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Toward the end of his 2023 HBO comedy special From Bleak to Dark, Marc Maron tells the audience a high-wire joke he’s been working on since his partner, the director Lynn Shelton, died in 2020 from a rare blood disease.

It starts with Maron on the way to the hospital to say goodbye to Shelton after a doctor arranges for the comedian to see her body. When Maron gets there, he takes his time saying goodbye. As he’s walking out of the ICU, he stops to consider a thought: “Selfie?” he asks himself. “No,” he finally decides. Most of the audience laughs immediately, but a few gasp before succumbing to their chuckles. It’s the kind of blunt and slightly scandalous humor Maron has built his career on, but it’s also textured with something rare for the comedian: a tender emotional awareness.

There are scenes of Maron workshopping this joke in Are We Good?...

You know Michaela Watkins, right? She was on “Saturday Night Live” and was the star of “Casual” and “Enlightened.” You’ve heard her voice work on “Big Mouth” and “Robot Chicken,” and she was in indie gems like “In a World,” “Sword of Trust,” and “Thanks for Sharing.” You know her from somewhere.

“I get to work all the time, and nobody really knows who I am,” she recently told IndieWire. And, as Watkins makes clear, that’s no complaint. She’s got a great acting career, one that started quite late by Hollywood standards. A former member of improv troupe The Groundlings, she spent a decade bumping around in single-episode, minor-role stints before spending a year as an “SNL” featured player in 2008.

From there, she spent a season on “The New Adventures of Old Christine,” starring opposite another former SNL star, Julia Louis-Dreyfus — who’s now her co-star in...

I don’t know if anything is more soothing than Owen Wilson smiling while sporting a mighty blonde afro. With light twinkling in his eyes, Wilson stares into the distance, surrounded by happy little trees for IFC Films‘ new Paint poster. It’s moments like this when I’m thankful Wilson is experiencing a resurgence in cinema. Between starring in Marvel’s Loki and Disney’s Haunted Mansion and becoming powered up for the underrated Secret Headquarters family film, Wilson is in a good place.

Paint stars Owen Wilson as Vermont’s #1 public television painter, Carl Nargle, for Brit McAdams’ latest project, and Bob Ross fans are salivating.

In Paint, Wilson’s Nargle is convinced he has it all: a signature perm, custom van, and fans hanging on his every stroke. Yup! Nargle is on top of the world until a younger, better artist steals everything (and everyone) Carl loves.

IFC Films is ready to surround you with happy little trees and gentle babbling brooks in the new Paint teaser trailer. Paint stars Owen Wilson as Vermont’s #1 public television painter, Carl Nargle, for Brit McAdams’ latest project, and Bob Ross fans are screaming.

In Paint, Wilson’s Nargle is convinced he has it all: a signature perm, custom van, and fans hanging on his every stroke. Yup! Nargle is on top of the world until a younger, better artist steals everything (and everyone) Carl loves.

McAdams directs from the 2010 Black List screenplay he wrote, with Michaela Watkins, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ciara Renée (Hawkgirl from CW’s Arrowverse), Lusia Stuss, Stephen Root and newcomer Lucy Freyer set to star.

In the Paint teaser trailer, Nargle captures the hearts of Vermonters, making them feel at peace, unique, and lighter thanks to his soothing voice and dreamy outlook on life. Women want to be with him,...

The HBO Original stand-up comedy special Marc Maron: From Bleak To Dark debuts Saturday, February 11, 2023 at 10:00 p.m. Et/Pt on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max.

Logline: Legendary comedian and podcaster Marc Maron stars in his first-ever HBO comedy special filmed in front of a live audience at New York City’s Town Hall. Over the course of a hilarious and deeply personal hour, Maron explores such universal topics as getting older, antisemitism and faith, and the superiority of having cats over children – especially during the pandemic. The comedian also opens up about the loss of his partner in 2020 and reestablishing his complicated relationship with his father. Funny and fearless, Marc Maron: From Bleak To Dark showcases the comedian’s expertly layered cynicism as he deftly weaves humor and pathos into his signature style of storytelling.

About Marc Maron: Marc Maron has four hit...

Marc Maron’s first HBO Original comedy special, “Marc Maron: From Bleak to Dark,” will debut on the network Feb. 11 at 10 p.m. Et/Pt and be made available to stream on HBO Max.

The legendary stand-up comedian, actor and podcaster takes the stage in front of a live audience at New York City’s Town Hall. Over the course of a hilarious and deeply personal hour, he explores topics like getting older, antisemitism and faith, and the superiority of having cats over children — especially during the pandemic. The comedian also opens up about the loss of his girlfriend, the filmmaker Lynn Shelton, in 2020 and reestablishing his complicated relationship with his father.

Watch the trailer for the special at the top of this post.

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Kristen Bell, Serena Williams, Lil Rel Howery and More Join Cast of ‘Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie’

Previously, Maron has had four hit stand-up...

Xtr has launched production on Role Players, which is billed as the definitive documentary on the seminal fantasy game Dungeons & Dragons.

