Martha Coolidge

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}{{Infobox person

| name = Martha Coolidge

| image = Martha Coolidge on RealTVfilms.jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Coolidge interviewed in 2009

| birth_name = Martha Patterson Coolidge

| othername =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1946|08|17}}

| birth_place = New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| alma_mater = Rhode Island School of Design
NYU Tisch School of the Arts (MFA)

| occupation = {{hlist|Film director|film editor|producer|screenwriter|television director}}

| years_active = 1972-present

| spouse = Michael Backes (divorced)
James Spencer

| children = 1

| website =

}}

Martha Coolidge (born August 17, 1946){{Cite web |title=Martha Coolidge Biography |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Martha-Coolidge |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=Britannica}} is an American film director and former President of the Directors Guild of America.{{cite web |date=Winter 2006 |title=Martha Coolidge-Member, 1983-Present |url=http://www.dga.org/Craft/DGAQ/All-Articles/0604-Winter2006-07/Legends-Martha-Coolidge.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907115629/http://www.dga.org/Craft/DGAQ/All-Articles/0604-Winter2006-07/Legends-Martha-Coolidge.aspx |archive-date=September 7, 2011 |access-date=1 May 2018 |website=DGA Quarterly Magazine}} 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.{{Cite web |title=I'll Find You |url=http://illfindyoufilm.com/cast/martha-coolidge.html |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=illfindyoufilm.com}}

Coolidge studied illustration at Rhode Island School of Design, 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, 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. Her feature-length directorial debut, Not a Pretty Picture, was based on a date rape she suffered at age 16.{{Cite web |title=Martha Coolidge profile |url=http://www.shemadeit.org/meet/biography.aspx?m=90 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202123053/http://www.shemadeit.org/meet/biography.aspx?m=90 |archive-date=February 2, 2014 |website=SheMadeIt.org |publisher=Paley Center for Media}} Her breakthrough came with the independently produced Valley Girl (1983), a film recognized for launching the career of Nicolas Cage.{{Cite web |last=Gates |first=Marya E. |date=2023-04-13 |title=Nicolas Cage's Entire Career Is Guided by This Decades-Old Direction |url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/nicolas-cage-valley-girl-acting-advice-1234827418/ |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=IndieWire |language=en-US}} Her film Rambling Rose (1991) won three Independent Spirit Awards for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Supporting Actress for Diane Ladd, in addition to Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for Ladd and Laura Dern (Best Actress). Rambling Rose was well reviewed{{Cite web |title=Rambling Rose (1991) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rambling_rose |access-date=October 16, 2024 |website=Rotten Tomatoes}} and made top 10 lists for the year.{{Cite web |last=Rosenbaum |first=Jonathan |date=January 3, 1992 |title=1991 in Movies |url=https://jonathanrosenbaum.net/2022/12/1991-in-movies/ |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Chicago Reader}} Despite a limited release hampered by economic problems suffered by the production company, the film played for months and earned many honors.{{Cite web |title=Rambling Rose (1991) |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/59019 |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films}}

Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (1999) for HBO was nominated for 11 Emmy Awards, winning five, including Best Actress for its star Halle Berry,{{Cite web |title=Introducing Dorothy Dandridge |url=https://www.emmys.com/shows/introducing-dorothy-dandridge |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Television Academy |language=en}} and earned Coolidge an Emmy and DGA (Directors Guild of America) nominations for Best Director.

From 2002 to 2003 she was the Directors Guild of America's first female president.{{Cite web |date=March 9, 2002 |title=Guild's National Board Elects Martha Coolidge First Woman President of DGA - |url=https://www.dga.org/News/PressReleases/2002/0309-Guilds-National-Board-Elects-Martha-Coolidge-First-Woman-President-of-DGA |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=www.dga.org |language=en}}

She taught at the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts.{{cite web |title=Faculty Profile |url=https://www.chapman.edu/our-faculty/martha-coolidge |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531041641/https://www.chapman.edu/our-faculty/martha-coolidge |archive-date=May 31, 2012 |access-date=1 May 2018 |website=www.chapman.edu}}{{cite web |date=May 31, 2016 |title=World War 2: The Setting for Two of our Faculty's Vastly Different Projects |url=https://blogs.chapman.edu/dodge/2016/05/31/world-war-2-the-setting-for-two-of-our-facultys-vastly-different-projects/ |access-date=1 May 2018 |website=chapman.edu}}

Personal life

Coolidge was previously married to screenwriter Michael Backes, with whom she has a son, Preston, named for director Preston Sturges.{{cite news|last1=Weinraub|first1=Bernard|title=From Valley Girls To Sunshine Boys, A Deal on 'Yonkers'|work=The New York Times|date=26 April 1993|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/04/26/movies/from-valley-girls-to-sunshine-boys-a-deal-on-yonkers.html?pagewanted=all|access-date=1 May 2018}} She is now married to production designer James Spencer.

