Donna Deitch(born June 8, 1945,San Francisco, California) is an American film and televisiondirector,producer,screenwriter,and actor best known for her 1985 filmDesert Hearts.The movie was the first feature film to "de-sensationalize lesbianism" by presenting alesbianromance story with positive and respectful themes.[1][2]
Donna Deitch | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 8, 1945 |
| Occupation(s) | Director, producer, writer |
| Years active | 1975-present |
| Known for | Desert Hearts |
| Website | donnadeitch |
Career
editDeitch segued from documentary filmmaker to producing and directingDesert Hearts,the landmark hit of the 1985TellurideandToronto Internationalfilm festivals, and the 1986Sundance Film Festival.The film was picked up for worldwide distribution byThe Samuel Goldwyn Company.Shortly after seeing the film,Oprah Winfreyhired Deitch to direct theEmmy-nominated four-hour miniseriesThe Women of Brewster Place.
After the success ofBrewster Place,Deitch directed four pilots, three of which were picked up for series, includingSecond Noah.She has directed numerous episodes of one-hour dramas includingNYPD Blue,ER,Murder One,Law and Order: SVU,EZ Streets,The Visitor,Dragnet,Crossing Jordan,Heroes,Private Practice,and others. She directed the pilot episode ofThe N'sSouth of Nowhere.
She directedPrison Stories: Women on the InsideforHBO;Showtime'sThe Devil's ArithmeticstarringKirsten DunstandBrittany Murphy,andCommon Ground,written byTerrence McNally,Paula Vogel,andHarvey Fierstein(also for Showtime).
Deitch directed, photographed, and editedAngel On My Shoulder,a feature-length documentary about the experience of her best friend, actressGwen Welles(Nashville), dying of cancer. The film won the Gold Hugo for Best Documentary at the 1998Chicago International Film Festival.[3]
In a 2008 interview, she said she was working on obtaining financing forBlonde Ghost,a screenplay adapted fromStella,the 1992non-fictionbook byPeter WydenaboutStella Goldschlag,which takes place in Berlin during World War II.[4][5]That same year, Deitch said that she was writing a sequel toDesert Heartswhich would be set "in NYC in the late 60s".[6]
Personal life
editDeitch is openly lesbian.[7]Her partner is writer Terri Jentz.[8]
Filmography
editFilms
edit| Year | Title | Director | Producer | Screenwriter | Cinematographer | Editor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Woman to Woman | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Documentary | |
| 1977 | The Great Wall of Los Angeles | Yes | Documentary short | ||||
| 1985 | Desert Hearts | Yes | Yes | Cameo appearance: Hungarian Gambler Winner: Special Jury Prize – Dramatic,Sundance Film Festival,1986[9] | |||
| 1994 | Criminal Passion | Yes | |||||
| 1998 | Angel on My Shoulder | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Documentary |
Actor
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Several Friends | Short film | |
| 1985 | Desert Hearts | Hungarian Gambler | Cameo appearance |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | The Women of Brewster Place | Miniseries | |
| 1990 | WIOU | 1 episode | |
| 1991 | Prison Stories: Women on the Inside | TV film. Segment "1" | |
| 1991 | Veronica Clare | 1 episode | |
| 1992 | Sexual Advances | TV film | |
| 1994 | A Change of Place | TV film | |
| 1994 | Robin's Hoods | 2 episodes | |
| 1995 | ER | 2 episodes | |
| 1995-1997 | Murder One | 5 episodes | |
| 1995-2003 | NYPD Blue | 13 episodes | |
| 1996 | Second Noah | 1 episode | |
| 1996 | Moloney | 1 episode | |
| 1997 | Murder One: Diary of a Serial Killer | Miniseries (final 6 episodes ofMurder One) | |
| 1997 | EZ Streets | 1 episode | |
| 1997 | Total Security | 1 episode | |
| 1997 | The Visitor | 1 episode | |
| 1997 | Dellaventura | 1 episode | |
| 1998 | Nothing Sacred | 1 episode | |
| 1998 | C-16: FBI | 1 episode | |