Boasting never-before-seen archival footage and interviews with high-profile celebrity D&d fanatics, Role Players will tell the all-encompassing story of Dungeons & Dragons, from the game’s origin story to the cult-like devotion of its players, exploring the power living in a fantasy world can have on real-life human connection.

The feature is being made by director Morgan Jon Fox (The One You Never Forget) and producer Ted Speaker (Sword of Trust). Bryn Mooser, Kathryn Everett, Justin Lacob and Abazar Khayami are executive producing for Xtr. Pic comes on the heels of Paramount and eOne’s announcement on the title for their upcoming narrative feature, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, and Hasbro’s reported explosive growth on the franchise as a result of the major theatrical release in...

A “Dungeons and Dragons” documentary is on the way from global documentary studio Xtr. Titled “Role Players,” the film is described as the “definitive” documentary on the seminal fantasy game and is currently in production.

Using never-before-seen archival footage and interviews with high-profile celebrity D&d fanatics, “Role Players”will tell the all encompassing story of Dungeons & Dragons. From the game’s origin story to the cult-like devotion of its players, the documentary will explore the power living in a fantasy world can have on real-life human connection.

The feature film is helmed by the team behind Xtr’s trading card documentary “The Hobby,” director Morgan Jon Fox and producer Ted Speaker. Bryn Mooser, Kathryn Everett, Justin Lacob and Abazar Khayami will executive produce for Xtr.

“As a director, I am excited to tell the story of D&d, which at its heart is about the true power of learning to work as teams,...

Exclusive: There’s a boom in collectible sports trading cards – from the $4.6M paid for a Luka Doncic rookie card or the $5.2M for a 1952 Mickey Mantle card as well as a recent deal that valued card brand Topps at $1.3B.

This is the impetus for a new feature documentary that This Is What Love In Action Looks Like director Morgan Jon Fox is helming for non-fiction studio Xtr.

Fox and Xtr are producing The Hobby, which delves into the historic comeback of the trading card industry. The doc is a deep dive into the real-time trading card fever following longtime collectors and a new generation of buyers including high net worth investors, athletes and celebrities as the hobby goes nuclear.

The documentary follows longtime collectors and a new generation of buyers, including Josh Luber, the co-founder of StockX and Chief Vision Officer of Fanatics Trading Cards, which acquired Topps,...

Exclusive: Jon Bass (Miracle Workers) is set as a lead opposite Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Kyle Chandler in the first installment of Super Pumped, Showtime’s anthology series from Billions co-creators Brian Koppelman and David Levien. The installment, which is based on Mike Isaac’s bestselling book Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber, tells the story of the ride-sharing company that stands out as both a marvel and a cautionary tale, featuring internal and external battles that ripple with unpredictable consequences.

Pivoting on Travis Kalanick (Gordon-Levitt), Uber’s hard-charging CEO who ultimately was ousted in a boardroom coup, the series will depict the roller-coaster ride of the upstart transportation company, embodying the highs and lows of Silicon Valley.

Bass will play Garrett Camp, the man with the original billion-dollar idea for Uber.

Kerry Bishé, Babak Tafti and Mousa Hussein Kraish also star.

Each season of the Super Pumped anthology series will...

By the power of Grayskull, Netflix’s list of new releases for July 2021 is here!

As you may have been able to tell by that clever opening, July is the month that Masters of the Universe: Revelation arrives on Netflix. This animated series from Kevin Smith continues the classic stories of He-Man and his buff friends. If nostalgia not be what ye seek, Netflix has plenty other original series this month as well. The amazingly hilarious sketch series I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson returns for season 2 on July 6. Also returning for a second season are Beastars, Never Have I Ever (both on July 15), and Outer Banks (July 30).

Netflix’s movie offerings are pretty thick this month since July marks the real beginning of the summer blockbuster season. The streamer is bringing not one, but three Fear Street films based on R.L. Stine’s classic book series. They...

Young adult horror fans (and those who are young adult at heart) will have a great time scrolling through Netflix in July 2021.

The streaming giant announced the new original movies and series coming to the service in July, as well as the library titles it will feature for the foreseeable future.

Among the biggest projects include a trilogy of “Fear Street” films from director Leigh Janiak (“Honeymoon”) and based on the teen horror franchise by R.L. Stine. The three movies will debut over consecutive weeks on Netflix, with the first dropping July 2.

The other big movie project coming to Netflix in July is “The Last Letter from Your Lover,” a time-spanning romance from novelist Jojo Moyes and filmmaker Augustine Frizzell starring Shailene Woodley and Oscar-nominee Felicity Jones.

On the archival front, some major movies arriving on Netflix include all five films in the “Twilight” franchise, the original “Karate Kid” trilogy,...

Nearly a year after closing its physical location, New York City’s IFC Center is preparing to finally reopen on Friday, March 5. The theater has announced a range of new safety measures along with new releases and several screening series. The arthouse venue first shut its doors on March 13, 2020 as early lockdown measures called for the closure of a variety of cultural institutions. In late February, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that New York City movie theaters had permission to reopen at 25 percent capacity and with a maximum of 50 people allowed per screen. Other areas of the state reopened months ago.

