Jessie Nelson is an American film producer, director, actress and writer.
Career Nelson began her career acting with the theater group Mabou Mines at the Public Theater in New York and she went on to perform in Shakespeare In The Park.
Nelson began her directing career with the award-winning short film To the Moon, Alice (1990), which she also wrote. The film starred Chris CooperTo the Moon Alice tcm.com, retrieved May 20, 2019 and was part of a television program for Showtime titled The Showtime 30-Minute Movie.Tucker, Ken. The Showtime 30-Minute Movie ew.com, August 17, 1990
Her first feature film was Corrina, Corrina (1994) which she wrote, directed, and produced. It starred Whoopi Goldberg and Ray Liotta. The film was suggested by her life.Dutka, Elaine. "The Making of 'Corrina' a Real Labor of Love : Movies: It took Jessie Nelson nine years to get the film made. Its story is taken from her life." Los Angeles Times, September 10, 1994Corrina, Corrina tcm.com, retrieved May 20, 2019 She went on to write, direct, and produce I Am Sam (2001) starring Sean Penn.I Am Sam tcm.com, retrieved May 20, 2019 Despite doing well at the box office, Nelson did not direct another film until Love the Coopers (2015). "The door did not open for me," she told The Hollywood Reporter in 2021. "Now, when you look at the statistics, so many women have had the experience that I've had, where they couldn't get their next movie made. At the time, you think, 'Is it something about me?' Or, 'Oh, doing a movie that wasn't successful, that's what puts people in directors' jail.' But for so many women at the time, it was just being a woman that put you in a different category."
She received the first Stanley Kramer Award from the Producers Guild for I Am Sam in 2002.Goodridge, Sam. " 'I Am Sam' producers win Stanley Kramer PGA prize" screendaily.com, January 31, 2002
Her most recent film is Love the Coopers (2015), starring a large ensemble cast, including Diane Keaton, John Goodman, and Alan Arkin.
She co-wrote Stepmom (1998) and The Story of Us (1999), and co-wrote and produced Because I Said So and Fred Claus, the latter of which is based on a bedtime story she would tell her daughter. In 2014 she produced Danny Collins which starred Al Pacino and Annette Bening.
She wrote the Broadway musical adaptation of the movie Waitress with music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles, directed by Diane Paulus, which premiered on Broadway in April 2016.Waitress Playbill (vault), retrieved May 20, 2019 She also co-directed and co-produced the live film recording of the musical's 2021 remounting, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2023. She co-wrote and directed the musical Alice by Heart with Steven Sater and music by Duncan Sheik, which opened Off-Broadway in February 2019.Rizzo, Frank. "Off Broadway Review: 'Alice by Heart'" Variety, February 26, 2019
Nelson co-authored the 2011 children's book Labracadabra (Penguin, 2011, ) with Karen Leigh Hopkins.
Personal life She is married to director Bryan Gordon. They have a daughter, actress Molly Gordon (b. 1995).
She is Jewish.
Filmography
Film +YearTitleDirectorWriterProducerNotes1991To the Moon, AliceShort film1994Corrina, CorrinaDirectorial feature debut1998Stepmom1999The Story of Us2001I Am Sam2007Because I Said SoFred Claus2015Danny CollinsLove the Coopers 2023Waitress Live film recording of her and Sara Bareilles' stage musical
+Acting rolesYearTitleRole1988Tucker: The Man and His DreamWoman on Steps1993So I Married an Axe MurdererRalph1999The Story of UsRealtor
Television +YearTitleDirectorWriterExecutiveProducerNotes1987Daniel and the Towers Television film1996Chicago HopeEpisode: ''Women on the Verge''2005Earth to AmericaTelevision special2017Curb Your EnthusiasmEpisode: ''Namaste''2020Little VoiceCreator and executive producer (9 episodes)Director (5 episodes)Writer (5 episodes) +Acting rolesYearTitleRoleNotes1993The Switch Elizabeth GarlandTelevision film1994Hoggs' HeavenPoetTelevision short film1997ERBite Victim's MotherEpisode: ''Ambush''
References
External links