Renée Shafransky

Renée Shafransky
Born Queens, NY
Occupation writer, producer, psychotherapist
Spouse Spalding Gray (1991–1993)
Website
www.reneeshafranskyauthor.com

Renée Shafransky is an American writer, independent film producer and director, and psychotherapist.[1] She is known for her collaborations with writer/actor/monologist Spalding Gray,[2][3][4] and as a founding member of the Collective for Living Cinema. Her first novel, Tips for Living, was published in 2018. Current Disturbances will be her next book.

Career

After studying under avant-garde filmmaker Ken Jacobs, Shafransky became a founding member and program director of the Collective for Living Cinema,[5] a premiere venue for avant-garde film. She also edited the scholarly film journal, No Rose, in the late 1970's.[6]

Shafransky met and started dating Spalding Gray in 1979.[7][8] She became his collaborator and director, and figured prominently in many of his monologues.[2][3][4][9]

In 1983, Shafransky produced Variety, directed by Bette Gordon and written by Kathy Acker, which was selected for the Director’s Fortnight at the 1984 Cannes Film Festival.[1] She also wrote articles and film reviews for The Village Voice.[8][10] In 1986, Jonathan Demme directed a film of Gray’s acclaimed monologue, Swimming to Cambodia, which Shafransky produced.[8] Shafransky and Gray co-wrote a sitcom called Bedtime Story, which aired on PBS in 1987. Shafransky continued collaborating with Gray, co-writing projects and directing his monologues, including Monster in a Box in 1990.[4]

Shafransky collaborated with Bette Gordon again, writing the segment "Greed: Pay to Play," for the 1986 film Seven Women Seven Sins, in which seven internationally acclaimed women directors re-interpret the seven deadly sins.[1] She went on to direct Three Hotels, by award-winning playwright Jon Robin Baitz, at the Magic Theater in San Francisco 1994.[11] Shafransky then spent time in Hollywood, writing screenplays for major studios and HBO, and working with directors Harold Ramis and Mike Newell.

Shafransky now practices as a psychotherapist in New York City and Sag Harbor, [12] and has contributed to The Southampton Review.[13] Her first novel, Tips for Living, was published in 2018 by Lake Union.

Filmography

  • Variety (1983) Producer
  • Seven Women Seven Sins (1986) Writer
  • Swimming to Cambodia (1987) Producer and Director of original stage production
  • Bedtime Story (1987) Writer
  • Monster in a Box (1992) Producer and Director of original stage production
  • Gray's Anatomy (1996) Co-Writer and Director of original stage production

References

  1. 1 2 3 Bradford, Gary (1986-01-30). "Despite Rising Film and Film Aid, Independents Scrimp". New York Times. Retrieved 2017-10-17.
  2. 1 2 Brantley, Ben (1993-11-29). "Gray's Anatomy; A Monologuist's Idiosyncratic Trip Through Disease and Healing". New York Times. Retrieved 2017-10-17.
  3. 1 2 Simpson, Mona (1987-03-08). "Somebody to Talk about". New York Times. Retrieved 2017-10-17.
  4. 1 2 3 Rich, Frank (1990-11-15). "Spalding Gray's Unfounded Worries". New York Times. Retrieved 2017-10-17.
  5. ↑ "Off-the-Beaten-Path Guide to Movie Going". New York Times. 1979-11-30. Retrieved 2017-10-19.
  6. ↑ "Book listing". Retrieved 2017-10-17.
  7. ↑ Casey, Nell (2011-10-06). "Spalding Gray's Tortured Soul". New York Times. Retrieved 2017-10-19.
  8. 1 2 3 Simpson, Mona (1987-03-08). "Somebody to Talk About". New York Times. Retrieved 2017-10-19.
  9. ↑ Marks, Peter (1996-11-11). "Negotiating the Twists in Skiing and in Life". New York Times. Retrieved 2017-10-19.
  10. ↑ Shafransky, Renée (1986-11-30). "Wasp and Jew in Love Christmas in Miami Beach and Other Accommodations". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2017-10-19.
  11. ↑ "Past Productions Listing". Magic Theatre website. Retrieved 2017-10-31.
  12. ↑ Salkin, Allen (2008-05-11). "Hamptons Poll: Take a Sip, Cast Your Vote". New York Times. Retrieved 2017-10-19.
  13. ↑ Shafransky, Renée (Spring 2011). "The Good Place". The Southampton Review. Retrieved 2017-10-19.
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