While the state has enacted a number of guidelines for reopening theaters, IFC Center has added additional safety measures, including mandatory mask-wearing at all times, no concession sales, and no eating and drinking allowed in theaters. Its five screens will also feature reserved seating (with six feet between...

Exclusive: We have learned that Marc Maron and Stephen Root have boarded the real-life inspired drama To Leslie which stars Andrea Riseborough as a West Texas single mom who wins the lottery, spends it fast, leaving a world of heartbreak in her wake.

Maron will play Sweeney, a lonely motel manager living a quiet life in West Texas, who takes a chance on Leslie when no one else will. Root will portray Dutch, a grizzled ex-biker willing to help Leslie so long as she plays by his rules.

Michael Morris is directing off Ryan Binaco’s screenplay. Production is already occurring here in Los Angeles.

Eduardo Cisneros, Ceci Cleary, Claude Dal Farra, Brian Keady, Kelsey Law, Jason Shuman, and Philip Waley are producing. John Gilbert of Bluewater Lane Productions and Ward Cleary and Binaco are EPs. Mister Smith Entertainment is handling international sales and UTA Independent Film Group...

As we enter the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend during an era when the box office is struggling and more weight is being placed on streamers for new product, there are still titles making theatrical debuts amid the digital film landscape as people recover from their turkey-induced tryptophan haze. It all starts with three films spotlighting a trio of artists that made a significant impact on pop culture.

IFC Films is set to release Wednesday the Gabriel Range-directed David Bowie pic Stardust starring Johnny Flynn as the iconic glam rocker as well as Marc Maron and Jena Malone​.

Written by Range and Christopher Bell, Stardust (not to be confused with the 2007 Matthew Vaughn fantasy pic) isn’t a full-blown, cradle-to-the-grave biopic. Instead, it spotlights Bowie’s life at one significant moment in his career — before he...

When beloved filmmaker Lynn Shelton unexpectedly passed away earlier this year, her tight-knit communities rallied together to find a way to honor her legacy in a way that felt appropriate for the big-hearted creator. In July, Seattle’s Northwest Film Forum and Duplass Brothers Productions announced their solution: the launch of the Lynn Shelton “Of a Certain Age” Grant. The $25,000 unrestricted cash grant will be awarded each year to a U.S.-based woman or non-binary filmmaker, age 39 or older, who has yet to direct a narrative feature.

Less than four months later, the selection committee has chosen their inaugural winner: Keisha Rae Witherspoon, a Caribbean-American filmmaker based in Miami. Per the official announcement, “Witherspoon’s work is driven by interests in science, speculative fiction, and fantasy, as well as documenting the unseen and unheralded nuances of diasporic peoples.”

Her dazzling short film “T” world-premiered at the BlackStar Film Festival...

Utopia Distribution has acquired “Turning Point,” a documentary that follows researchers in their quest to develop treatments for Alzheimer’s. It will premiere on Altavod, Utopia’s new distribution platform on Sept. 21 before being made available on other streaming platforms such as Amazon and iTunes a day later.

The release is being tied to World Alzheimer’s Day. The film was directed by James Keach, the documentarian behind “Glen Campbell… I’ll Be Me,” a portrait of the country music legend’s farewell tour after revealing he had been diagnosed with the disease.

“Turning Point” investigates the complex issues facing the American healthcare system as it seeks to treat a disease that has no cure and investigates why Alzheimer’s has a disproportionate impact on minority and disadvantaged communities.

“Turning Point” originally hit the festival circuit in 2018, but has been updated to address new developments in the research field.

“We...

A column chronicling events and conversations on the awards circuit.

The long and winding Emmy campaign season is going into its final act this weekend as Television Academy members and those 23,000 or so who are eligible to vote have their last chance to fill out ballots. They’re due back to the Academy’s accountants no later than 10 p.m. Pt Monday. At some point this weekend, I will send mine in, straggler that I am. After that, the next three weeks in September will be all about getting ready and then finally opening those envelopes over the course of six nights, culminating on September 20 with ABC’s broadcast of the Primetime Emmys. That show promises to be like no other, with a reported 140 remote setups for nominees across the globe and host Jimmy Kimmel guiding it all from Staples Center in Los Angeles. We also will be finding out...

“Golden Arm,” a buddy comedy set in the world of ladies arm wrestling, has sold global rights to Utopia, Variety has learned. The film will be released theatrically in the first half of 2021. HBO has licensed rights to broadcast and stream “Golden Arm.”

“Golden Arm” was originally intended to premiere at this year’s SXSW, but those plans were upended when the festival was cancelled due to coronavirus. The movie centers on a tough lady trucker who trains her timid best friend to compete in the National Ladies Arm Wrestling Championship.

