Karyn Kusama facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Karyn Kusama
Born	Karyn Kiyoko Kusama (1968-03-21) March 21, 1968 (age 57) St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Alma mater	New York University
Occupation	Filmmaker
Years active	1996–present
Spouse(s)	Phil Hay ​ (m. 2006)​
Children	1

Karyn Kiyoko Kusama (born March 21, 1968) is an American filmmaker. She is known for directing exciting movies and TV shows. Karyn has made films like Girlfight, Jennifer's Body, and The Invitation. She has also directed episodes for popular TV series. Her work often features strong female characters and explores interesting themes.

Early Life and Education

Karyn Kusama was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on March 21, 1968. Her father was a child psychiatrist, and her mother was an educational psychiatrist. Karyn went to Ladue Horton Watkins High School in St. Louis. Later, she studied film and TV at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. She earned her degree in 1990.

Career Highlights

Early Films and Big Breaks (1996–2009)

After college, Karyn worked many jobs. She edited documentaries and worked on music videos. She even worked as a nanny and painted houses. Through her nanny job, she met filmmaker John Sayles. She became his assistant for three years. During this time, she kept writing her own movie scripts. In 1992, Karyn started boxing. This hobby inspired her to write her first major film, Girlfight.

Karyn wrote and directed Girlfight when she was 31. It was hard to get money for the film. This was partly because she wanted the main character to be Latina. Filmmaker John Sayles helped her get the money needed. The movie came out in 2000. It won big awards at the Sundance Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival. Even though it was a small film, it was praised by critics.

In 2005, Karyn directed Æon Flux. This was a much bigger movie with a large budget. It starred Charlize Theron. However, Karyn lost control over the final version of the film. This experience taught her a lot about working in Hollywood. She decided she would only work on films where she could control the final cut.

In 2009, Karyn directed the horror film Jennifer's Body. It was written by Diablo Cody and starred Megan Fox. The movie made a good amount of money. At first, critics had mixed feelings about it. But over time, many people started to see it as a "forgotten feminist classic." Karyn said she wanted to make a film where young women could see themselves.

Later Works and Television (2010–Present)

Starting in 2014, Karyn began directing many TV shows. She worked on popular series like Halt and Catch Fire, The Man in the High Castle, and Billions.

In 2015, Karyn directed The Invitation. This horror film was written by her husband, Phil Hay, and his partner Matt Manfredi. It was funded by a group that supports films directed by women. The movie was very well-received at film festivals. It won awards like Best Film at the Sitges Film Festival. Karyn said making this film gave her the creative control she wanted. The movie was partly inspired by her own experiences with loss.

In 2017, Karyn directed a short film called "Her Only Living Son." It was part of XX, a horror movie made by all female directors. In 2018, she directed Destroyer. This crime drama starred Nicole Kidman. The film was praised for Karyn's direction and Kidman's acting.

Karyn is also an executive producer for the TV series Yellowjackets. She has been nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards for her work on the show.

Themes and Style

Karyn Kusama's films often have strong themes about women's roles and experiences. Most of her movies feature female main characters. She likes to show characters who are not perfect. Karyn proudly calls herself a "feminist." She has spoken about the challenges women face in the film industry. Her films also explore big ideas like loss, sadness, and worry.

Karyn loves filmmaking because it brings together many art forms. She combines dialogue, music, and visuals to tell a story. Her own life experiences often influence her films. Some of her movies are set in Los Angeles. She tries to show parts of the city that people don't often see in movies.

Personal Life

Karyn Kusama married screenwriter Phil Hay in October 2006. They have one son. Karyn and Phil met at the Sundance Film Festival in 2000. They started dating when they worked together on the movie Æon Flux.

Phil Hay has written three of Karyn's films with his writing partner, Matt Manfredi. The three of them formed a film company called Familystyle Films.

Karyn has mentioned filmmakers like Jonathan Glazer and Jacques Audiard as influences. She also loves Jeanne Dielman, a film directed by a woman. Karyn was inspired to make films about women after watching Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Valley Girl.

Filmography

Film

• Girlfight (2000) (also writer)
• Æon Flux (2005)
• Jennifer's Body (2009)
• The Invitation (2015)
• Destroyer (2018)

Short film

Television

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Karyn Kusama para niños