Susan Seidelman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Susan Seidelman
Seidelman at the Mystic Film Festival in 2021
Born	(1952-12-11) December 11, 1952 (age 72) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Alma mater	New York University
Occupation	Director, producer, writer
Years active	1982–present
Notable work	Smithereens, Desperately Seeking Susan, Making Mr. Right, Cookie, She-Devil, Gaudi Afternoon, Musical Chairs
Partner(s)	Jonathan Brett

Susan Seidelman (born December 11, 1952) is an American film director, producer, and writer. She is famous for making movies that mix comedy and drama. Her films often feature unique art styles and pop culture references. She likes to tell stories about women, especially those who feel like outsiders.

Seidelman first became well-known for her film Smithereens (1982). It was the first American independent movie to compete at the famous Cannes Film Festival. Her next movie, Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), was a huge hit. It was the first film for pop star Madonna. In 2023, the Library of Congress chose this film to be preserved forever because it is so important to American culture.

She also directed TV shows. She directed the first episode of the popular show ... and the City. In 2024, Seidelman published a book about her life called Desperately Seeking Something: A Memoir about Movies, Mothers and Material Girls.

Early Life and School

Susan Seidelman was born in a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her father was a hardware maker and her mother was a teacher. After high school, she went to Drexel University to study fashion and art.

At Drexel, she took a film class and fell in love with movies. She was inspired by European directors like Jean-Luc Godard and Ingmar Bergman. This made her decide to become a filmmaker. She went to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts to study film. Her first student film, And You Act Like One Too, was nominated for a Student Academy Award in 1976.

Career in Film and TV

First Films in the 1980s

Seidelman's first feature film was Smithereens (1982). It was a dark comedy about the punk rock scene in New York City. She made the movie for only $40,000. She filmed it on the streets and in the subways of New York, sometimes without permission. This is called "guerrilla style" filmmaking.

Because it was shown at the Cannes Film Festival, Smithereens made Seidelman a key figure in 1980s independent cinema.

Major Success with 'Desperately Seeking Susan'

Her second film, Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), was a big success. It starred the rising pop star Madonna in her first movie role. The film also helped launch the careers of actors Rosanna Arquette and Aidan Quinn. Seidelman chose Madonna for the part because she believed Madonna had the right personality for the character.

Throughout the 1980s, Seidelman directed other popular movies:

• Making Mr. Right (1987): A science-fiction romantic comedy. It starred John Malkovich, who played both a scientist and the robot he created.
• Cookie (1989): A comedy about a mobster and his daughter, starring Peter Falk.
• She-Devil (1989): A comedy based on a popular book. It starred Meryl Streep in her first big comedy role and Roseanne Barr in her first movie.

In 1994, Seidelman was nominated for an Academy Award for a short film she co-wrote and co-produced called The Dutch Master.

Later Films and TV Work

Seidelman continued to direct films after the 1990s. Gaudi Afternoon (2001) is a detective story set in Barcelona, Spain. Musical Chairs (2011) is about a couple who enters a wheelchair ballroom dancing competition.

She also had great success in television. She directed the first episode of ... and the City. This means she helped create the look and feel of the show. She also directed other episodes in the first season. She received two Emmy nominations for the TV movie A Cooler Climate, starring Sally Field and Judy Davis.

Her Unique Style

Seidelman is known for taking classic movie types, or genres, and giving them a modern twist. She often focuses on female characters and people who don't fit in.

For example, Desperately Seeking Susan is a type of movie called a "screwball comedy." But instead of a man and woman swapping roles, two women trade identities. A bored housewife, Roberta, gets to experience the exciting life of a free-spirited woman named Susan. By "trying on" Susan's life, Roberta discovers what she really wants.

Fashion and art are also very important in her films. In Desperately Seeking Susan, the colorful clothes and scenes of 1980s New York City show Roberta's exciting new adventure. This is very different from her plain suburban home.

Seidelman once said, "If I wasn't a filmmaker I probably would've liked to be a cultural anthropologist... I'm interested in human behavior. I like mixing comedy [with drama] because life is serious and humorous."

Personal Life

Seidelman is married to Jonathan Brett, who is also a screenwriter and producer. They have a son named Oscar, who works as a producer and video editor. After living in New York City for many years, she and her husband moved to New Jersey.

Awards and Nominations

Filmography

Films

Television

See also

In Spanish: Susan Seidelman para niños