Deborah Kampmeier facts for kids

Deborah Jane Kampmeier (born November 21, 1964) is an American filmmaker and producer. She is known for writing and directing movies like Virgin (2003), Hounddog (2007), Split (2016), and Tape (2020).

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Deborah Kampmeier was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She started her career in theater as an actress. She studied acting at the National Shakespeare Conservatory from 1983 to 1985. Later, she taught acting in New York City for 20 years. She taught at places like NYU and the Stella Adler Studios.

Her Films

Kampmeier made her first full-length movie, Virgin, in 2003. It starred Elisabeth Moss and Robin Wright Penn. The movie was made with a small budget of $65,000. Virgin won awards at several film festivals, including the Hamptons Film Festival. It also received two nominations at the 19th Independent Spirit Awards.

Her second movie, Hounddog (2007), featured Dakota Fanning and Piper Laurie. This film was shown for the first time at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. It was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize there.

In 2016, Kampmeier released her third movie, Split. It premiered at the Sarasota Film Festival. The story is about a young actress who changes after falling in love. Her daughter, Sophia Oppenheim, also appeared in the film.

Telling Women's Stories

Deborah Kampmeier's films are often recognized for focusing on female characters. She likes to tell stories from a woman's point of view. She once shared that she wanted to make movies that show the experiences of women. This desire grew stronger after she faced challenges in getting her first film distributed. She realized there was a need to create more stories centered on women.

Television Work

In 2019, famous director Ava DuVernay chose Kampmeier to direct an episode of the TV series Queen Sugar. This was Kampmeier's first time directing for television. Since then, she has directed episodes for other popular shows. These include Tales of the Walking Dead, Star Trek: Picard, and The Gilded Age.

Notable Works

Here are some of Deborah Kampmeier's well-known projects:

• Films:
  • Virgin (2003)
  • Hounddog (2007)
  • Split (2016)
  • Tape (2020)
• Television Series (Director):
  • Queen Sugar (2019)
  • Cherish the Day (2020)
  • Clarice (2021)
  • FBI: International (2021–2023)
  • Star Trek: Discovery (2022)
  • Tales of the Walking Dead (2022)
  • Star Trek: Picard (2023)
  • Harlan Coben's Shelter (2023)
  • The Gilded Age (2023)
  • Outer Range (2024)