late to begin. When she saw French director Claire Denis speak at Seattle's Northwest Film Forum in 2003, Denis revealed she was 40 years old when she directed her first feature film, and that revelation made Shelton realise that she still had plenty of time. 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 experience 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 was premiered at Sundance, was acquired by Magnolia Pictures, and has been shown at Cannes, SIFF, South by Southwest and other film festivals. It opened in theaters in New York and Seattle on July 10, 2009.
Laggies was the first film Shelton directed that had not been written by her as well. The film starred Keira Knightley and Chloë Grace Moretz and premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival where it was acquired by A24 Films.
Personal Life
Shelton is married to Kevin Seal.
Filmography
As director
- We Go Way Back (2006)
- What the Funny (2008)
- My Effortless Brilliance (2008)
- Humpday (2009)
- Mad Men â€" "Hands and Knees" (2010)
- Your Sister's Sister (2012)
- New Girl â€" "Injured" (2012)
- Touchy Feely (2013)
- Laggies (2014)
As actor
- Nights and Weekends (2008): Mattie's sister
- Moving (2008): Leah
- Humpday (2009): Monica
- The Off Hours (2011): Danielle
- Safety Not Guaranteed (2012): Uptight Mom
- Lucky Them (2013): Lisa
As film editor
- Outpatient (2002)
- 8 Minutes to Love (2004)
- Afternoon Delight (2004)
- Hedda Gabler (2004)
- Hello (2005)
- We Go Way Back (2006)
- Diggers (2007)
- My Effortless Brilliance (2008)
As producer
- My Effortless Brilliance (2008)
- Humpday (2009)
Awards
- Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature and the Award for Best Cinematography for We Go Way Back, at the Slamdance Film Festival, 2006.
- Special Jury Prize for Excellence in Direction for My Effortless Brilliance, at the Atlanta Film Festival, 2008.
- Genius Award for lifetime achievement from The Stranger newspaper, 2008.
- Special Jury Prize for Spirit of Independence for Humpday, at Sundance, 2009.
- Acura Someone to Watch Award from Independent Spirit Awards, 2009.
Personal life
Shelton came out as bisexual in 2012. She is married to a man.
During a live recording of his song "Sleepwalkin'", singer Rhett Miller (of the Old 97's) stated that the song is based on an imagined romance with Shelton based purely on a photo of her he saw once.
References
External links
- Lynn Shelton at the Internet Movie Database
- Lynn Shelton, Hell Is For Hyphenates, September 30, 2014
