Martha Coolidge (born August 17, 1946) is an American

film director A film director or filmmaker is a person who controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfillment of that Goal, vision. The director has a key role ...

and former President of the

Directors Guild of America The Directors Guild of America (DGA) is an entertainment guild that represents the interests of Film director, film and Television director, television directors in the United States motion picture industry and abroad. Founded as the Screen Dir ...

. She has directed such films as '' Valley Girl,'' '' Real Genius'' and '' Rambling Rose.''

Early life

Coolidge was born in New Haven, Connecticut. She is a granddaughter of Arthur W. Coolidge, former lieutenant governor of Massachusetts, who was a fourth cousin of President

Calvin Coolidge Calvin Coolidge (born John Calvin Coolidge Jr.; ; July 4, 1872January 5, 1933) was the 30th president of the United States, serving from 1923 to 1929. A Republican Party (United States), Republican lawyer from Massachusetts, he previously ...

. Coolidge studied illustration at

Rhode Island School of Design The Rhode Island School of Design (RISD , pronounced "Riz-D") is a private art and design school in Providence, Rhode Island. The school was founded as a coeducational institution in 1877 by Helen Adelia Rowe Metcalf, who sought to increase th ...

, but changed majors, becoming the first film major at the school. She earned her MFA from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Later in Los Angeles, she studied acting and other aspects of her craft with

Lee Strasberg Lee Strasberg (born Israel Strassberg; November 17, 1901 – February 17, 1982) was an American acting coach and actor. He co-founded, with theatre directors Harold Clurman and Cheryl Crawford, the Group Theatre in 1931, which was hailed ...

, Stella Adler, Joanne Baron, and David Craig.

Career

Coolidge first made her reputation by directing many award-winning documentaries in New York City. While in New York, she helped found the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF). She moved to Hollywood in 1976 and spent several years as a part of the Zoetrope Studio created by

Francis Ford Coppola Francis Ford Coppola ( ; born April 7, 1939) is an American filmmaker. He is considered one of the leading figures of the New Hollywood and one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. List of awards and nominations received by Francis Ford Coppo ...

. Her feature-length directorial debut, '' Not a Pretty Picture,'' was based on a

date rape Date rape is a form of acquaintance rape and dating violence. The two phrases are often used interchangeably, but date rape specifically refers to a rape in which there has been some sort of romantic or potentially sexual relationship between ...

she suffered at age 16. Her breakthrough came with the independently produced '' Valley Girl'' (1983), a film recognized for launching the career of Nicolas Cage. Her film '' Rambling Rose'' (1991) won three

Independent Spirit Awards The Independent Spirit Awards, originally known as the FINDIE or Friends of Independents Awards, and later as the Film Independent Spirit Awards, are awards presented annually in Santa Monica, California, to independent filmmakers. Founded in ...

for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Supporting Actress for Diane Ladd, in addition to

Oscar Oscar, OSCAR, or The Oscar may refer to: People and fictional and mythical characters * Oscar (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters named Oscar, Óscar or Oskar * Oscar (footballer, born 1954), Brazilian footballer ...

and

Golden Globe The Golden Globe Awards are awards presented for excellence in both international film and television. It is an annual award ceremony held since 1944 to honor artists and professionals and their work. The ceremony is normally held every Januar ...

nominations for Ladd and Laura Dern (Best Actress). ''Rambling Rose'' was well reviewed and made top 10 lists for the year. Despite a limited release hampered by economic problems suffered by the production company, the film played for months and earned many honors. '' Introducing Dorothy Dandridge'' (1999) for HBO was nominated for 11

Emmy Awards The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, each with their own set of rules and award categor ...

, winning five, including Best Actress for its star Halle Berry, and earned Coolidge an

Emmy The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, each with their own set of rules and award catego ...

and DGA (

) nominations for Best Director. From 2002 to 2003 she was the

's first female president. She taught at the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts.

Personal life

Coolidge was previously married to screenwriter Michael Backes, with whom she has a son, Preston, named for director

Preston Sturges Preston Sturges (; born Edmund Preston Biden; August 29, 1898 – August 6, 1959) was an American playwright, screenwriter, and film director. He is credited as being the first screenwriter to find success as a director. Prior to Sturges, other ...

. She is now married to production designer James Spencer.

Awards

* Independent Spirit Award, Best Director for '' Rambling Rose'' *Independent Spirit Award, Best Feature for ''Rambling Rose'' * DGA Award, Robert B. Aldrich Achievement Award * Paris Film Festival, Grand Prix Award for '' Real Genius'' * Chicago International Film Festival, Best Short Film for ''Bimbo'' *Chicago International Film Festival, Best Short Film for ''More Than a School'' * LA Femme International Film Festival, Maverick Award * Method Fest, Forerunner Award * Women in Film Award, Crystal Award

Nominations

*Online Film & Television Association Award, Best Director for '' Introducing Dorothy Dandridge'' *

Emmy Award The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, each with their own set of rules and award categor ...

, Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special for ''Introducing Dorothy Dandridge'' *DGA Award, Best Director for '' An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong'' *DGA Award, Best Director for '' If These Walls Could Talk 2'' *DGA Award, Best Director for ''Introducing Dorothy Dandridge'' * CableACE Award, Best Director for '' Crazy in Love'' * Chicago Film Critics Association Award, Best Director for ''Rambling Rose''

Filmography

Film

Television

TV movies

References

External links

*
Martha Coolidge
at virtual-history.com
Martha Coolidge
at SheMadeIt.org
Martha Coolidge
at Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame {{DEFAULTSORT:Martha Coolidge 1946 births Living people American documentary filmmakers American film editors American television directors American women television directors Artists from New Haven, Connecticut Presidents of the Directors Guild of America Rhode Island School of Design alumni American women film directors American women screenwriters Independent Spirit Award for Best Director winners Tisch School of the Arts alumni Coolidge family Film directors from Connecticut American comedy film directors American women film editors American women documentary filmmakers