Awards

Independent Spirit Award, Best Director for Rambling Rose{{Cite web |last=Fox |first=David J. |date=1992-03-30 |title='Rose' and 'Idaho' Get the Spirit : Movies: Each takes three trophies in the offbeat independent counterpoint to tonight's Academy Awards. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-03-30-ca-272-story.html |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}
Independent Spirit Award, Best Feature for Rambling Rose
DGA Award, Robert B. Aldrich Achievement Award{{Cite web |date=March 5, 1998 |title=Martha Coolidge to Receive DGA's Robert B. Aldrich Award - |url=https://www.dga.org/News/PressReleases/1998/0305-Martha-Coolidge-to-Receive-DGAs-Robert-B-Aldrich-Award |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=www.dga.org |language=en}}
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{{Cite web |last= |date=2004-04-13 |title="Seven Times Lucky" and "Beautiful Kid" Take Two at Method Fest |url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/seven-times-lucky-and-beautiful-kid-take-two-at-method-fest-78998/ |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=IndieWire |language=en-US}}
Women in Film Award, Crystal Award

Nominations

Online Film & Television Association Award, Best Director for Introducing Dorothy Dandridge{{Cite web |title=4th Annual TV Awards (1999-2000) |url=https://www.oftaawards.com/television-awards/4th-annual-tv-awards-1999-2000/ |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Online Film & Television Association |language=en-US}}
Emmy Award, Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special for Introducing Dorothy Dandridge
DGA Award, Best Director for An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong{{Cite web |date=January 8, 2010 |title=Nominees for Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television/Mini-Series |url=https://www.dga.org/News/PressReleases/2010/0108-Nominees-for-Directorial-Achievement-in-Movies-for-Television-MiniSeries-Dramatic |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=dga.org}}
DGA Award, Best Director for If These Walls Could Talk 2{{Cite web |title=53rd Annual DGA Awards |url=https://www.dga.org/Awards/History/2000s/2000.aspx?value=2000 |access-date=16 October 2024 |website=dga.org}}
DGA Award, Best Director for Introducing Dorothy Dandridge{{Cite web |title=52nd Annual DGA Awards |url=https://www.dga.org/Awards/History/1990s/1999.aspx?value=1999 |access-date=October 16, 2024 |website=dga.org}}
CableACE Award, Best Director for Crazy in Love{{Cite web |last=Herbert |first=Steven |date=1993-01-18 |title=HBO, 'Dream On' Big Winners in Cable Awards : Television: The cable network takes 32 of the 81 prizes in the 14th annual ACEs. Disney Channel is second with 7. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-01-18-ca-1377-story.html |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}
Chicago Film Critics Association Award, Best Director for Rambling Rose

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable"
Year ! Title ! Director ! Writer ! Producer ! Notes
1976 \| Not a Pretty Picture \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \|
1983 \| Valley Girl \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \| {{no}} \|
rowspan=2\| 1984 \| City Girl \| {{yes}} \| {{yes\|Story}} \| {{yes}} \|
Joy of Sex \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \| {{no}} \|
1985 \| Real Genius \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \| {{no}} \|
1988 \| Plain Clothes \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \| {{no}} \|
1991 \| Rambling Rose \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \| {{no}} \|
1993 \| Lost in Yonkers \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \| {{no}} \|
1994 \| Angie \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \| {{no}} \|
1995 \| Three Wishes \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \| {{no}} \|
1997 \| Out to Sea \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \| {{no}} \|
2004 \| The Prince & Me \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \| {{no}} \|
2006 \| Material Girls \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \| {{no}} \|
2019 \| I'll Find You{{cite web\|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/martha-coolidge-zbigniew-raczynski-nazi-hat-music-war-love-1201988782/\|title=Director Martha Coolidge, Producer Wage Bitter Fight for Control of Holocaust Drama\|first=Gene\|last=Maddaus\|date=15 February 2017\|website=variety.com\|access-date=1 May 2018}} \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \| {{no}} \|

class="wikitable"

Year

! Title

! Director

! Writer

! Producer

! Notes

1976

| Not a Pretty Picture

| {{yes}}

1983

| Valley Girl

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

rowspan=2| 1984

| City Girl

| {{yes}}

| {{yes|Story}}

| {{yes}}

Joy of Sex

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

1985

| Real Genius

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

1988

| Plain Clothes

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

1991

| Rambling Rose

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

1993

| Lost in Yonkers

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

1994

| Angie

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

1995

| Three Wishes

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

1997

| Out to Sea

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

2004

| The Prince & Me

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

2006

| Material Girls

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

2019

| I'll Find You{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/martha-coolidge-zbigniew-raczynski-nazi-hat-music-war-love-1201988782/|title=Director Martha Coolidge, Producer Wage Bitter Fight for Control of Holocaust Drama|first=Gene|last=Maddaus|date=15 February 2017|website=variety.com|access-date=1 May 2018}}