“Golden Arm” was directed by Maureen Bharoocha and boasts a cast that includes Mary Holland, Betsy Sodaro, Dot-Marie Jones, Eugene Cordero, Ron Funches, Dawn Luebbe, Ahmed Bharoocha, Aparna Nancherla, Olivia Stambouliah and Kate Flannery.

“‘Golden Arm’ is a true gem of a film that will delight and surprise audiences; a hilarious story of badass women and female friendship, set...

Lynn Shelton’s posthumous Emmy nomination brought up bittersweet memories from her longtime partner, comedian Marc Maron, who opened up in a The New York Times interview this weekend about their personal and creative relationship, and her sudden death from acute leukemia at the age of 54.

Maron was candid about the day of Shelton’s death three months ago and his struggle with coming to terms with it since. Back in May, Shelton had developed a high fever and swollen throat glands, and he was concerned that she had contracted Covid-19. She made an appointment to see a doctor but collapsed at home before she made it there. The cause of death was organ failure connected to acute myeloid leukemia.

“I went [to the hospital] that night and spent a few minutes with her body. It was the heaviest thing I’ve ever done,” Maron said. “It was just devastating. I was blown out,...

Marc Maron continued to honor the legacy of his late collaborator and girlfriend Lynn Shelton in a new interview with The New York Times. Maron and Shelton were living together when Shelton unexpectedly passed away from an unidentified blood disorder in May. Maron appeared in Shelton-directed features “Outside In” and “Sword of Trust,” while Shelton directed select episodes of Maron’s Netflix series “Glow.”

When it came to setting up his 2017 comedy special at Netflix, Maron believed Shelton was the perfect hire for the job. By 2017, Shelton had seven feature films under her belt (including “Your Sister’s Sister” and “Humpday”) and episodes of major television series such as “Mad Men,” “The Mindy Project,” and “Master of None” on her acclaimed résumé. And yet, Maron tells The Times that Netflix was apprehensive about letting Shelton direct his special.

“I told Netflix I wanted her to direct it. They were concerned that...

To honor the legacy of beloved filmmaker Lynn Shelton, Seattle’s Northwest Film Forum and Duplass Brothers Productions have today announced the launch of the Lynn Shelton “Of a Certain Age” Grant. The $25,000 unrestricted cash grant will be awarded each year to a U.S.-based woman or non-binary filmmaker, age 39 or older, who has yet to direct a narrative feature.

Shelton, who passed away in May, was among the leading voices of American independent film, working on all sides of the camera on such films as “Humpday,” “Your Sister’s Sister,” “Outside In,” and “Sword of Trust.” Like the filmmakers the grant is intended to help, Shelton didn’t direct her own first feature (“We Go Way Back”) until she was 39. In the 15 years that followed, Shelton built a prolific and respected canon of both feature and television work.

“This grant seeks to reinforce that great filmmakers can emerge at any age,...

A grant fund has been set up in honor of the late “Humpday” filmmaker Lynn Shelton that will provide a $25,000 unrestricted cash grant to U.S. based women and nonbinary filmmakers, age 39 or older, who have yet to direct a narrative feature.

The “Of a Certain Age” grant was established by Seattle’s Northwest Film Forum alongside Duplass Brothers Productions, and the prize will be awarded each year.

“This grant seeks to reinforce that great filmmakers can emerge at any age, and to elevate the voices of a segment of the filmmaking community who have precious few resources dedicated to supporting them yet plenty of stories to tell,” Megan Griffiths, Shelton’s longtime friend and collaborator who is working in her capacity as a member of the board of Northwest Film Forum to help establish the grant, said in a statement. “Lynn was 39 when I met her on her first feature,...

A tribute to the life of the late director Lynn Shelton will air Wednesday night live on YouTube and will feature special dedications and performances by Emily Blunt, Reese Witherspoon and Shelton’s partner Marc Maron, among many more.

The program titled “Her Effortless Brilliance: A Celebration of Lynn Shelton Through Film and Music” will air live on YouTube on June 10 at 9 p.m. Et/6 p.m. Pt and will be available for streaming and sharing immediately afterwards. The stream will be available here.

Shelton, the director of “Humpday,” “Your Sister’s Sister” and episodes of “Glow” and “Mad Men,” died suddenly on May 16 at 54 of a previously undisclosed blood disorder.

Also Read: Director Lynn Shelton's Death Stuns Hollywood: 'I Can't Believe I'll Never Hear Her Laugh Again'

Some of Shelton’s closest collaborators, including Emily Blunt, Kaitlyn Dever, Rosemarie DeWitt, the Duplass Brothers, Jeff Garlin, Joshua Leonard, Sean Nelson, Michaela Watkins,...

Marc Maron, Emily Blunt, and many more are set to appear during the star-studded streaming telecast of “Her Effortless Brilliance: A Celebration of Lynn Shelton Through Film and Music.” The Lynn Shelton tribute will air live tonight at 9pm Et/6pm Pt on YouTube and will continue to be free to stream on the platform afterwards. Viewers can watch the live stream in the embedded video below.

