User:Isaaclepine/Amy Heckerling

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Amy Heckerling (born May 7, 1954) is an American writer, producer, and director. Heckerling started out her career after graduating from New York University, she has expanded from independent films to directing major studio films.

Heckerling began her career after graduating from NYU and entering the American Film Institute, making small, student films. She struggled to breakout into big films and was snubbed by Hollywood during her early career, up until the release of Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982), and she broke out in fame. She has also directed the films Johnny Dangerously (1984), National Lampoon’s European Vacation (1985), Look Who’s Talking (1989), Clueless (1995), Loser (2000), I Could Never be Your Woman (2007) and Vamps (2012). She is also a producer on films A Night at the Roxbury (1998) and executive producer on Molly (1999).

Many of Heckerling’s films have evolved into television series due to their success. Fast Times at Ridemont High (1982), evolved into the series Fast Times (1986), as well as the film Clueless (1995) became a television series that ran from 1996 to 1999.

Heckerling is a recipient of AFI's Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal celebrating her creative talents and artistic achievements.

Television

1980's

Heckerling began her work on the small screen shortly after her massive success with Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982), with the spinoff series Fast Times (1986), a 7 episode series on CBS that Heckerling produced and directed 3 episodes. She continued her work in television with a direct to TV movie that she produced titled Life on the Flipside, which was released in 1988.

1990's

Continuing into the 1990s is when Heckerling made her work on the silver screen a smash hit. Her 2 major works during this time in television were Baby Talks (1991-92) and Clueless (1996-99). These series were both spinoffs of the films Look Who’s Talking (1989) and Clueless (1995), which Heckerling directed. Both of these series were successes, with Clueless going on for 4 seasons and Heckerling staying on as a producer for it’s entire runtime.

2000's - Present

Amy Heckerling’s works after the turn of the millennium slowed down especially when it came to her work in television. She had no permanent involvement in any series, however, she did direct a number of episodes on a variety of popular television shows, including one episode of The Office (2005), an episode of Gossip Girl (2012). This as well as 6 episodes on the show Red Oaks (2015-17), and 10 episodes of Royalties (2020) over the courses of their runtimes.

Directing Style

Amy Heckerling has an approach to films that have a proto-feminist perspective. One of the biggest focuses of Heckerling’s directorial style is her anti-hierarchal and boundary-blurring aesthetic. Amy Heckerling continues to push the gender norms within her films, and she consistently works against the sexist Hollywood status quo. Heckerling’s focuses on the female life at pivotal turning points in their life. With films such as Clueless (1995) and Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982), Heckerling has a focus on women finishing high school and going into what would be their adult lives. Her characters are constantly going against the norms that women are pushed into within society. Heckerling has a tendency to prioritize the female friendships within her films, along with a larger discussion of gender positioning within teenager’s lifestyles.