Lauren Lazin facts for kids
Lauren Lazin is an American filmmaker who makes documentaries. Her movies have been nominated for many awards, including the Emmys and an Oscar. She is famous for directing and producing the Oscar-nominated film Tupac: Resurrection.
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Filmmaking Career
Lauren Lazin has directed and produced many important films and television shows. Her work often tells the stories of famous people, historical events, and important social topics.
Famous Documentary Films
Lazin's first major movie, Tupac: Resurrection, was about the famous rapper Tupac Shakur. It was nominated for an Academy Award in 2005, which is one of the highest honors in filmmaking.
Another one of her important films is I'm Still Here: Real Diaries of Young People Who Lived During the Holocaust. This documentary shared the true stories of young people from a very difficult time in history. It was nominated for two Emmy Awards in 2006.
She also directed The Last Days of Left Eye, a film about the life of Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, a member of the popular music group TLC.
Some of her other well-known films include:
- The U.S. vs. John Lennon: A film about the famous musician from The Beatles.
- Soul Train: The Hippest Trip in America: This film celebrated the iconic music and dance TV show. It was VH1's highest-rated documentary of its kind.
- ... Word Mississippi: ... the Sin: This documentary for the Showtime network won a GLAAD award in 2015 for being an Outstanding Documentary.
Early Work and Education
Lazin's filmmaking journey began when she was a student at Stanford University. Her first film, The Flapper Story (1985), was about the "Flapper" women of the 1920s. It used old videos and interviews with women who remembered that time. The film was shown at the Museum of Modern Art and won a Student Academy Award.
She graduated with high honors from Smith College in 1982 and earned a master's degree in documentary film from Stanford University in 1985. She has also received an honorary doctorate from Smith College.
Television and Series Production
Besides movies, Lazin has created and produced many popular television series. She is known for her work as a "showrunner," which means she is in charge of the entire production of a TV show.
Work with MTV
For many years, Lazin was a top executive at MTV. She created and produced over forty documentaries and hundreds of hours of television. She started the documentary series MTV Rockumentary, which told the life stories of famous musicians like The Who and Janet Jackson.
She also helped create many hit shows that you might have heard of, including:
- MTV Cribs
- Diary
- My Super Sweet 16
- True Life, a series about social issues affecting young people.
In 1990, she created a show called ... in the 90's, which became very popular. She also worked on MTV's Choose or Lose specials, which encouraged young people to vote.
Other TV Shows
Lazin has worked with many other TV networks like Bravo, A&E, and VH1. She co-created the series Newlyweds: The First Year for Bravo, which followed couples during their first year of marriage.
Some of her other TV projects include:
- For Real: The Story of Reality TV: Hosted by Andy Cohen, this series explored the history of reality television with stars like the Kardashians.
- Biography: Bobby Brown: A four-part series for A&E about the life of the famous singer.
- Untold Stories of Hip-Hop: A show for WE tv featuring interviews with stars like Cardi B, Snoop Dogg, and Queen Latifah.
Awards and Recognition
Lauren Lazin's work has earned her many awards and honors over the years.
- Her films have won Cine Golden Eagles, and she has been honored for her directing and editing skills.
- She received a special award from the Television Academy for MTV's anti-violence campaign, Fight For Your Rights.
- In 1996, the Women's College Coalition named her a "Role Model" for her achievements.
- She has taught film classes at top universities like Stanford and Duke.
Selected Filmography
Here is a list of some of Lauren Lazin's many films and TV series:
- The Flapper Story (1985)
- Tupac: Resurrection (2003)
- I'm Still Here: Real Diaries of Young People Who Lived During the Holocaust (2005)
- The Last Days of Left Eye (2007)
- Soul Train: The Hippest Trip in America (2010)
- Newlyweds: The First Year (series) (2013)
- L Word Mississippi: Hate the Sin (2014)
See also
- List of female film and television directors
- List of LGBT-related films directed by women