Shelton’s longtime friend Megan Griffiths directed the tribute and produced it alongside Mel Eslyn, the Duplass brothers, and Adam Kersh. Among the actors slated to speak are Blunt, Kaitlyn Dever, Rosemarie DeWitt, Mark and Jay Duplass, Jeff Garlin, Joshua Leonard, Sean Nelson, Michaela Watkins, and Reese Witherspoon. Musicians scheduled to perform include Maron, Andrew Bird, Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie, Laura Veirs, and Tomo Nakayama.

“It has been really meaningful to me to work on this project,” Griffiths said in a statement.

Marc Maron said a tearful goodbye to his creative partner and girlfriend Lynn Shelton on the latest episode of his “Wtf” podcast Monday, providing some details about her sudden death on Saturday.

Shelton, the director of indie films such as “Your Sister’s Sister,” “Humpday” and “Sword of Trust” starring Maron, as well as on episodes of “Glow” and “Mad Men,” died of a previously undisclosed blood disorder on Saturday morning.

“I loved her. I loved her, a lot. And she loved me. And I knew that,” the comedian said through tears on Monday. “And I don’t know that I ever felt what I felt with her before. I do know, actually. I did not. I have not.”

Also Read: Lynn Shelton, Director of 'Humpday' and 'Mad Men' Episodes, Dies at 54

Maron said that Shelton had a fever that persisted and that they both believed it was strep throat,...

Marc Maron paid an emotional tribute to Lynn Shelton, his late girlfriend and creative collaborator who died Saturday from an unidentified blood disorder at the age of 54. On Maron’s popular podcast, “Wtf With Marc Maron,” the comedian detailed his relationship with the beloved filmmaker.

“She was my partner. She was my girlfriend. She was my friend. And I loved her. A lot. And she loved me, and I knew that,” Maron said, tearfully. “I don’t know that I had ever felt what I felt with her before. I do know, actually. I did not. I have not. I was getting used to love in the way of being able to accept it and show it properly in an intimate relationship.”

Maron met Shelton in 2015 when she appeared on his podcast for the first time. He recalled being “nervous” to meet her, but said they instantly connected and later...

Marc Maron has devoted the entirety of the May 18 episode of his “WTF” podcast to remembering Lynn Shelton, the beloved independent filmmaker who passed away May 16 from an unidentified blood disorder. The pair, creative and romantic partners, most recently collaborated on Shelton’s 2019 comedy-drama “Sword of Trust,” starring Maron as a pawn shop owner trying to sell a sword that allegedly proves the South won the Civil War. The bulk of Maron’s latest “WTF” podcast episode is a rebroadcast of his 2015 interview with Shelton, but the host prefaces the conversation with a heartbreaking tribute to the late indie director.

“She was my partner. She was my girlfriend. She was my friend. And I loved her. A lot. And she loved me, and I knew that,” Maron said at the beginning of the episode. “I don’t know that I had ever felt what I felt with her before. I do know,...

As many of you already know, filmmaker Lynn Shelton tragically passed away over the weekend due to a blood disorder. Over the weekend, on social media, there were tons of colleagues that were paying their respects to her. However, we had yet to hear from Marc Maron, the actor and comedian that not only starred in Shelton’s most recent film, “Sword of Trust,” but was actually her real-life partner. Well, Maron just broke his silence and released a new episode of his Wtf Podcast, where he discussed the death of Shelton.

Continue reading Marc Maron Remembers His Partner, Lynn Shelton, In Emotional New Podcast at The Playlist.

Director Lynn Shelton’s collaborator and romantic partner Marc Maron has issued a statement on her death, saying doctors tried hard to save her.

“She collapsed yesterday morning after having been ill for a week,” Maron said. “There was a previously unknown, underlying condition. It was not Covid 19. The doctors could not save her. They tried. Hard.

“I loved her very much as I know many of you did as well. It’s devastating. I am leveled, heartbroken and in complete shock and don’t really know how to move forward in this moment. I needed you all to know. I don’t know some of you. Some I do. I’m just trying to let the people who were important to her know.

“She was a beautiful, kind, loving, charismatic artist. Her spirit was pure joy. She made me happy. I made her happy. We were happy. I made her laugh all the time.

Saturday afternoon brought the unexpected and tragic news of the passing of Lynn Shelton, who died on Saturday morning at the age of 54. The cause of death, as shared by her creative and romantic partner Marc Maron, was an undiagnosed blood disorder.

A writer, director, producer, actor, and editor, Shelton was among the leading voices in independent cinema, breaking out of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival with “Humpday,” and most recently directing “Sword of Trust,” also starring Maron. However, Shelton also worked extensively in television, most recently helming four episodes of Hulu’s “Little Fires Everywhere,” and going behind the camera on episodes of such iconic series as “Mad Men,” “Glow,” “The Good Place,” “Fresh Off the Boat,” and “New Girl.”

Shelton’s film career began at the Slamdance Film Festival in 2006 with “We Go Way Back,” which earned the Grand Jury Prize, followed by “My Effortless Brilliance,” which premiered at SXSW in 2008. “Humpday,...