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

=Television=

class="wikitable"
Year ! Title ! Episodes
rowspan=4\| 1986 \| Sledge Hammer! \| "Under the Gun"
rowspan=3\| The Twilight Zone \| "Night of the Meek"
"Quarantine"
"Shelter Skelter"
rowspan=2\| 2001 \| Masterpiece \| "The Pounder Heart"
Leap Years \| "Pilot"
2002 \| Sex and the City \| "A Vogue Idea" and "I Heart New York"
2003 \| Hidden Hills \| "The Concert"
2005 \| Huff \| "All the Kings Horses"
rowspan=6\| 2006 \| Related \| "Not Without My Daughter"
rowspan=5\| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation \| "Living Legend"
"Redrum"
"Take my life Please"
"Fracked"
"Maid Man"
rowspan=3\| 2007 \| Shark \| "Porn Free"
Weeds \| "Shit Highway"
Psych \| "Truer Lies"
rowspan=2\| 2013 \| Cult \| "The Good Fight"
The Glades \| "Glade-iators!"
rowspan=3\| 2014 \| Killer Women \| "Warrior"
The Night Shift \| "Blood Brothers"
Madam Secretary \| "Passage"
2016 \| Angie Tribeca \| "The Famous Ventriloquist Did It"
2018 \| Siren \| "Showdown"

class="wikitable"

Year

! Title

! Episodes

rowspan=4| 1986

| Sledge Hammer!

| "Under the Gun"

rowspan=3| The Twilight Zone

| "Night of the Meek"

"Quarantine"

"Shelter Skelter"

rowspan=2| 2001

| Masterpiece

| "The Pounder Heart"

Leap Years

| "Pilot"

2002

| Sex and the City

| "A Vogue Idea" and "I Heart New York"

2003

| Hidden Hills

| "The Concert"

2005

| Huff

| "All the Kings Horses"

rowspan=6| 2006

| Related

| "Not Without My Daughter"

rowspan=5| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

| "Living Legend"

"Redrum"

"Take my life Please"

"Fracked"

"Maid Man"

rowspan=3| 2007

| Shark

| "Porn Free"

Weeds

| "Shit Highway"

Psych

| "Truer Lies"

rowspan=2| 2013

| Cult

| "The Good Fight"

The Glades

| "Glade-iators!"

rowspan=3| 2014

| Killer Women

| "Warrior"

The Night Shift

| "Blood Brothers"

Madam Secretary

| "Passage"

2016

| Angie Tribeca

| "The Famous Ventriloquist Did It"

2018

| Siren

| "Showdown"

=TV movies=

class="wikitable"
Year ! Title ! Notes
1989 \| Trenchcoat in Paradise \|
1991 \| Bare Essentials \|
1992 \| Crazy in Love \|
1999 \| Introducing Dorothy Dandridge \|
2000 \| If These Walls Could Talk 2 \| Segment "1972"
2001 \| The Flamingo Rising \|
2004 \| The 12 Days of Christmas Eve \|
rowspan=2\| 2009 \| An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong \|
Tribute \|

class="wikitable"

Year

! Title

! Notes

1989

| Trenchcoat in Paradise

1991

| Bare Essentials

1992

| Crazy in Love

1999

| Introducing Dorothy Dandridge

2000

| If These Walls Could Talk 2

| Segment "1972"

2001

| The Flamingo Rising

2004

| The 12 Days of Christmas Eve

rowspan=2| 2009

| An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong

Tribute

References

External links

{{IMDb name|0004838}}
[http://www.virtual-history.com/movie/person/7906/martha-coolidge Martha Coolidge] at virtual-history.com
[https://web.archive.org/web/20140202123053/http://www.shemadeit.org/meet/biography.aspx?m=90 Martha Coolidge] at SheMadeIt.org
[https://web.archive.org/web/20121024070519/http://www.cwhf.org/inductees/arts-humanities/martha-coolidge Martha Coolidge] at Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame

Category:1946 births

Category:Living people

Category:American documentary filmmakers

Category:American film editors

Category:American television directors

Category:American women television directors

Category:Artists from New Haven, Connecticut

Category:Presidents of the Directors Guild of America

Category:Rhode Island School of Design alumni

Category:American women film directors

Category:American women screenwriters

Category:Independent Spirit Award for Best Director winners