| 1999 | The Devil's Arithmetic | TV film | |
| 2000 | Common Ground | TV film | |
| 2000-2001 | The $treet | 2 episodes | |
| 2001-2007 | Crossing Jordan | 9 episodes | |
| 2002-2011 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | 3 episodes | |
| 2003 | Judging Amy | 1 episode | |
| 2003 | L.A. Dragnet | 1 episode | |
| 2004 | Wild Card | 1 episode | |
| 2005 | South of Nowhere | 2 episodes | |
| 2006 | Bones | 1 episode | |
| 2006 | Heroes | 1 episode | |
| 2007 | Eureka | 1 episode | |
| 2009-2010 | Private Practice | 4 episodes | |
| 2010 | Grey's Anatomy | 1 episode | |
| 2010 | Army Wives | 1 episode | |
| 2011 | Off the Map | 1 episode | |
| 2011 | A Gifted Man | 1 episode | |
| 2013 | The Glades | 1 episode | |
| 2016 | Greenleaf | 1 episode |
Accolades
edit| Year | Work | Award | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Desert Hearts | Special Jury Prize – Dramatic•Sundance Film Festival | Won | |
| 1986 | Desert Hearts | Grand Jury Prize – Dramatic •Sundance Film Festival | Nominated | |
| 1996 | NYPD Blue,episode "These Old Bones" | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series•Directors Guild of America | Nominated | |
| 1998 | Angel on My Shoulder | Gold Hugo – Best Documentary •Chicago International Film Festival | Won | |
| 2000 | The Devil's Arithmetic | Emmy Award–Outstanding Directing in a Children's Special•National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences | Won | |
| 2008 | Heroes | Hugo Award–Best Dramatic Presentation - Long Form•World Science Fiction Society | Nominated | |
| 2008 | Outfest Achievement Award •Outfest | Won |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^Siskel, Gene (June 6, 1986)."'Desert Hearts': A New Story Told In The Old Fashion ".Chicago Tribune.Archivedfrom the original on January 30, 2017.RetrievedMarch 21,2017.
- ^Pasulka, Nicole (June 25, 2015)."Better Sex, Better World".Hazlitt Magazine.RetrievedMarch 21,2017.
- ^Nesselson, Lisa (October 20, 1998)."Chicago film fest covers 'The Hole' with top prize".Variety.RetrievedFebruary 14,2012.
- ^Corson, Suzanne (July 9, 2008)."Donna Deitch Wins Highest Honor from Outfest".AfterEllen.
- ^"The Catcher".Donna Deitch.RetrievedOctober 29,2017.
- ^Silverstein, Melissa (July 9, 2008)."Interview with Donna Deitch, Director of Desert Hearts".Women & Hollywood.RetrievedOctober 10,2014.
- ^Kukoff, Alexandra (December 1, 2016)."Q&A: Alumna, director Donna Deitch reflects on 1985 film 'Desert Hearts'".Daily Bruin.Retrieved6 January2021.
- ^Pepe, Barbara (August 20, 1996)."Ten Years Gone".The Advocate.pp. 73–76.Retrieved11 March2020.
- ^"Sundance Film Festival: Films Honored 1985–2008"(PDF).Sundance Institute.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on October 15, 2013.Retrieved8 June2022.
- ^"Sundance Film Festival: Films Honored 1985–2008"(PDF).Sundance Institute.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on October 15, 2013.RetrievedMarch 5,2017.
- ^"Sundance Film Festival: Films Honored 1985–2008"(PDF).Sundance Institute.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on October 15, 2013.RetrievedMarch 5,2017.
- ^Winners and Nominees (1996)."49th Annual DGA Awards".Directors Guild of America.RetrievedMarch 5,2017.
- ^Nesselson, Lisa (October 20, 1998)."Chicago film fest covers 'The Hole' with top prize".Variety.RetrievedMarch 5,2017.
- ^Grego, Melissa (May 15, 2000)."Emmy time for 'Rosie' & 'Bill Nye'".Variety.RetrievedMarch 5,2017.
- ^"2008 Hugo Award Nominees".The Hugo Awards.World Science Fiction Society. March 21, 2008.RetrievedMarch 5,2017.
- ^Hardy, Ernest (July 2, 2008)."One From the Heart: Outfest Achievement Award Winner Donna Deitch".LA Weekly.RetrievedMarch 5,2017.
External links
edit- Official website
- Donna DeitchatIMDb
- Donna Deitch Blog(archived March 8, 2012)
- 'Angel On My Shoulder' (Documentary Feature)at Donna Deitch website (archived May 17, 2010)