Lynn Shelton Photo: Elen Nivrae, licensed under Creative Commons

Lynn Shelton, director of Humpday and a leading figure in the 'mumblecore' genre, died on Friday at the age of 54, it has been revealed. She had been ill for several days as a result of a blood disorder.

Shelton, known for her sharp wit and love of improvisation, was one of those intense, vibrant people who could fill up a room with her energy and was always the centre of attention. She was widely loved within the industry. "We made so many things together," tweeted Mark Duplass, who worked with her on several occasions. "I wish we had made more. Her boundless creative energy and infectious spirit were unrivalled. She made me better. We butted heads, made up, laughed, pushed each other. Like family. What a deep loss."

The writer, director and producer's most recent feature, Sword Of Trust, attracted considerable...

Friends and former collaborators are remembering writer, director, and producer Lynn Shelton, an award-winning indie filmmaker who died Friday at age 54.

The groundbreaking director was best known for her films Humpday,Your Sister’s Sister (2011), Outside In (2017) and last year’s Sword of Trust.

Humpday, which premiered in 2009 at the Sundance Film Festival, starred Joshua Leonard, Alycia Delmore and Shelton’s frequent collaborator, Mark Duplass.

In a tribute on Instagram Saturday, Leonard called Shelton “one of the greatest forces of nature I’ve ever encountered — a brilliant enthusiast to her core.”

Meanwhile, Duplass said her “infectious spirit” was unrivaled. “We lost our dear friend Lynn Shelton. We made so many things together. I wish we had made more. Her boundless creative energy and infectious spirit were unrivaled. She made me better. We butted heads, made up, laughed, pushed each other. Like family. What a deep loss,” Duplass tweeted.

We lost our dear friend Lynn Shelton.

Writer, director, actor died in Los Angeles from previously unidentified blood disorder.

Lynn Shelton, a doyenne of Us indie cinema who broke out at Sundance with her female gaze comedy Humpday, has died. She was 54.

Shelton died on Friday (May 15) in Los Angeles from a previously unidentified blood disorder. Besides her film accolades, she was a prolific TV director on series such as Mad Men, Glow and Little Fires Everywhere, and a prominent face on the Seattle arts scene.

Shelton was born on August 27, 1965, in Oberlin, Ohio, and grew up in Seattle. She studied at the University of Washington School...

Lynn Shelton, the director of acclaimed independent films like Humpday and Your Sister’s Sister and episodes of New Girl, G.L.O.W. and Little Fires Everywhere, died Friday at the age of 54.

The cause of death was a blood disorder, Variety reported. Marc Maron, Shelton’s partner at the time of her death, confirmed her death in a statement.

“I have some awful news. Lynn passed away last night. She collapsed yesterday morning after having been ill for a week,” Maron said in a statement (via IndieWire). “There was a previously unknown,...

The indie filmmaker Lynn Shelton has sadly passed away at age 54 on Friday, May 15. According to a statement by Shelton’s representatives, the filmmaker died of a previously unidentified blood disorder.

Read More: ‘Sword Of Trust’ Trailer: Lynn Shelton’s Latest Tackles Conspiracy Theories & Fake News With Her Signature Comedic Flair

Shelton was an acclaimed director, writer, producer, actor, and editor whose naturalistic work helped make her one of the leading voices of American independent film, popularizing the “mumblecore” genre.

Continue reading ‘Sword Of Trust,’ ‘Humpday,’ Filmmaker Lynn Shelton Passes Away At Age 54 at The Playlist.

Lynn Shelton, a director, writer and producer known for her work on Humpday and more recently the miniseries Little Fires Everywhere, died Friday in Los Angeles from complications of a previously unidentified blood disorder, a rep for Shelton told Deadline. She was 54.

The Hollywood veteran was a leading voice of the new American independent cinema movement of the 2000s, employing her signature style to award-winning films, including Your Sister’s Sister (2011), Outside In (2017) and last year’s Sword of Trust, which starred Marc Maron as a pawnshop owner who obtains a sword that may prove the South actually won the Civil War. Shelton had a role in the film as Maron’s ex-girlfriend Deirdre.

She was collaborating with Maron on a script for an upcoming film, and was in a romantic relationship with him at the time of her death.

Shelton’s television directing credits included Mad Men, Glow, The Morning Show,...

Director and producer Lynn Shelton, who stewarded several popular indie films, including “Humpday,” and also directed a number of episodes for prominent TV shows like “Glow” and “Mad Men,” has died from a previously undisclosed blood disorder, her publicist said on Saturday. She was 54.

Shelton’s prolific output included directing five episodes of “New Girl,” eight episodes of “Fresh off the Boat,” five episodes of “Glow,” two episodes of “Maron” and one episode of “Mad Men,” among work on several other TV series.

The Seattle native started off as an aspiring actor and photographer in her 20s but eventually moved towards filmmaking after being inspired by French director Claire Denis, who had shared she didn’t direct her first movie until she was 40. Shelton directed her first film, “We Go Way Back,” in 2006, but her break came in 2009, when “Humpday,” starring Joshua Leonard, Alycia Delmore and longtime collaborator Mark Duplass,...

