Tamar Halpern

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tamar Halpern is a writer and director living in Los Angeles. She holds an M.F.A. degree from the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts.[1]

Career[]

Tamar Halpern is a writer and director of eight feature films, including the documentary on artist Llyn Foulkes called Llyn Foulkes One Man Band, co-directed with Chris Quilty. Halpern met Foulkes when they were neighbors in Los Angeles, and after becoming friends she cast him in her previous feature film Your Name Here.[2][3] Llyn Foulkes One Man Band screened in competition at L.A. Film Festival, had an Oscar qualifying theatrical run, and has been renewed for a second year on Netflix.[4]

Shot over seven years as Foulkes struggles to find acknowledgement in the international art world, The Hollywood Reporter said, "Foulkes is a joy to watch",[5] and Variety compared the film to Searching for Sugar Man and Cutie and the Boxer.[6] With commentary by Dennis Hopper, Johnny Carson, Paul Schimmel and George Herms, the documentary chronicles the execution of two Foulkes paintings The Lost Frontier (1997-2004) and Deliverance (2004-2007). The film also features extended interviews and musical performances of Foulkes' one-man band contraption called "The Machine".

Halpern has written and directed three features for Lifetime Network in 2017/2018. Previous work includes Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life which Halpern adapted from the children's book of the same name by Wendy Mass,[7] starring Mira Sorvino, Joe Pantoliano, Ryan Simpkins, and Michael Urie, with music by Edie Brickell and Sing-Sing. Halpern's feature Shelf Life starred Betsy Brandt of Breaking Bad and was called a "whip-smart film that taps into a fresh source for American comedy" by Variety.[8] Halpern's short comedy Death, Taxes and Apple Juice was invited to 40+ festivals, winning 16 awards including Boston Women in Comedy [9] and L.A. Short Film Festival.[10]

Halpern's short story, "The House Where the Grifters Squat," was written during a funded writing residency at Hedgebrook,[11] and went on to win Sundress Publications' Best of the Net Award.[12] Halpern is also a contributor to the Huffington Post.[13]

A nominated 2016-2017 Film Expert for American Film Showcase[14] and the US Dept. of Education, Halpern has taught in Amman, Jordan and is a visiting screenwriting professor at USC. She has written and directed commercials and digital campaigns for Amazon, DPS, Visa, EventBrite, Pepsi, YSL and Armani, among others, has a background in interactive multimedia and is a founder of the internet startup CitySearch. She holds a BA in Broadcast Journalism and an MFA in Film Production, both from USC. Her son is the composer Jordan Halpern Schwartz.

References[]

  1. ^ "USC Visions & Voices".
  2. ^ "Your Name Here". Variety.
  3. ^ "Your Name Here". Gawker.
  4. ^ "Llyn Foulkes One Man Band". Watch on Netflix.
  5. ^ "Llyn Foulkes One Man Band LAFF Review". Hollywood Reporter.
  6. ^ "Llyn Foulkes One Man Band Film Review". Variety.
  7. ^ Mass, Wendy. "Blog".
  8. ^ "Shelf Life". Variety.
  9. ^ "Death, Taxes and Apple Juice". Brattle Theatre Women in Comedy Festival Film Night.
  10. ^ "Death, Taxes and Apple Juice". One Day University: Eight Short Films Every Movie Lover Should See.
  11. ^ "Hedgebrook Alumnae". Archived from the original on 2012-07-26.
  12. ^ "Best of the Net 2010".
  13. ^ "Huffington Post".
  14. ^ "Tamar Halpern". American Film Showcase.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""