Tamar Halpern

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.
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