Writer, director, producer, actor, and editor Lynn Shelton passed away on Saturday, May 16 at the age of 54 in Los Angeles due to a previously unidentified blood disorder. Shelton was among the leading voices of American independent film, working on all sides of the camera in such films as “Humpday,” “Your Sister’s Sister,” “Outside In,” and “Sword of Trust.”

She was also a prolific television director on television series such as “Mad Men,” “Glow,” and “Little Fires Everywhere.” IndieWire recently interviewed Shelton, along with her creative and romantic partner Marc Maron, about her upcoming projects.

“I have some awful news. Lynn passed away last night. She collapsed yesterday morning after having been ill for a week,” Marc Maron said in a statement. “There was a previously unknown, underlying condition. It was not Covid-19. The doctors could not save her. They tried. Hard.

“I loved her very much as I know many of you did as well.

Lynn Shelton, an indie filmmaker who helped popularize the mumblecore genre with works such as “Humpday” and “Your Sister’s Sister,” died Friday of a blood disorder. She was 54.

Shelton was best known for her naturalistic, understated approach to comedy and drama in low-budget films that were hits with the Sundance crowd, but she reached a wider audience with her work on television, helming episodes of “The Mindy Project,” “Mad Men,” “Glow,” and “Fresh Off the Boat.” Recently, Shelton directed four episodes of the Hulu series “Little Fires Everywhere,” an adaptation of Celeste Ng’s 2017 bestseller that starred Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington.

Shelton began her career as an editor, later moving on to make experimental short films. She made her feature debut as a director with 2006’s “We Go Way Back,” the story of a 23-year old actress who is haunted by the specter of her thirteen-year-old self. It won awards at Slamdance,...

IndieWire’s Instagram Live interview series will continue this week with writer/director Lynn Shelton, and actor and “Wtf with Marc Maron Podcast” host Marc Maron. Shelton and Maron will discuss their careers on screens big and small, quarantine, and more with IndieWire’s Executive Editor and Chief Film Critic Eric Kohn on IndieWire’s official Instagram page beginning at 11 a.m. Pt/2 p.m. Et on Thursday, May 7. Previous IndieWire Instagram Lives have featured interviews with Julia Garner, Barry Jenkins, Diego Luna, Ethan Hawke, Mark Duplass, and Rose McGowan.

Shelton has directed the films “Humpday,” “Laggies,” “Your Sister’s Sister,” “Touchy Feely,” and, most recently, “Sword of Trust,” also starring Marc Maron. Shelton has also worked behind the camera extensively in the television space, most recently helming four episodes of the hit Hulu miniseries “Little Fires Everywhere,” the suburban melodrama based on the novel by Celeste Ng, and has directed...

From What's New Pussycat? to Dressed to Kill, Silence of the Lambs to Basic Instinct, the big screen hasn't lacked for memorably twisted shrinks. Suffice it to say that the latest psycho psych, Dr. Judy Small (Michaela Watkins) in the film Bad Therapy, won't be joining those ranks.

That's not the actress' fault. Watkins (Sword of Trust, Brittany Runs a Marathon) is the kind of performer whose timing — whether in the service of sarcasm, self-deprecation or sweetness — is so finely tuned she elicits giggles, and curiosity, even when you don't know exactly why or how. Indeed, it's ...

From What's New Pussycat? to Dressed to Kill, Silence of the Lambs to Basic Instinct, the big screen hasn't lacked for memorably twisted shrinks. Suffice it to say that the latest psycho psych, Dr. Judy Small (Michaela Watkins) in the film Bad Therapy, won't be joining those ranks.

That's not the actress' fault. Watkins (Sword of Trust, Brittany Runs a Marathon) is the kind of performer whose timing — whether in the service of sarcasm, self-deprecation or sweetness — is so finely tuned she elicits giggles, and curiosity, even when you don't know exactly why or how. Indeed, it's ...

Marc Maron is having a productive quarantine. Holed up in his home in Los Angeles, Maron subscribed to the Criterion Channel, most recently watching “A Place in the Sun,” “From Here to Eternity,” “The Friends of Eddie Coyle,” and an old Rita Hayworth movie. He’s been following the new season of “Better Call Saul,” and working on a new script with his partner, Lynn Shelton, who directed him in last year’s “Sword of Trust” and Netflix’s “Glow.”

And of course, he still has the podcast. While much of the world struggles with the sudden necessity to stay indoors, Maron reinvented the work-from-home rulebook when he launched “Wtf with Marc Maron” in 2009 — before a deluge of comedians deuted on the platform — and he’s been churning out deep-dive interviews ever since. Episode 1,106, featuring an interview with Thandie Newton, posted on Monday, and Maron said he has enough recorded...

“Suzi Q,” a documentary about Suzi Quatro, who preceded Joan Jett onto the scene in the early ’70s as a leather-clad rock pioneer, has been picked up for North America by Utopia. The company will give the rock doc a one-night theatrical release July 1, followed by digital and DVD distribution two days later.

