Jan Oxenberg facts for kids

Jan Oxenberg (born in 1950) is an American film producer, director, editor, and screenwriter. She is known for her work in films that explore diverse stories and for her television shows.

Jan Oxenberg's Early Life and Education

Jan Oxenberg was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1950. She started her college journey at Barnard College. There, she was part of an interesting learning program called the experimental college. This program allowed students from Barnard and Columbia University to live and learn together in a self-guided way, starting in 1968.

After two years, Jan moved to the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). She first studied feminist art, which is art that focuses on women's experiences and rights. Later, she switched to the film school at CalArts. In 1972, Jan was one of many students who helped create Womanhouse. This was a very important art project, one of the first of its kind, that featured art installations and performances by women.

Jan Oxenberg's Career in Film and TV

In the 1970s, Jan Oxenberg was involved with ELF, which stood for Education Liberation Front. This group traveled around, sharing information and books about important topics like freedom movements, fighting racism, and protecting the environment. Around 1974, she also helped create a radio series called "... Sisters" for KPFK radio in Los Angeles.

Jan has worked on many popular television shows. She was a producer and writer for Pretty Little Liars, a show many young people enjoy. Her other work in television includes Nothing Sacred, Cold Case, Kidnapped, In Plain Sight, and Chicago Hope.

Since 2013, Jan Oxenberg has been working on turning a book called My Dark Places into a movie. She is writing the screenplay and helping with the film's production through Myriad Pictures.

Notable Television Work

Jan Oxenberg has contributed to several TV series, often taking on roles as a writer or producer.

• In 1997, she wrote an episode of Relativity. This episode was special because it showed the first kiss between two female characters on American primetime television.
• From 1999 to 2001, she worked on Once and Again. She was a producer and writer for 43 episodes. This show was known for having a groundbreaking storyline about a teenage couple.
• She also worked as a film producer for Chicago Hope (1998–1999), The Education of Max Bickford (2001), Robbery Homicide Division (2002), Mister Sterling (2003), Cold Case (2003–2004), Kidnapped (2006–2007), Long Island Confidential (2008), In Plain Sight (2011), and Pretty Little Liars (2013).

Jan Oxenberg's Film Projects

Jan Oxenberg has directed and produced several films, including short films and documentaries.

• In 1973, she directed a short film called Home Movie. This film is seen as one of the first films that explored diverse stories from a female perspective. It was shown at the Womanspace Gallery in 1973. The film looked at old home movies but told a new kind of story.
• She also directed the short film I'm Not One of 'Em in 1974.
• In 1975, she produced, directed, and edited A Comedy in Six Unnatural Acts.
• Also in 1975, she directed and edited Films by Jan Oxenberg and worked on the sound for the documentary Woman to Woman.
• In 1986, she contributed to the sound for the documentary Rate It X.
• In 1992, she produced and directed Thank You and Good Night. This documentary focused on her grandmother's final days and explored the topic of facing death.

Personal Life

Jan Oxenberg is Jewish and is open about her identity. She has been open about her identity since the early days of the second wave feminist movement, which was a time when many women worked for equal rights. For many years, she dated the musician Sonia Wieder-Atherton.