Betty Kaplan facts for kids

Betty Kaplan is a talented film and television director from Venezuela and the United States. She was born in New York City but grew up in Caracas, Venezuela. Betty Kaplan is known for directing movies like Doña Bárbara, Almost a Woman, and Of Love and Shadows. The movie Of Love and Shadows was based on a book by the famous writer Isabel Allende.

Betty Kaplan has won many awards for her work, including the Peabody Award. She often writes, directs, and produces her own film projects. She also helps lead the Directors Guild of America Latino Committee, which supports Latino filmmakers.

About Betty Kaplan

Betty Kaplan was born in New York. Her mother was from Mexico, and her father was from Venezuela. She spent her childhood in Venezuela. Today, she lives in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Betty Kaplan's Work

Betty Kaplan has directed many television shows and movies. She is known for creating popular and highly-rated episodes.

Television Projects

Kaplan has directed several TV shows and movies for television.

• In 2009, she directed "One Hot Summer" for the Lifetime Television network. This movie starred Vanessa Marcil, Casper Van Dien, and Jon Seda.
• She directed an episode called "Legacy" for the TV series Law and Order: Criminal Intent in 2008. This episode was very popular and had high viewership numbers.
• In 2002, she directed "The Journey" for the police drama series The Division, also for Lifetime Television. This episode was also a big hit for the network.

Early Career and "Bolívar"

Betty Kaplan became well-known early in her career. In 1983, she wrote and directed an entire TV mini-series called "Bolívar." This series was paid for by Venezuelan state television. It told the exciting story of Simon Bolivar, a hero who helped free South America from Spanish rule. The "Bolívar" mini-series became a popular event that Venezuelans watch every year.

Kaplan also directed "Caminos Que Andan." This was a series of eleven documentary-dramas. They explored the lives of different Latin American writers. She filmed this series for the Televisora Nacional of Venezuela.

Directing Movies

Betty Kaplan has directed several important films.

• In Of Love and Shadows, she adapted a book by Chilean writer Isabel Allende. This movie was special because it gave Spanish actor Antonio Banderas his very first role in an English-language film. This helped introduce him to Hollywood. Jennifer Connelly also starred in the film.
• Her other films include Doña Bárbara (1998) and Almost a Woman (2006).

Upcoming Film: "El Numero Uno"

Betty Kaplan is currently working on a new film project called "El Numero Uno." This movie will tell the story of Renny Ottolina. He was a very famous TV personality and a national hero in Venezuela. Ottolina was so popular that some media leaders and politicians felt threatened by him. He even decided to run for president because many Venezuelans wanted a new leader to fight corruption. Sadly, Renny Ottolina died in a plane accident just three months before the election. Betty Kaplan knew him personally because she used to be a dancer on his popular weekly TV show.

Other Creative Work

Besides directing, Kaplan has also produced music videos for Latino singers. One of her most famous music videos was "La Papa sin Catsup" in 2003 for Mexican American singer Jenni Rivera. She is also working on many new screenplays for different types of movies.

Kaplan has directed television commercials and theater plays in Los Angeles. As a leader in the Directors Guild of America Latino Committee, she helps organize important events. These events include special screenings of films like Guillermo del Toro’s Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008) and Michael Jackson's This Is It (2009), a documentary about singer Michael Jackson. She also hosts Q&A sessions with directors like Rodrigo Garcia for his film Mother and Child (2010).

Filmography

Television projects

See also

In Spanish: Betty Kaplan para niños