A U.S. premiere has been set for the Sonoma International Film Festival on March 29, where Quatro will make an appearance. The film already opened last fall in the UK and Australia, two territories where Quatro, a Detroit native, had her biggest chart successes.

Besides interviewing Quatro herself, filmmakers Liam Firmager and Tait Brady also sought out contemporaries like Alice Cooper and female musicians who felt Quatro’s impact, including Deborah Harry, Joan Jett and Cherie Currie of the Runaways, Kathy Valentine of the Go-Go’s, Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads and Donita Sparks of L7.

“Over...

Maybe that Shakespeare guy was on to something. That line about “All the world’s a stage” in particular. Then everyone’s life or “story” could be that a play, or a piece of theatre. This may account for the popular phrase about folks in the news when they burn brightly in the limelight of fame, then the glow around them dims, often amping back up as pundits relate the story of someone’s “second act”. But that might apply to most everyday people if they’re fortunate. And what if we’re not limited to two acts, but a never-ending series of such life changes? That’s the main theme of the new drama hitting the multiplexes, and it might very well pertain to its lead. The setting is the world of amateur sports and that one guy who’s far beyond his “golden days” as a “phenom”. His...

Uncut Gems wins best lead actor, directing, editing.

Lulu Wang’s The Farewell was named best feature at the Spirit Awards in Santa Monica on Saturday (8) in a night that recognised female directing talent in stark contrast to tomorrow’s Oscars.

Olivia Wilde won best first film for Booksmart, and American Factory, co-directed by Julia Reichert, (alongside Steven Bognar), won best documentary.

Renée Zellweger won best actress for Judy and has virtually swept the boards this awards season ahead of Sunday’s expected win at the Academy Awards.

Adam Sandler was a popular winner for Uncut Gems, which took home...

The 2020 Film Independent Spirit Awards were handed out Saturday in recognition of the best in indie films from 2019.

Willem Dafoe won the first award, Best Supporting Male, for his role in “The Lighthouse.” “Uncut Gems” won Best Editing, while the Best Documentary award went to “American Factory.” Best Cinematography went to Jarin Blaschke for “The Lighthouse.”

Kelly Reichardt was awarded The Bonnie Award, which recognizes a mid-career female director with a $50,000 unrestricted grant. The John Cassavetes Award, given to the best feature made for under $500,000, was given to “Give Me Liberty.”

Also Read: Independent Spirit Awards 2020: Aubrey Plaza's Best Jokes (So Far)

“Parasite” won Best International Film. Zhao Shuzhen won Best Supporting Female for her role in “The Farewell.” “Marriage Story” won Best Screenplay. Adam Sandler won Best Male Lead for his performance in “Uncut Gems” and Renée Zellweger received the Best Female Lead for her role in “Judy.

The winners of the 2020 Independent Spirit Awards are being announced live during today’s ceremony, hosted for the second year in a row by Aubrey Plaza (fresh off rave reviews from Sundance for her performance in the indie “Black Bear”). Unlike the Oscars where Netflix is the most-nominated studio, the Spirit Awards are dominated in 2020 by A24. The indie distributor boats 18 nominations across four movies: “The Lighthouse,” “Waves,” “The Farewell,” “Uncut Gems,” and “The Last Black Man in San Francisco.” The Safdie brothers’ “Uncut Gems” and Robert Eggers’ “The Lighthouse” lead all movies with five nominations each. Both of these films are nominated for Best Feature along with Terrence Malick’s “A Hidden Life,” Lulu Wang’s “The Farewell,” Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story,” and Chinonye Chukwu’s “Clemency.”

Last year’s big Spirit Award winner was Barry Jenkins’ “If Beale Street Could Talk,” which won prizes for Best Feature,...

The 35th annual Spirit Awards, honoring the best in independent cinema, took place Saturday in Santa Monica.

Lulu Wang’s “The Farewell” won best picture, while Adam Sandler and Renee Zellweger took home the top acting prizes.

Full list of winners.

Best Feature

A Hidden Life

Clemency

The Farewell (Winner)

Marriage Story

Uncut Gems

Best Director

Robert Eggers – The Lighthouse

Alma Har’el – Honey Boy

Julius Onah – Luce

Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie – Uncut Gems (Winner)

Lorene Scafaria – Hustlers

Best First Feature

Booksmart (Winner)

The Climb

Diane

The Last Black Man In San Francisco

The Mustang

See You Yesterday

Best Female Lead

Karen Allen – Colewell

Hong Chau – Driveways

Elisabeth Moss – Her Smell

Mary Kay Place – Diane

Alfre Woodard – Clemency

Renée Zellweger – Judy (Winner)

Best Male Lead

Chris Galust – Give Me Liberty

Kelvin Harrison Jr. – Luce

Robert Pattinson – The Lighthouse

Adam Sandler – Uncut Gems (Winner)

Matthias Schoenaerts – The Mustang

Best Supporting Female

Jennifer Lopez...